Personal Bragging: My 50th Half-Marathon

[Rain Man]

Last Saturday's race (in 42 degree temps in the rain, I might add) was my 50th half-marathon since I started my hobby in June of 2009.

My vital statistics are:

Completed races in 12 states so far (AK, HI, CA, NV, UT, WY, CO, TX, LA, FL, OH, and WI)

Median pace = 10:15 per mile
Median pace in flat, sea level races =9:37 per mile
Fastest pace = 9:04 per mile (Beaumont, TX - flat and sea level)
Slowest pace = 29:36 per mile (Pike's Peak Ascent - 7,800 foot climb from 6,300 ft to 14,100 ft and I was not good at it.)

14 have been at elevations between sea level and 3,000 feet (Median pace = 9:52)
21 have been at elevations of 3,000 to 6,000 feet (Median pace = 10:06)
9 have been at elevations of 6,000 to 9,000 feet (Median pace = 11:08)
9 have been at elevations of 9,000 feet or higher (Median pace = 15:29)

26 have been more or less flat with total hills < 300 ft (Median pace = 9:50). Three were net downhill.
12 have had moderate hills with total hills of 301-1,000 ft (Median pace = 10:43)
6 have had strong hills with total hills of 1,001-2,500 ft (Median pace = 12:10)
9 have had major hills with total hills of 2,500 ft or more (Median pace = 15:29)

The 9 with major hills are the same 9 that were over 9,000 feet in elevation.

3 races were run in the rain and 1 in snow.

I've only fallen once, and it wasn't in the rain or snow. (Tripped on a trail rock.)

24 were primarily on pavement or asphalt
6 were primarily on dirt roads
20 were primarily on trails

I've gone the wrong way on trails 4 times but only twice did it for more than 30 seconds. The worst mistake added 3/4 of a mile.

I've also had 2 10-mile races and a 10K in there, so that's 53 races in 54 months.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Dallas Chief

Thanks for the heads up. I ran a half in Dallas in 90+ weather a few years back and it wasn't very much fun. I may take your feedback into consideration.

If you're from Dallas you may worry about it less. I don't do well in heat at all. The temperature was probably mid-70s with a lot of sun. I don't remember much shade on the front 13 miles.

[kepp]

So the KC marathon went fine. I set a PR by 2 minutes, which isn't much, except it was on a much tougher course. The person who devised that course is sadistic...hills, hills, hills.

[DaKCMan AP]

Ran the Philadelphia Half this morning. It went by so fast; a very fun race and a great course!

[Rain Man]

So how are we all doing?

I ran my 78th half yesterday in really warm weather. I'm usually terrible in warm weather, and my time certainly wasn't strong, but for some reason it must've hit other people worse. I managed to finish in the top half, which I don't often do in Denver races. Technically I got third place in my age group, but that's only because the fastest guy came in third overall and for some reason he then gets kicked out of the age group rankings. And since there were only six people in my group to start with, it feels a little odd to get a framed certificate for a third-place win when you really placed fourth out of six runners. Is that really bulletin board material?

[DaKCMan AP]

Running a half next weekend. Training has been tough this go around, expecting a slower time.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Running a half next weekend. Training has been tough this go around, expecting a slower time.

What's the course like? And is this Florida? I imagine I would not do well at all in a June race in Florida.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

What's the course like? And is this Florida? I imagine I would not do well at all in a June race in Florida.

A little hilly, not in FL. That would be crazy. We're running in MN.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

A little hilly, not in FL. That would be crazy. We're running in MN.

Minnesota will be much better in June.

I'll be in Florida on a drive-by business trip next month and I looked for a race to see if I should extend my stay. Oddly, there are no half-marathons in Florida in July.

I've filled out my half-marathon calendar for the year.

July - Flat Denver metro race, so about 5,200 feet in elevation and straightforward.

August - Mountain Race. Starts around 9,500, climbs to 12,500 and then back down. Kind of wicked, but at least it's not hot.

September - Rural Colorado race. It's low, under 4,000 feet in elevation. It's Day 6 of one of those "6 half-marathons in 6 states in 6 days" deals, and I'm only running the Colorado leg. It's a tiny race and I should place relatively high since most people will be exhausted.

October - Flat Denver metro race, so about 5,200 feet in elevation and straightforward. It's a big race, which I don't usually like, but I can walk to the starting line from my house.

November - Flat race in New Hampshire. Nice cool sea-level race. I'm marking New Hampshire off my "race state" list and my "states visited" list since I've never been there.

December - Death Valley Trail Half Marathon. I'm in it solely for the t-shirt. Oddly, it's got a big hill in the middle so you go from about sea level to about 2,400 feet and then back down. However, it's December so the high temperature is typically only in the 60s - still warmer than I like but not brutal.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Minnesota will be much better in June.

I'll be in Florida on a drive-by business trip next month and I looked for a race to see if I should extend my stay. Oddly, there are no half-marathons in Florida in July.

I've filled out my half-marathon calendar for the year.

July - Flat Denver metro race, so about 5,200 feet in elevation and straightforward.

August - Mountain Race. Starts around 9,500, climbs to 12,500 and then back down. Kind of wicked, but at least it's not hot.

September - Rural Colorado race. It's low, under 4,000 feet in elevation. It's Day 6 of one of those "6 half-marathons in 6 states in 6 days" deals, and I'm only running the Colorado leg. It's a tiny race and I should place relatively high since most people will be exhausted.

October - Flat Denver metro race, so about 5,200 feet in elevation and straightforward. It's a big race, which I don't usually like, but I can walk to the starting line from my house.

November - Flat race in New Hampshire. Nice cool sea-level race. I'm marking New Hampshire off my "race state" list and my "states visited" list since I've never been there.

December - Death Valley Trail Half Marathon. I'm in it solely for the t-shirt. Oddly, it's got a big hill in the middle so you go from about sea level to about 2,400 feet and then back down. However, it's December so the high temperature is typically only in the 60s - still warmer than I like but not brutal.

No Florida half or fulls in July makes sense. Only race currently on my calendar after Minnesota next week is a Ragnar trail relay in December.

[Marcellus]

Just did a full May 21st, sucked ass I went out too hard and almost PRd the front half so I burned down hard mile 18.Dumbest, hilliest, warmest, full I have ever done.

Have a half on July 3rd in Missouri. Going to be stupid hot.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Just did a full May 21st, sucked ass I went out too hard and almost PRd the front half so I burned down hard mile 18.Dumbest, hilliest, warmest, full I have ever done.

Have a half on July 3rd in Missouri. Going to be stupid hot.

Hot is the worst. Windy's not fun, but hot is worse.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Hot is the worst. Windy's not fun, but hot is worse.

I hate wind in the winter, not so much in the summer.

Combine hills and heat and thats a shit storm.

[Mr_Tomahawk]

Ran the Heartland 39.3 back in Aprilish...3 halfs in 5 weeks. My first race was my best at 1:35...then it got worse, and then morer worse...1:55 on the last one. I was having knee issues. Don't know if it's shoes or the fact I'm about 10 lbs heavier this year than I was last. It was, okay.

I'm more of a 5-10k guy. Ran a small (like 70 runners) one here in town 2 weeks ago and placed 1st overall, for the second straight year.


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[kepp]

Last week I started an 18 week training plan for a 50k in October. Starting your training in 90+ degree weather can be discouraging. I might run a full in September as part of my training...will have to see how I feel around then.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

Ran the Heartland 39.3 back in Aprilish...3 halfs in 5 weeks. My first race was my best at 1:35...then it got worse, and then morer worse...1:55 on the last one. I was having knee issues. Don't know if it's shoes or the fact I'm about 10 lbs heavier this year than I was last. It was, okay.

I'm more of a 5-10k guy. Ran a small (like 70 runners) one here in town 2 weeks ago and placed 1st overall, for the second straight year.


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I don't even know what I would do in first place. You'd have to actually pay attention to the course instead of just following the people in front of you.