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.

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

It's kind of true about everything. No matter how good you are, there's always someone else out there doing something ten times more impressive. Sometimes I think that's more depressing than inspiring, but at the same time it's sure impressive.

By no means am I trying to knock the accomplishments of anyone here by pointing out these ultra marathons. I have personally never run more than 6 miles straight - because I hate running. I just thought others would find the stuff interesting.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

By no means am I trying to knock the accomplishments of anyone here by pointing out these ultra marathons. I have personally never run more than 6 miles straight - because I hate running. I just thought others would find the stuff interesting.

I didn't take it that way. I think those races are mostly inspiring, with a lot of crazy mixed in.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

By no means am I trying to knock the accomplishments of anyone here by pointing out these ultra marathons. I have personally never run more than 6 miles straight - because I hate running. I just thought others would find the stuff interesting.

Oh, I didn't mean to imply a message like that. I find the ultras interesting as well. It's just amazing to me how there are people so far beyond what I would consider to be good or even great. I have no idea how a person gets to that point.

[cdcox]

The Barkley Marathons
The race that eats it's young

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Both myself and the gf are trying to get into NY marathon. If either of us get in then we're both going to do it.

We didn't get into NYC. Last night we registered for the Maine Marathon (the half for me, full for her) and the Philadelphia Marathon (the half for both of us).

Works out nicely that I don't have to get serious about training until after we get back from our June Italy and July 4th trips.

[Marcellus]

A friend of mine did his first 50 miler Saturday and it looks like I am going to take the plunge and do one in October. I know a solid dozen people who have done at least a 50.

On a side note another running friend of mine won that same 50 miler Saturday, he averaged 7:27 and stopped to go to the restroom 3 times. Holy shit its crazy I know someone who is that much of a beast.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

We didn't get into NYC. Last night we registered for the Maine Marathon (the half for me, full for her) and the Philadelphia Marathon (the half for both of us).

Works out nicely that I don't have to get serious about training until after we get back from our June Italy and July 4th trips.

Sounds fun! Fall races are the best.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

A friend of mine did his first 50 miler Saturday and it looks like I am going to take the plunge and do one in October. I know a solid dozen people who have done at least a 50.

On a side note another running friend of mine won that same 50 miler Saturday, he averaged 7:27 and stopped to go to the restroom 3 times. Holy shit its crazy I know someone who is that much of a beast.

Good luck! One of the guys in our run club did a 100 miler this past weekend. It's crazy!

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

A friend of mine did his first 50 miler Saturday and it looks like I am going to take the plunge and do one in October. I know a solid dozen people who have done at least a 50.

On a side note another running friend of mine won that same 50 miler Saturday, he averaged 7:27 and stopped to go to the restroom 3 times. Holy shit its crazy I know someone who is that much of a beast.

7:27? Geez. Was it road or trail? Most ultras are trail.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by kepp

7:27? Geez. Was it road or trail? Most ultras are trail.

Limestone trail. Definitely not as bad as technical trail but slower than road.

He did a ridiculously tough 50k on single track technical trail averaged a little over 9:00 which seems almost inhuman since it's barely runnable to most people.

His Boston time last year was 2:43:30 or something like that.

[Rain Man]

I might be able to run a 7:27 for two blocks.

[kepp]

My 1/2 marathon PR is 1:39:00, which is just over a 7:33 pace. But on a trail...for 50 miles...nuh-uh. For my 50K in October I'm hoping to come in somewhere between 5:30:00 and 6:00:00 which would put my pace between 10:30 & 11:30.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

This is very impressive, Mr. Rain Man.

[Rain Man]

2/3rds of the way to 100. I did my 67th half-marathon today, and it was a challenging one. The starting line was at 9,900 feet in elevation, and went up to 10,750 feet. It had about two miles of deep mud because of rain last night, and mud really slows a person down. Plus, it was a 15.3 mile half marathon, which is more than I ever run.

[lewdog]