Sunday I ran the Germantown Half Marathon. This is one of my favorite races to run. It lines up perfectly that my training for it starts at the first of the year. The weather is usually pretty nice on race day and the area that we run in is very nice. This was the fourth time I've run the race.
This year the training has been a little difficult. I have had to deal with my knee thing so I have had to rest more than I would prefer. I learned that I need to do more pool running a little too late. I probably could have gotten better use of my training time if I would have hit the pool earlier instead of trying to fight through it. Needless to say I felt under trained.
The thing I like about the half marathon is that it is not an easy distance, but once you get used to it you really learn how to run it. The first time you run it you think it is horrible. But once you get a few under your belt you get a good feel for how to handle it.
Inevitably, unless you are an elite runner, you will hit the wall. My wall comes between miles 11 and 12. I know this. So when I hit mile 10 I start to get myself prepared for my body and mind to completely want to shut down. Once I get through mile 12 it's all over. I know that I just need to hang on for 1 more mile. I know that last .1 miles is all adrenaline so all I really need to do is make it to the mile 13 marker.
This year I knew I wouldn't be able to run as fast as my previous Germantown races. My goal was to keep my pace under a 9 minute mile. My time was 1:55:12. My pace was 8:48. Perfect. The weather was also perfect. Add that to the fact that the other runners and people cheering us on where all friendly, as usual, and I would say it was a great race. As usual.
A funny thing happened when I got to the race site. I was looking forward to the race but just kinda had the thought that "eh, it's just another half marathon, no big deal". But once I got there I got that nervous excitement. Maybe because I know it's such a great race.
If you are a runner and you want a good half marathon to run this is it. There is also a 5K if you are not wanting to do the half. Here is the website.
This year the training has been a little difficult. I have had to deal with my knee thing so I have had to rest more than I would prefer. I learned that I need to do more pool running a little too late. I probably could have gotten better use of my training time if I would have hit the pool earlier instead of trying to fight through it. Needless to say I felt under trained.
The thing I like about the half marathon is that it is not an easy distance, but once you get used to it you really learn how to run it. The first time you run it you think it is horrible. But once you get a few under your belt you get a good feel for how to handle it.
Inevitably, unless you are an elite runner, you will hit the wall. My wall comes between miles 11 and 12. I know this. So when I hit mile 10 I start to get myself prepared for my body and mind to completely want to shut down. Once I get through mile 12 it's all over. I know that I just need to hang on for 1 more mile. I know that last .1 miles is all adrenaline so all I really need to do is make it to the mile 13 marker.
This year I knew I wouldn't be able to run as fast as my previous Germantown races. My goal was to keep my pace under a 9 minute mile. My time was 1:55:12. My pace was 8:48. Perfect. The weather was also perfect. Add that to the fact that the other runners and people cheering us on where all friendly, as usual, and I would say it was a great race. As usual.
A funny thing happened when I got to the race site. I was looking forward to the race but just kinda had the thought that "eh, it's just another half marathon, no big deal". But once I got there I got that nervous excitement. Maybe because I know it's such a great race.
If you are a runner and you want a good half marathon to run this is it. There is also a 5K if you are not wanting to do the half. Here is the website.
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