Race Report: Matt’s Personal Half Marathon

On August 20, I started a 16-week program to take me from not running to completing 21.1 km at a go.

Week 16 ended and there was no race, real or imaginary. Instead, I went to Vancouver, to start the holiday season with friends. This made for a longer than planned taper (and one, unlike the original, that included many drinks).

Imaginary race-day was pushed to week 17, at the end of which I came to Seattle to see Cecilia.

Dawn came gray to Seattle. The morning was cool, overcast and windy. My route, repeats of a loop of Green Lake, 5.15 km of flat, beaten gravel. Attitude, poor. Wind and being off-plan bother me. But as with anything, success, though it may elude the swift and wise, often goes to the prepared. I had done the work so figured, even in my grumpy morning state, that this should be OK.

Today’s plan was to run the 13.1 miles at about 9:00 a mile (5:35 a km), at a heart rate (HR) below 172 beats per minute (BPM). (My HR varies. Some days I knock out 8:20s at 162 BPM, others, not so much.) Today, I turned out 8:44s at 168 BPM, and if one was to graph it, because one has the data, the tools and the goodwill of a statistician, it would look like this:

(The blue line is the pace and the read line is the HR.)

Qualitatively, the four loops and the last bit went like this. I started too fast, but settled in and felt that all was well. By loop two, I relaxed and kept a steady pace. About half way through loop three my joints began to speak to me. Predictably, loop four was tough, but I was sure I would make it, so I picked up the pace at mile 12, running it in 8:33 and mile 13 in 7:39. Then, all that was left was a short surge to the end. Cecilia was there with a warm coat and a surprise.

Cecilia volunteered for race support and it helped a lot. She kept me in the game with Gatorade, food and moral support.

My unofficial half-marathon time is now 1:54:28. The new plan is to relax for the holidays. After that, to start training again, for an official half marathon this time.

Matt