It is a relatively local event so we just drove up the morning of the race.
The race is fairly new and the number of entrants not to many. I didn't really experience any serious crowding issues. The event was well organized, mostly flat, and the route aesthetically pleasing.
This is the first time that I stuck fairly stringently to a training plan.
|
|
Mo
|
Tu
|
We
|
Th
|
Fr
|
Sat
|
Sun
|
Totals
|
|
|
June 20-26
|
|
8.37
|
5.6
|
|
|
8.7
|
12.3
|
34.97
|
2
|
|
June 27-July 3
|
3.5
|
8
|
8.2
|
8.37
|
8.65
|
7
|
12.2
|
55.92
|
3
|
|
July 4-10
|
3.5
|
8.6
|
9.5
|
7
|
7
|
7.5
|
12.2
|
55.3
|
4
|
|
July 11-17
|
4
|
7.5
|
8.6
|
7.5
|
8.6
|
7.5
|
10
|
53.7
|
5
|
|
July 18-24
|
5
|
7.3
|
8.7
|
7.3
|
9.2
|
5
|
12.3
|
54.8
|
6
|
|
July 25-31
|
5.3
|
7.3
|
8.8
|
5
|
8.7
|
7.3
|
10
|
52.4
|
7
|
|
Aug 1-7
|
5
|
7.5
|
8.7
|
5
|
9.1
|
7.5
|
12.3
|
55.1
|
8
|
|
Aug8-14
|
5
|
7.5
|
9.5
|
7.5
|
9
|
5
|
10
|
53.5
|
9
|
|
Aug15-21
|
5
|
7
|
9.5
|
7
|
9.5
|
7.3
|
12.3
|
57.6
|
10
|
|
Aug22-28
|
5
|
7
|
9.5
|
7
|
9
|
5
|
10
|
52.5
|
11
|
|
Aug29-Sept4
|
5
|
0
|
9.5
|
6.4
|
9.5
|
6.4
|
14
|
50.8
|
12
|
|
Sept 5-11
|
5
|
6.8
|
8
|
6.8
|
9.5
|
5
|
10
|
51.1
|
13
|
|
Sept 12-18
|
5
|
6.8
|
10
|
0
|
9.7
|
6
|
14
|
51.5
|
14
|
|
Sept 19-25
|
5
|
6.2
|
10
|
6.2
|
9.7
|
5
|
10
|
52.1
|
15
|
|
Sep26-Oct2
|
1.5
|
0
|
14
|
9.2
|
13.3
|
9
|
14
|
61
|
16
|
|
October3-9
|
8
|
9
|
11
|
3
|
10.1
|
5
|
8
|
54.1
|
17
|
|
October 10-16
|
5
|
5
|
0
|
6
|
5
|
3
|
13.1
|
37.1
|
18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
883.49
|
|
The foundation of this training plan was Hansen's Half Marathon book
On Mondays I did hill sprints based on Brad Hudson's book. I did Saturday Hill sprints on weeks were I wasn't doing a long run (12+ miles on Sunday). During the training cycle I set PRs for 1 mile, 5k, and 10k. I really felt I was in for something special on race day. My goal was to break the previous record of 1 hour 51 minutes.
And then the storm blew in...
Actually, it wasn't that bad, a few sprinkles and light wind. Frankly, it was a little too warm and humid for my running preference.
I knocked almost 5 minutes off of my previous PR at 1 hour 46 minutes and 6 seconds.
I definitely want to run this race again. Having experience with the route could help me knock off a few more seconds, and I plan to be faster next year.
For spring 2017 I've decided to return to Santa Cruz.
