Sunday, October 16, 2016

Merco Half Marathon

A storm front came in and I all but gave up hope of a PR.

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.



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 Wallace at Stirling Bridge aka Wally, Footboy,  Booboo, Mister Blondie, Bubby, Knucklehead, Goofball, Salt to Poppy's Pepper. Age 12, b...