Derek Damon ran the Lake Sammamish Half Marathon and finished with a time of 1:31:13, which was a PR by 90 seconds!
Great result for me today. Conditions were perfect (42 degrees, overcast, minimal wind). PR by almost 90 seconds, including a fall rounding a corner in the last half mile. Only cost me about 10 seconds, the 2 people whom I had JUST passed went by me, and I didn’t really have it in me for a finishing kick. Had a great time, 90 min HM will be my new goal.
Jason Lakes ran The Woodlands Marathon and finished this race in the time of 3:15:30.
I am grateful to have another marathon done and to have had the opportunity to race this morning. As always, I’ll start with my areas for improvement and then some positives.
The biggest negative is I have to admit I was disappointed I added 1:13 to my last race time to get north of 3:15. I had a stretch target of 3:05, my B goal at 3:10 and my C goal at improving upon 3:14. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was disappointed I could hit goals A, B, or C.
There are a number of reasons for that. One of the factors, which I can’t control and I tried to block out of my mind was the weather. It was 66 with 80 percent humidity to start and was 76 with 70 percent humidity at the finish line. In addition to the temps, there was a south to southeast wind at 18 mph ( and bigger gusts).
Given those conditions, I went out too aggressive and I knew I was doing it, but couldn’t slow myself down. I also need to get better at realizing when I am cooking myself. Because it was hot and humid, even though the wind was tough and I was working too hard for those 3200+ meters, it felt good because it felt slightly cooler – until I turned around. Then my face got extremely hot and when I took my third gel at Mile 18 (basically a gel at 10, 20, 30k), all of a sudden I couldn’t get enough hydration. It felt soooooo hot. I worked through that but it was definitely a tough stretch.
As I worked through that, I turned back to a cross wind for 20-23 and that’s where I really lost time. I kept telling myself it’s only 10k, it’s only 9500 meters, now we are down to 8k and using my mantra of these are miles you get at 4am to work through. I still feel like I was a little mentally weak and ran my slowest mile at 23.
In general, this race felt completely different than Houston. Houston felt, relatively speaking, easy as I just glided through the miles with the last 5k being tough. This race felt like a battle from literally mile 2 or 3.
I definitely did not have negative splits as I was out in 1:35 and in with 1:40 – just terrible. The last negative is my Garmin acted up again on Pace Pro so I think I’m just using the workout function going forward.
As far as the positives, I am trying to cut myself a break given the conditions. It was 30-40 warmer than Houston in January with a lot more wind and humidity. I talked to several runners after the race that described their race as a “bonk” fest. While 1:40 for the second half is ridiculous, it’s not a bonk in my mind so I did manage to hold on – barely. The mantras and setting distance goals helped. I literally got to the point of just make it to that intersection. Make it to that curve in the road. I literally chucked it in 400 meters at times and fought like crazy not to completely give in. I’m still disappointed in mile 23, but I’m proud I pulled it back together for the last 5k.
I finished in the top 4.6 percent of all runners (49/1076) and top 6 percent of all men (42/710). While a slower time, that is better percentages than I ran in Houston which were top 10/15. Admittedly, this is a smaller and probably less elite field, but I’m clinging to that as a positive – even with a slower time, I ran a more competitive race with the field and conditions.
I am also happy I didn’t use the conditions as an excuse to just give in. More than once, I had my race report written in my mind – too hot, too humid, too windy – not my day. But I never allowed myself to just say that and quit. And I ran one heck of a first half – only one minute slower than my half PR last June. Lastly, I hammered the last 800-1200 meters at sub 7 pace. Part of me wonders if I saved too much, but I’m proud I pulled that out of somewhere.
So what I did I learn today – my fitness is around 3:14/3:15 level. However, given the conditions, competitive environment, and mental struggle early, I am telling myself I actually ran a better race today – a stronger race. From 4:47 26 months ago to Top 50 out of 1076 runners – I’ll take that and thank the community as well as coaches. And while slower today, that’s two BQ’s in 6 weeks so I can now say a BQ for my AG is not a fluke. As a note, I’m still waiting on AG results.
Knut Ostby ran the MTR Trail 5 Firelane Run 10k and finished in a time of 2:13:00.
So, I could not run the 5K Saturday, but in stead I joined a trail/hill run with a group on Sunday. Up and down adding up to 10.5K and almost 800m elevation gain on the way up. It was a bit of a challenge to run/walk/climb with a group that was mostly quite a bit fitter than me. But it was a beautiful trail and it turned out to be a great run, with a great feeling afterwards. I do not have enough experience to run on these rocky trails so the steep downhill part was also quite tricky. Really fun to try something else, and a good conclusion of my training programme this time around, considering I could not run the goal race.
Bob Ferguson ran the Coast Guard Half Marathon with a finishing time of 2:09:23.
I have run more than 30-40 half marathons and a few marathons over the years but, for a variety of reasons, none since 2014. I had run a few 5K and other short events in that time, but needed some help getting back to “real” training for longer events. Turning to Runners Connect and getting a coach did the trick!
Thank you to Coach Andie and the team for all of your help! I turn 61 later this month and feel like I am back.
I really just wanted to finish a half again, but surprisingly managed to place in the top half of the field and 6 of 24 in my age group and that has me looking forward to more events this year and maybe even getting my times at least a little closer to what they once were!
I know I’ll have a great program and a great coach!
Neil Edwards ran the Anglesey Half Marathon and finished this distance in the time of 1:39:11. This was a PR by 4 minutes 26 seconds!
Well the training paid off. I set a goal of a sub 1:40 and achieved it today knocking over 4 mins off my previous PR. I couldn’t have asked for better weather conditions today so that was a massive help, very low wind but dry and sunny the wind picked up a little when we were running by the coastal areas but nothing to worry about. I arrived at the race an hour before to get my warm up in which consisted of my usual lunge matrix some leg swings, calf raises, toe flicks, heel kicks, knee ups and 4×20 sec strides. The race started and I eased into pace maybe a bit quicker than I should have but I was very comfortable so went with it. This pace was manageable for most of the race with very little to no heavy breathing it was just the last 3 miles I felt it a bit and maybe that was because I went a bit quicker than I should have in the beginning, I know when I’ve given it my all though as I get a bit of a tingly feeling over my head when I was pushing over the last 2 miles the end was near the time was in range I just had to keep going and empty the tank, Goal Achieved!!!! I crossed the line my Official time 1:39:11 😊. I couldn’t be happier thank you to the Runners Connect coaches because without you it wouldn’t have been possible 👍🏻
Haifleigh Shivers ran the Harmonie Mutuelle Paris Half Marathon and finished with a time of 1:34:25. This was a personal record by 1 minute!
My first half! I was hoping to get 1h35 min and was worried that this was too optimistic (considering I just flew back from New York for work on Friday morning). Very happy to see that I beat my expectations. Strava says I did 13.1miles in 1h33 min sooo I’ll consider that as well haha.
Everything felt very good and smooth up until around mile 10 when breathing noticeably became more laboured. With every hill/incline from this point on, I was struggling. Mile 12 was clearly my worst but it was also the steepest elevation. Overall, I wouldn’t say this was a hilly course though, just a few inclines here and there. Somehow I pulled it out the bag to finish the last mile fast. I wanted to run clean negative splits, but oh well. It’s never as easy as we think!
Learned some lessons on fueling. These soft almond sport energy bars I’ve been using a lot on my training runs did not appeal to me when running at race pace. They were hard to get down. Need to rethink and go with gels I think for marathon + I think liquid carbs would be amazing. Need to nail down drinking at aide stations. I used these twice but each time I only had a sip or two of water before throwing it away. Obviously I will need more for the full marathon.
Manuel Lopez ran the Miami Marathon and Half (Half Marathon) with a finishing time of 1:53:23.
This was my first race! Thanks so much to all the coaches involved in try training plan I felt great and was able to be faster than my original goal! 💪🏻
Shaun Wallace ran the Wilmington NC Marathon and finished this race event in the time of 4:01:38. This was a massive personal record by 14 minutes!!
For me this marathon was an unqualified success. The weather was near perfect. I got to run the first three miles with my daughter, always a bonus. I prepared well and executed a smart and strong run. I injured nothing and had no cramps. I consumed plenty of fuel, fluids, and electrolytes to keep me running for all 26.2 miles. I focused on my form, my planned paces, and fueling. Mentally, the race was not so much a struggle against negative thoughts as holding on to the persistent belief that the plan was doable and my legs/feet could keep the pace even with miles to go. In a nutshell, I leveled up my marathon in a way I did not expect I could.
Some stats that make me particularly proud.
Miles of running: 26.2 miles of walking: 0
All miles under 9:40 pace with overall avg pace of 9:13
Finish time: 4:01:38 A 14 minute PR after three consecutive marathons at 4:15+ !!!
Fastest mile: #26 8:35 pace Boom!
First Half split: 2:02 Second half: 1:59 = Negative Split!!!! With second half under 2hrs, bonus!
Calories consumed: approx. 900 distributed fairly evenly across 4hrs Effect: No Bonk!!I thanked countless volunteers along the course, and the best part was how honestly thankful and pleased I felt even late in the race. I have no regrets about missing my sub 4hr goal by a minute plus. This race showed me that what I once assume as improbable if not impossible is definitely do able.
Thank you sincerely for helping me setup such a great experience. I hung on the race plan you built for me for the whole run, and it made me a better marathoner. Thanks RC coaches and community, especially coach Andie! After a week of recovery I am ready to start planning another goal marathon for the fall with some shorter distance races along the way.
Robert Stumpe ran the Little Rock Half Marathon, finishing this distance in the time of 2:15:58.
Little Rock was a good race. I held back too much for too long, I’m afraid. Was definitely too conservative with fear of another IT Band problem (happened last race). The weather was also questionable from the start. It did rain for about 10 minutes early on and wasn’t prepared for that mentally, I held back until it stopped. I didn’t notice how slow I was going until I reached the 10k timer and it said 65 minutes! Really no reason for me to be higher than 60 at that point in the race. Was running on feel from miles 2-6 and never really kicked it into gear. I did enjoy the race though. It was the first time I ran this distance and was able to finish strong. Felt good to pass so many people in the last 2 miles. Now that my legs have proven to be strong for the distance, I should leave my anxiety about IT band problems behind, and I’m ready to focus on picking up speed and finishing a little faster for the next one.
Michelle Feathers ran the Myrtle Beach Marathon and finished with a time of 3:49:08.
Going into this race, I was having mild foot pain, I’m thinking possibly another stress fracture 😣. But, I was determined to finish. My plan was to start out 8:15-8:20/mile range, so I started a bit faster than the plan. I felt good though. The weather was cool a little humid and cloudy at the start. But, around mile 8 the sun came out and the temperature started climbing…fast. Around, mile 15-16 I started getting reflux and knew I wasn’t going to be able to take any nutrition the rest of the way. So, the plan was to hope to hold on as long as I could. I know by mile 18 I was getting dehydrated (and a little overheated). Thankfully, at 19, they gave out bottles of water and that was a huge help! Overall, I’m disappointed. I get a bit anxious with the marathon distance and I don’t know how to deal it in. Also, I really need to figure out nutrition. But, I qualified for Boston which was my ultimate goal. For future plans, I think I need a recovery week every 3-4 weeks. And continue to work on nutrition and anxiety with the marathon distance.
