Shai Zukerman ran the Berlin 25 Half Marathon and finished with a time of 1:38:59. This was a personal record by 2:41.
What a race! Perfect weather, 12C-14C and sunny. After getting a feedback from Coaches about trying to aim to 1:40:00 if the general conditions will be on my side on race day , I decided to have also a plan for more conservative result (1:42:00). In the night before the race I noticed that my last HM was 1:41:40 and not 1:46:00 as I thought, so I decided to aim higher. It worked ?! Although I might started too fast (4:30 per km) I can’t say that I crashed. I slowed down near every drinking points (every 5 km) and took just one gel after 10km. I was feeling strong all the way and even did my first negative split!!! First Half 0:50:00 and Second Half 0:49:00. Looking back, I could do even better, but no regrets!
Werner Heselmans ran the Great Breweries Marathon with a finishing time of 3:00:55.
Only 4 weeks after Chicago. The last 8k’s were really hard to keep the pace.
Philip Stoop ran the Mississauga Marathon and finished this race in the time of 03:19:46.1. This was a new personal record by 00:08:16.
Goals:
A goal: BQ with some buffer less than 03:18:00 – Not achieved
B goal: BQ: less than 03:20:00 – Achieved
C goal: PB: less than 03:28:03 – AchievedPreparation:
I knew my goal of improving my PB by more than 8 minutes and running a BQ was going to be challenging. I devised 3 areas of attack:(1) Planning and run training: sign up with RunnersConnect to get coaching support. This went well, sometimes the coaches had a different opinion than I did, and they were always proven right, so listen to them folks – especially when you think you can tough stuff out. The program lead me to great improvements in my stamina, and very importantly I never got injured. So I think it was spot on. I think I did 100% of the runs on the prescribed days. No excuses there.
(2) Core strength training: I needed to find something new. Gym strength training works, but I feel it’s limiting. Yoga is good for stretching and mobility but I really did not enjoy. Then I signed up for Muay Thai classes, which turned out perfect. Excellent for core strength, and also hip mobility. Very complimentary with running. My marathon training stamina helped me a great deal in the classes.
(3) Nutrition: shedding some fat to become faster. Previous race I was at 78kg (172lb), this race I wanted to be at 74kg (163lb), actual was 76kg (168lb). So I did not reach my weight goal going into the race. I did learn a lot. I know now that I can do fasting, that is a good skill learned.
Race:
Weather: 8C with some wind, sunny. Net downhill fast course, about 650 runners in the marathon, 1500 in the partially overlapping half marathon.Race nutrition: Morning pre-race food was: 1 cup of cereal with 1 cup of milk, 1 banana, and 5 slices soft whole wheat bread with jam. During the race I had one granola bar near the start, and then had one “endurance tap” maple syrup based gel every 3 miles. This race I took less protein than I used to do, and kept it simpler with just endurance tap. This all went very well.
Planned pacing strategy: Stick with the 3:20 pace bunny group for first half. Then increase pace, and empty the tank in last 3 miles.
I joined the pacing group quite early, it was about 6 people. I found the pace OK to keep up with, but I did feel like I would not have much extra speed in me to pull away significantly in the second half. It’s worth pointing out that the second half is more challenging than the first, with some rolling hills.
When I sped up away from the pacer, I ran 5 miles at a sub-7:20 pace. My heart rate reached 160 with about 9 miles to go. Morale was good, but fatigue was setting in. I did keep pacing not badly, mostly below 7:30, and I kept catching up with runners, not getting passed by. The last two miles were tough: heart rate had reached max threshold around 170, and my pace now really suffered: I ran a 7:50 and a 7:47.
So no glorious sprint finish, but I did make it and just under 3:20:00 (chip 03:19:46.1), so that’s officially a BQ for my age and an 8 minute PB improvement. Can’t complain! Thanks for reading – now to come up with a new goal…
John Sheridan ran the Race for Hope 5k and finished this distance in the time of 23:41.
I was dealing with high-hamstring tendinitis throughout March and April and I had to stop running completely in mid-April. After almost three weeks off, the hamstring felt very good; I only managed two easy runs during the week leading up to this race and did not have high expectations.
The race was a small charity race in Iowa, where I was going to be with my girlfriend. Because this was a small race, I knew that I might actually have a chance to place in my age-group (forty-nine years old). Anyway, I told myself that I was just going to run this as the 3-mile easy run and cheer on my girlfriend, who is a former Ironman who is just getting back into running….
Well, in the end, I did hold back a bit during the first two miles, so there was no PR, but I was still able to clock my second-fastest 5k ever—and it was only 25 seconds off my best! In the end, my girlfriend won her age-group, and I came in third in mine.
Anup Sharma ran the Vancouver Marathon and finished with a time of 5:16:08.
My goal had become to finish this in 5 hours but took bit longer but this is not final race of the year, I will be looking forward to a race in September again.
Ryan Herring ran the Bay Bridge Half Marathon and completed this race event in the time of 1:57:20.
Running along the Bay Bridge with amazing views of both San Francisco and Oakland.
Vicki Daurizio ran the Vancouver Marathon with a finishing time of 5:07:16.
This was supposed to be a test race for how effective my cross training had been. I was hoping for better, but ran first half way too fast.
Lisa Bothun ran the Eau Claire Half Marathon and finished in a time of 1:58:32.
Nice race. Always hoping for more but was pretty happy with the end result. I had struggled with a cold/cough earlier in the week but felt fairly rested by race day. Was a little concerned about the weather but it turned out much nicer than anticipated and I unfortunately overdressed. The race covered a lot of scenery, lots of nice bridges to cross and tons of wonderful crowd support. Experiencing the BluGold mile was incredible. It was nice to run thru the campus with all the students roaring and band playing. Definitely helped me pick up my pace. Even though I wold have liked to shave off a few more minutes I was happy to end the race feeling strong and actually running some faster miles at the end. Place 8 out of 114 in the F50-59 division 🙂
Andy McComb ran the London Marathon and finished this race event in the time of 4:16.
London Marathon running in costume- couple of slower miles were due to family meet and greet – negative splits. Even with costume time was 7 mins faster than London 2 years ago when I ran continuously. This race was a lot of fun; large field of runners 42k, huge crowds.
Elaine Keating-Brown ran the Long Island Half Marathon and finished with a time of 2:33:04.
It rained the whole race. Puddles everywhere. Felt like I was carrying weights on my legs… HOWEVER it was my 20th half and I had a bunch of my RunFam supporting me either running with me, running the 10k or cheering me…and also hosting us night before and after the race!!!…so that made up for the crappy bits ??
Gena Heminover ran the Kalamazoo Half Marathon and finished this race in the time of 1:58:00.
My husband decided to run this too so I ended up being his pacer for a 2 hour finish. I didn’t run it hard at all but there were a few hills that were definitely challenging!
George Christie ran the Annual Run for the Ages 5k, finishing this distance in the time of 0:27:35.
Ran the same course three weeks ago on 4/20/19. 1:49 faster today.
Elizabeth Atwater ran the Shipyard ME Coast 1/2 marathon and finished with a time of 1:31:55, which was a PR by 1:00.
The whole family came to support and cheer; Feeling the love!! It was a solid race very consistent until the last 3 miles when it got hard and hilly. My pacing dropped off, but I never gave up. 7th female overall (1500 runners) 1st female 35-39!
Sherry Wolffer ran a Half Marathon race and finished in a time of 2:18:17. This was a PR by 5 minutes, 6 seconds!
New half marathon PR by over 5 minutes! The hills were a still a challenge in the second half but went much better this year.
Ed Hubbard ran the Ramsey Sprint for Our Schools 5k and completed this distance in the time of 0:24:05, which was a PR by 4 seconds!
Was hoping to break 24 minutes for the first time and missed it by 6 seconds! Looking back on the race, I see my first mile was a bit slow – by about 10 seconds compared to target. It felt like a good pace when I ran it, but my lesson, I think, is to be sure to remain sharp and focused right off the start line. The good news, besides being a PB, is that the race showed me I have the ability to bring my time down – I just need the right race for it to happen!
Javier Moreno ran an Unofficial Half Marathon and finished with a time of 2:19:33.
It’s been raining in south Louisiana for about 3 days. It rained last night and was very humid this morning. I have very poor anaerobic endurance. I considered stopping the run at mile 6, but pushed through and finished the distance.
Gregg Fergot ran the Yosemite Half Marathon and finished this race in the time of 1:26:56. This was a personal record by 1 minute!
About as good as it gets. Took down a 16 year old PR for the Half. First Place Age Group by nearly 5 minutes and 2nd Masters. 4200 runners at 6000 ft elevation. First 5 miles on trails with rollers. Next 5 miles fast downhill, mile 9 5:50ish and then flat final three where I held it together. Thrilled with this one. Marathon PR is next to fall!
Mihael Lorbeg ran the Night Run Kranj 10k and finished this distance in the time of 0:44:48.
Beautiful race today. We ran four times 2,5km circle in an old town. Again one hill to make it interesting ?. It was a night run. At first I thought I will be faster but currently this is all I have I guess. But I’m very proud at my last kilometer ?
Joanne Unsworth ran the Tatton 10k, finishing this distance in the time of 0:47:51.
First time I have dipped into 47 mins!!!! So happy. Just shows that if you keep working hard and keep showing up, it all pays off!!!!!! ??❤️?♀️
Kevin Long ran the Bridgehampton Half Marathon and finished in a time of 1:46:45.
Not the race I had hoped for but in retrospect, I got the race I deserve. Missed my A goal of sub 1:40 and my B goal of a PR by a minute. On reflection, I wasn’t ready for A and B was doable but missed because I went out too fast and I need to do a much better job with nutrition during my training. On going out too fast, I was able to hold my target pace for the first six miles but couldn’t hold it for the second part of the race. Once again I crossed the finish line feeling I had some left in the tank yet I allowed myself to slow down in the second half.
Having said all that, I did enjoy the race. The conditions were perfect and the farms and estates of the Hamptons are beautiful to run through in the Spring. I had a very successful training cycle as measured by no injuries or serious aches and pains and I feel I am still learning things about myself as a runner. And, at 53 years old, I was only a minute off last year’s result which was a PR, finished 108 out of 667 and passed several in the last mile and wasn’t passed by any one during that same mile. All positives to build off of. Already looking forward to the next training cycle.
Cara Hazelton ran the Go-To Insurance Fredericton Marathon 10K and finished with a time of 0:55:44, which was a PR!
Let me start with a HUGE shout out to the coaching team here. THANK YOU for everything. One year ago I was on crutches and healing slowly from major hip surgery. I was only cleared to run in mid October 2018 so started with what I felt was fairly attainable goal of sub 60min given the circumstances.
I had so much fun this morning. I am SO happy with my result. Aiming for a sub 60min, and then changing the plan to a sub 57min a couple of weeks ago, and now to have raced a sub 56 minute – WOO!
I was a little worried after I crossed the start line as there were so many people to get around, but once I got through the crowd it was fun. I ran with my friend Jamie and we #worebluetoremember her brother. I went in with a plan for my splits, and followed it to a tee. My last KM was super fast – I just went for it.
Greg Stern ran the Spring Sprint – 3.25 miles and completed this race event in the time of 21:07.
Finished 7th overall. Decent but I wanted to be 1 minute faster. But my legs were dead. I couldn’t get going. 3 hard races in 3 weeks.
Tensai Asfaw ran the Berlin Half Marathon with a finishing time of 1:09:59.
Here is one where the running gods were smiling one me – my seconds 2 minutes PB for a HM in 6 weeks. 1:09 – fought like a maniac for the last sprint to get under 1:10, but got it done. Took a snooze in Pâquis for 2k and lost 30 seconds…but felt fantastic overall. Feel like there was a lot left in the tank. So many emotions when my training mate fell off the pace at 9k, and I fought off the urge to go back and get him, and we debriefed at the end (he also got a PB). We finished second to the club who organized the event over all! Still suffering from the celebrations after 🙂
Andrea Hudson Baldwin ran the Bagel Run 5k and finished this distance in the time of 0:24:18.
Fun race, no PR, not really satisfied with my time. Started out pretty good and then I just faded in the second mile, (note to self, familiarize yourself with the course), then I settled back in with my 3 and finished strong.
Erva Jensen ran the Calgary Mother’s Day 10k and finished in a time of 1:07.
I took 5 minutes off my last years race. Have had health challenges for the past two weeks and completed it with a migraine. So I’m happy with the results. A beautiful warm spring day.
Eric Casanova ran the Marathon de Genève and finished this race in the time of 4:26:00. This was a new personal record by 3 minutes!
Thank you to the coaches that helped me running this marathon 4 weeks only after marathon de Paris. PR beaten by 3 minutes!
Sandra Keller ran the Poca River Run 15k and finished this distance in the time of 1:40:14. This was a personal record by 0:02:27.
The Poca River Run has the billing of being West Virginia’s first Road Race. The first time I did it in 2014 (my second year of running) it was literally a chalk line on the pavement and popsicle stick finish. These are no frills, tough runners! But I can say I’ve done this race at least once the tough way! And the hills and competition always make it a tough, but fun race.
Vicki Daurizio ran the Vancouver Marathon and completed this race event in the time of 5:07:16.
Course was hillier in first half than at course I’d ever done. I ran it too quickly and hit the wall too early due to this.
Rowan Forster ran the Woodview AC Half Marathon with a finishing time of 1:41:22.
Quite happy with this tune up effort. Wasn’t too sure what to expect after the flu interruptions of the last 6 weeks since the race in Cape Town. Was very pleased with this effort. Now to hang in there with the training while traveling in the USA for 2 weeks!
James Pitchford ran the Trail Outlaws Durham 10 Mile and finished with a time of 1:23:19.
2nd race in the Trail Outlaws Urban Trail League. 10 miles around the hills and woods of Durham. Had not run before so wasn’t too sure what to expect. Stunning scenery and nice varied course. First five miles went well but just didn’t have the legs after that so took it fairly steady for the last half. Nice of them to put the biggest hill about half a mile from the end and in site of the finishing line.
