Half marathon

I am now six weeks from marathon day, and passed a major milestone by running the Top of Utah Half marathon yesterday.  I was one of over 2000 runners in a really great race.  Race conditions were nearly perfect, about 60 degrees with a tailwind out of the canyon (through mile 7) and overcast most of the way.  It starts up Blacksmith Fork canyon, which had been on fire just a week ago, so I expected charred mountains and acrid air.  Much to my pleasant surprise, it was actually very lovely, and besides the fire crews still monitoring things and two blackened hillsides, little evidence of fire was noticeable.  This is a nice half course because it is net downhill, but not steep enough to really pound the quads, just enough to help the times.  It is big enough to have people to run with but not so giant that it is ever crowded. Aid stations every three miles were well supported, and the race is managed very well.  My only complaint is that awards/drawings took a while, but that really has little to do with the race itself, so I really can't complain.   Overall, a good race experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to run 13.1.

I was aiming for 1:28-1:30 and ran 1:29.00, so that was right on target.  I finished as the ninth female, 2nd in my age group. It was a pretty fast race for around here, with the overall female winner finishing in 1:18, and overall male winning in 1:05, both crazy fast times.  The good things that I take from the race are confidence that I can run the full marathon at 30 seconds a mile slower without dying.  I also paced this race much better than I usually do.  Surprisingly, it helps.  I tend to go out fast and have nothing left at the end, but I kept the splits more even this time which makes the finish feel much better.  Mentally it also feels better to be passing people at the end instead of being passed.  

Before the race I was promising myself that I would never do it again because I don't enjoy the nerves and the self imposed pressure to do well. But it always feels good at the end to test oneself and actually do well, so I suppose there will have to be another race after all.  I still think I can go faster...so maybe I will be back next year.