Race Report: Carlsbad 1/2 Marathon

Result: 1:11:29, 13th place

I came in to this race not really sure of what type of shape I was in. I had this whole plan figured out for workouts, high mileage, etc. etc., but that didn't work out (see blog entries for Dec-Jan as reference). I thought on my best day I was in shape to run 1:12 or there about. I thought 5:30 pace would be tough but if I ran really well I could pull it off. Well, it was amazing weather, I felt great and I pulled a 2min PR our of my rear-end and finished 30+sec ahead of my goal. Here's how it played out.

The race is kind of odd in that I am fairly positive that the first 2 miles are WAY off. I have run this race 3 times and each year my first mile is slower than I think and second mile is almost laughable when you look down at the watch. I will post the splits below but I pretty much went out sub-5:30 pace from the gun and never looked back. I made my way from pack to pack and eventually wound up running most of the race with the eventual women's winner and a guy named Dima that is from Europe somewhere but lives in San Diego. Once we shook the other people off we ran some solid miles around 5:20 and nothing slower than 5:31. Keeping in mind that the miles are very different as the course rolls up and down mile to mile. Finally with about 3/4 of a mile to go my legs just had nothing left and Dima and a guy from Nike RunLA, that we caught at 11 1/2, pulled away from me and left me to pasture. Even still, I averaged 5:20 pace for the final 5k (16:34) which I am pumped about.

What makes me happy about this race is two fold: 1) I ran a PR which, although I am still not content with this as my PR, you can never take for granted. 2) I RACED the entire 13.1mi and never gave up. No matter how many time a pack would surge I surged harder, which really gives me confidence for the future.

I know I am capable of a sub 1:10 half, but that will have to wait for another day. The PR was great to get and I know all the miles last fall are paying off. Now it is time to get building back the miles and decide what 2009 will mean to me as far as races.

Splits:
5:50
4:58 (10:48)
5:37 (16:25)
5:21 (21:47)
5:36 (27:23)
5:25 (32:48)
5:33 (38:22)
5:29 (43:51)
5:30 (49:22)
5:31 (54:54)
5:24 (60:18)
5:21 (65:40)
5:49=5:17/mi for last 1.1
FINAL- 1:11:29 - 5:28/mi

Also, one of my best friends Matt Mills ran a great race today in the full Marathon at Carlsbad and ran a PR of 3:23:16! Great times had by all, including good ole' James Campbell, who got up at 4am to drive up and watch us run and proceeded to fall asleep in my car and missed my finish! CLASSIC!