Boston Strong

The Scream Half

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Location:

Naples,FL,

Member Since:

Mar 29, 2011

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

400m - ATC:  1:08   May '11

800m - ATC:  2:32   May '11

1600m - self-timed:  5:?? 

5k- Vinings Downhill 5k:  18:34  Sept, '11

10.k - Mardis Gras 10k:  39:15   Feb '12

Half - The Scream:  1:23:59  Jul '11

Marathon - Ridge to Bridge:  3:06:23   Oct '11

Completed 13 Marathons & 2 50k & 1 Century ride

Short-Term Running Goals:

Run injury free

Upcoming Races:

Sept. 14: - Erie Marathon

Long-Term Running Goals:

Sprint down Boylston Street once per year

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
ST-6 Racer Lifetime Miles: 223.50
Boston Adizero Red Lifetime Miles: 607.00
Boston Adizero White Lifetime Miles: 430.00
Nike Free Lifetime Miles: 362.00
Nike Trail Lifetime Miles: 327.20
Boston Classic Lifetime Miles: 362.50
Adidas Marathon TR Lifetime Miles: 155.90
Vertical Feet Climbed - 2011 Lifetime Miles: 75701.00
Kinvara 2 Lifetime Miles: 31.80
Adios Lifetime Miles: 277.90
Ghost GTX Lifetime Miles: 328.00
Karhu Flow Formula One Lifetime Miles: 166.30
Brooks PureFlow 2 Lifetime Miles: 153.70
Adios II Lifetime Miles: 147.40
Adios 2 Lifetime Miles: 150.20
Race: The Scream Half (13.1 Miles) 01:23:59, Place overall: 7, Place in age division: 1
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
0.000.000.0013.1013.10

Thanks be to God!  I had a very trying week which involved no running (although I am a big advocate of pre-race rest), very little sleep, and anything but optimal race preparation.  Plan was to get up here early, drive the course, eat, etc ... arrived at midnight & immediately crashed.

I signed up for this race for only 1 reason, a sub 1:24 gets me a top seed at the Peachtree 10k next year & qualifies me to join the Atlanta Track Club competitive Masters team, which has many benefits.

Based on my week, I figured I would give it my all, but not be upset if I did not achieve my time goal.  I felt pretty good as the race got going, confidence was building, but I knew it was going to be close.  I kept reminding myself to keep pushing and hopefully the clock would read 1:23:something when it came into view.

When I saw the clock from about 50 yards away it read 1:23:53 ... Crap!  I broke into an all out sprint & actually dove head first across the finishing mat (gotta love the dramatics - lol)  I actually slammed the mat with my fist in frustration ... thought I finished in 1:24 flat ... race director was right there & checked my official time .. told me I was sub 1:24 by a 1/4 second.  WooHoo!

Celebrating rest of weekend in mtns.!

 Splits Update

Phase 1 - Mile 1-3:  6:50 pace plan (Banked 38 seconds)

1 - 6:25 - gradual uphill, flat - went for a faster start than planned, was in 5th place, but not trying to hang on to lead runners

2- 6:59 - gradual rolling hills flat - figure I better pull back, my plan was 6:50 pace for first 3 miles, got passed by a pack of 5, let them go, but did pick it back up a little to keep them close.

3 - 6:28 - Start of downhill, last mile on pavement

Phase 2 - Mile 4-6:  6:10 pace plan (Banked 20 seconds) ... although my garmin was starting to hit mile splits before the mile markers, as it was impossible to run tangents unless you wanted to plow through mud ... I figured my watch would read at least 13.2 at finish if not more ... so my goal splits had less meaning, because I knew I would have to keep banking time to cover the extra distance.

4- 6:06 - Steeper downhill starts - entering national forest, beautiful scenery, cool mist, although gravel road was muddy/slick in places from some rain, had to pick your path carefully over the next 8 miles to avoid mud & slick spots on sharp curves.

5- 5:54 - My legs are starting to loosen up & I felt pretty good, this was the first point in the race I got the feeling I could reach my goal, as long as I didn't wipe out!

6- 6:10 - I love downhill running!

Phase 3 - Mile 7:  6:30 pace plan  (Lost 31 seconds)

7- 7:01  - Ugh - gave back a bunch here. Some gradual downhill, flat & a pretty long uphill.  I was being a little conservative as I knew I could make up time on the downhill ahead, as long as my legs held together, so I tried to conserve a little on the uphill, but was still pushing pretty hard.

Phase 4 - Mile 8-11"  6:10 pace plan (banked 17 seconds)

Mile 8 - 5:45 - ok, that 7 minute mile got in my head a little & I was a little concerned, so I set my sights on two runners ahead of me & went after them ... and passed them.

Mile 9 - 6:19 - Backed off a little (not much), as I knew there was still along ways to go.

Mile 10 - 6:27 - Another fairly long gradual uphill ... what the @#$%^ ... was not expecting this!  There was still plenty of downhill ... but there is no way I am going to avg a 6:10 going uphill at this point!  Everytime I felt like I was on track to hit my goal, an unexpected bump would come along and make me question it!  Nearing the top of the hill, I heard footsteps behind me, and they coulld not have come at a better time as my pace was really dropping off.  No way was I getting passed, so I powered up the last 20 yards & threw it into high gear for the downhill.

Mile 11 - 5:54 - I knew this was the last section with steep downhill, and knew that it was up in the air as to whether I would break 1:24, so I felt like I had to get back what I had lost in the last mile ... oh & I was able to pass another runner in this section too, which helped.

Phase 5 - Last 2.1 miles   6:30 pace plan  (Lost a lot of time here because my pace plan was for 2.1 miles, not 2.2, although I did avg. a 6:33 pace over this section)

Mile 12 - 6:24 - ok ... my body is really starting to not be too happy with me at this point, but with less than 2 miles to go, I am determined.  By this point I have pretty much figured out I have a pretty good chance of hitting my goal, but know it is going to be close ... just trying to hang on.

Mile 13 - 6:59 - ok ... you have got to be kidding me!  Although this mile had a slight net downhill, there was a long gradual climb that I swear lasted at least a half mile, this was totally unexpected, and I was not happy to have things slipping away from me, I probably should have pushed a little harder here, but I was starting to get concerned that I was either going to throw up or just give out ... I prayed a lot of the race ... but I think I spent the better portion of that mile cussing the uphill!

Last .2 miles - 5:10 pace - This was pretty flat ... but it also was supposed to be 0.1 not 0.2 ... but at least I was expecting it based on my previous watch splits at the mile markers.  This is also where I made the pre-race mistake of not being able to switch the view on my watch to where I could see seconds, as I run with 4 data windows on my watch, so once you pass 1 hour, you only get minutes on total time not seconds.  Great my watch now reads 1:23 & I have about 0.2 miles to go!  I started pushing  harder & harder, until I was in an all out sprint at the finish!  And yes, I did actually dive head first across the finish line to try to break 1:24 ... which in hindsight was pretty stupid, because my timing chip was on my shoelace!  I still can't believe I made my goal by a 1/4 of a second, God was running with me!

Official time: 1:23:59.75


ST-6 Racer Miles: 13.10
Comments
From derhammer on Sat, Jul 16, 2011 at 17:27:32 from 70.113.125.159

Wow - phenomenal race! Congrats. I can only dream of a 1:24 half. Again, great job.

P.S. How can you be overall #1 but 7th in age division? Just wondering...

From I Just Run on Sun, Jul 17, 2011 at 00:35:53 from 71.41.149.142

You have got to be kidding.....!!!!! 1:23:59...Unbelievable (Well, I actually do believe you :-) I don't know how you do it, no run for how many days and then this! You make me want to quit running...Not really, you're inspiring me to run faster. I just think I have to run more to do it not less like you :-) Again, great run and congradulations!

From SlowJoe on Sun, Jul 17, 2011 at 09:59:38 from 66.137.82.63

Dang man! Who takes a week off running and then sets a ridiculously fast PR?? You are my hero, nice job.

From flatlander on Sun, Jul 17, 2011 at 18:18:20 from 76.31.26.153

Congrats on a very good race, I imagine you are still smiling a day later. When are you doing your next marathon? You'll be looking at a nice PR there as well.

From Dan on Sun, Jul 17, 2011 at 22:52:38 from 24.209.83.20

Congrats man!!! Great Job, maybe I should try those pre-race habits :p

Have fun celebrating.

From JG on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 04:10:48 from 98.66.196.7

Thanks everyone ... I updated the report with my mile splits. Yes, for me it was a great race & time ... but you have to keep it in perspective ... this course had 2,000 feet of downhill, which is major! I am not that fast, but take advantage of downhills. My legs are trashed, I feel like I ran a marathon!

From Mattrow on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 09:52:32 from 192.107.247.6

Nice run. To break 1:24 but .25 of a second. That is cool. I can see a sub 3 marathon coming. 2000 feet of down hill is major, it should help you get ready for your marathon in October. Doesn't it have 2700 feet of elevation drop?

From flatlander on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 14:09:21 from 198.207.244.102

Thanks for posting the splits, congrats again.

From JG on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 15:53:47 from 98.66.196.7

Thx Matt & Flat. My marathon is October 22, it is on the same course, but they add about a 5 mile out & back section into the half course, and then it continues another 8+ miles past the half finish. The out & back is rolling hills & then the 8 mile extension is mostly flat with a very gradual descent as it is along a forest service road which parallels a creek through the valley. A sub 3 is possible, if I log high training mileage over the next 3 months, but running the last 8 after all that downhill pounding will be really tough! The guy that finished ahead of me won the Masters with a 1:22:16, ran the full last October in 3:02, year before in 3:05, and year before that 3:04 ... he has run over 135 marathons, so he is a very consistent runner! He used to break 3 hours and am sure still tries ... difference is I am new to running & still improving, where he seems to have leveled off! He will be there again this fall, so I guess that will be my motivation ... to outrace him & maybe win the Masters trophy!

From rAtTLeTrAp on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 16:14:39 from 24.18.125.122

Best race report I've read in a while! Congrats on making the cut! You deserve your place on that team. I see a trophy in your future :)

Those downhill splits have got me really psyched about next week.

From JG on Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 23:47:43 from 98.66.196.7

Thx Trap, I am excited for your downhill marathon too! I envy your 18 mile training runs every time I see them! I am pretty sure you have a sub 3 in you on that course if you are feeling good race day! Rest your legs & try to find a good 1/2 mile downhill to run a few speed intervals on in the next day or two. I have one here that I ran a few times, just between 2 & 4 intervals at around a 5 to 5:30 pace, and then jog back up easy for recovery. IMO, downhill is all about good form & quick turnover ... practicing a couple at close to full speed will help you get the turnover down & you should crank out some 6 minute with relative ease! I am rooting for you!

From Mattrow on Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 09:32:31 from 192.107.247.6

To have the half on the same course as the full will help you come October when you run the marathon. I can see a sub 3 in you if you can train well and stay healthy. Back in 2009 I ran the Top of Utah half in 1:24:15 and ran St. George in 3:01:48. Your times are very simular so with some luck. You will be holding the Masters trophy.

From timp on Fri, Jul 22, 2011 at 09:41:02 from 98.183.37.200

big congrats on getting your time goal!! great job!

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