Colonial Half Marathon
Wow lots of races this weekend!
I did the Colonial Half Marathon in Williamsburg on Sunday. I have done this race 3 times in the past but missed last year as I was overseas. I like this race as its a low key simple no frills race...no big crowd, no timing chip no problem with parking etc and its a scenic race. The race starts on the edge of the William and Mary Campus heads through the town for a couple blocks, then a golf course and then into the woods on a country road that is closed onto some paved trails and then a short stent in the Kingsmill Country club then back. There is a short area of trail which isnt bad, but somehow they added hills in the last year!! Knew they were there but man I think they had puppies.
I started off a little fast about 10-15 secs faster then my HIM pace...this section was mostly downhill but I was also a little excited and had to keep throttling down. About mile 3 I feel into pace or at least effort, had a hard time pacing with the ups and downs but was feeling good. At the halfway point we are on the roads in Kingsmill and this also was a flat section so I was running on pace and felt good. However....at mile 9.5 to 11 it was mostly uphill and my pace drifted down some about 20 secs slower then goal. I was able to get back on pace for the last 2 miles. I finished in 1:37:45. My average pace 7:29 min/mile (HMP 7:12) but my NGP was 6:44. I did not manage the negative split but only went positive by 90 secs. I have another half in 3 weeks and wonder what I can do on the flat Shamrock Half.
I have been sore for the last 2 days and skipped a day of the Jan OS but managed to get back on the trainer tonight for some 30/30s!
Comments
Nice job Ralph! I hate it when the hills have puppies...
Really try to contain yourself for those first 3 miles...even if #1 is fast, you dial it back on 2, 3. Then steady for 7 then let it go. I was on pace for a 1:25 through mile 3, on pace for 1:24 as of mile 10, then finished with 1:23 (6:00 miles for last 3 after running 6:20-6:30 for most of the day). Plus, it's fun to put the hammer down!
Nice work!
P
P -
I know I have a bit of discipline prolem with pace and in this race I was really trying esp since I had no focused training for this event. The hills made it very difficult. I will see what I do on the Shamrock as thats a flat track...although sometimes windy.
Chris - The Shamrock is in Va Beach the weekend after St pats.
R
I did this one last year too. It was where I had the infamous bib number 666!!!! Seriously, who makes that bib!
GV