Missoula Half Marathon
I ran the Missoula half marathon yesterday while vacationing and visiting some friends in Montana. I have never run a half marathon, and used it as my long run for the week, although, since I am on vacation, my training has been mostly a few runs and a couple of swims. I read about half marathon strategy in the wiki, and basically tried to follow that.
It was a nice morning, and the race started at 6:00 am. I got up at 4:00 am, ate a hammer bar, part of a banana, some water and coffee and went to catch the bus to the start line with my friends. While the start was not as harrowing as a swim start, it was a pain getting to my pace in "the herd", and at one point I slightly twisted my ankle on the shoulder of the road while I was trying to navigate around some people. I managed to get pretty close to my target pace the first mile, and somewhere during the second mile things began to clear out and I was able to settle in.
After three miles I kicked it into HMP, and maintained that give or take 15-20 seconds until I reached 10 miles, including slowing down at a couple of aid stations for water, a restroom break, and slowing slightly to suck down a hammer espresso gel at nine miles. I was feeling really good at the 10 mile point, so I pretty much gave it all I could for the last three miles. I finished strong, but definitely felt worked and glad to be done. My time was 1:50:00, which was 8:24/mile, slightly off my HMP of 8:15/mile, but I figured that was not too bad considering the three mile build up to HMP. Actually, I feel really good about my pace personally, because I thought I would end up more like 8:45/mile. I don't think I would change much, besides being more careful when working through "the herd", and maybe not pre-hydrating as much for a shorter race like this so that I wouldn't have to stop at the restroom.
I am taking it pretty easy today, and mostly feel good besides a little soreness in my legs, and slightly more soreness in my twisted ankle, all of which will probably be gone in the next day or two. As I am training for a HIM in August, I feel like this run gave me a good feel for the run. The way I felt during the run and my final time/pace gave me more confidence in my choice to use EN.
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One thing I'll note is that you said that you "feel like this run gave me a good feel for the run." While the distance of the run is the same, IMHO a HIM run and an open Half marathon are completely different. Your legs are gonna be a little used to start the HIM run! But again, follow the plan and it's not anything you won't be prepared for.