Running-Road race 1:24:42 [5] 13.15 mi (6:26 / mi) +11m 6:25 / mi
shoes: Asics GT2000-4
Monumental Half Marathon.
Without a qualifying time, I was stuck in the back at the start with a bunch of people who had either taken a hiatus from racing or had never raced a half or full marathon (including me). This made for an anti-climactic "10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-GO!" when the count should have started at "300-299-298 ..." So I tried to pass a few people as I made my way up to the line, as if it would speed up my first mile. Maybe it did, but the pace was very inconsistent for Mile 1, leading to a slow time. As the race started to spread out, my pace sped up a huge amount (7, 6.5, 6). I intentionally slowed down a little bit so that I didn't run it like a 10K. I was even on my slow goal at 3mi (20:00) and fast at 6mi and 9mi (under 40, 60). After the half and full marathons traveled up Fall Creek, I sped up. Then I ascended the courses largest hill ( not very big) and listened to a disappointing marching band. At 10.3 mi, I ascended the courses 2nd largest hill (literally onto a bridge over Fall Creek) and got some support from OJoy. The next stretch was the most boring and painful because it was a 2.6mi straight down Meridian Street and I was starting to get a blister. But the pace didnt slow down too much. I had enough for somewhat of a sprint finish (at least not getting passed in the last 400). I was passing people all race. Probably thousands by the time the race was done.