Sometimes you should go with how you've been running and to not over think things when you are in shape on a perfect weather day! I had been running 2:14 halfs the first three marathons this year, but decided to slow it down like I had last year the first half because I had a time 15 minutes faster at RnR Seattle last year. I was only 5 minutes slower at mile 10, so right where I wanted to be and then I hit the bridge with the head winds and the tunnel for 3 miles. I didn't realize I had slowed down those miles to nearly 14 minutes and was horrified when I saw my half time 2:27:36, which was nearly 5 minutes slower then last year!
All I could do was think, "well I did a negative split last year, I need to be close this time now" and managed a 2:30:14 second half. But I had came to the realization at mile 22 that if I didn't pick it up I would be over 5 hours. The next three miles were 9:40 and my last partialy steep mile point 2 was a 11:31 pace but I knew I had two minutes to spare and thankfully didn't have to keep going at break neck speed. Bottom line, I was strong enough to pull it off so I pulled a rabbit out of my hat and salvaged good feelings when hitting the finish line for the second straight year at RnR Seattle!
The highlight of this marathon was having my two Son's run the half with me. I ran into Elisha at my mile 13 and his mile 10, which was fantastic to see him considering there were 27,000 runners all bunched up at the time! They had stellar runs too, David improved his time nearly 12 minutes from his first Tacoma Narrows run in 2008 and Elisha ran his first half with a very similar time to David's. Great job for the Gentry's on a day I'll always hold special! They used the half marathon runs for boy scout badges, David is and Eagle scout and Elisha will be an Eagle Scout this year and I imagine they will one day run a full marathon!
I believe I peaked at Discovery for the Spring/Summer season but it's how you feel at the end that shows if you trained correctly and the next day I felt wonderful, so I will continue to run RnR Seattle as my last run of the season each year, Lord willing!
My Son David made the Northwest runner magazine by simply collapsing! I had to write an article to bet into their publication! :-)
