I used to be not excited to run the Mountains 2 Seaside Half Marathon, if we’re being trustworthy. I initially signed up for it earlier than getting the abdomen flu and common flu. The common flu, particularly, wrecked me three years in the past. This 12 months, it wrecked me about as a lot. Which, humorous sufficient, three years in the past was the final time I ran M2B. Throw in a marathon lower than a month earlier than, and I wasn’t anticipating huge issues. However I’m cussed and signed up for the race, so I used to be going to do it, darn it. I do like M2B Half Marathon, however have been there higher years to do it…after all. The flu+marathon restoration the month prior didn’t lead me to assume: wow at the moment is the day I’m lastly going to run underneath 1:30 within the half once more. To be honest, there have been various halves I’ve carried out within the final 7 months that I felt like I used to be “so shut” to working a sub 1:30 however one thing went incorrect.
It felt like there was at all times one thing.
Earlier than Mountains 2 Seaside Half Marathon:
The day earlier than the Mountains 2 Seaside Half Marathon was my 10-year wedding ceremony anniversary. That was extra of the main focus, and we left for the race later, however it all ended up figuring out. Packet pickup was largely simple, and we celebrated with good ole Olive Backyard the evening earlier than. During the last two years, I’ve develop into extra of a fan of Olive Backyard… anyway.
I attempted to go to mattress early, however there was some kind of celebration taking place subsequent door, and so they have been loud till the wee hours of the morning. My sleep was not nice, and the three:30 a.m. alarm got here early. I used to be so grouchy, however I truly wakened not feeling too drained and simply bought prepared. I met Brittany and we left for the race buses. We parked in a downtown Ventura parking construction and bought on the bus round 4:30. It was very uneventful and simply how I prefer it. We truly arrived pretty early with no toilet traces. We did about 0.8 miles of a warmup after which headed again. From there, we simply frolicked, after which the race began simply after 6:10.
My aim for the Mountains 2 Seaside Half Marathon was to run quicker than 1:34 (which I ran three years in the past, a month after the flu). To be trustworthy, I felt prefer it was a 50-50 shot. Three years in the past, I used to be shocked I ran that quick.
Mountains 2 Seaside Half Marathon Race:
Gear used:
I truly thought the Mountains 2 Seaside Half Marathon race was greater than it’s. There have been perhaps 2,000–3,000 individuals initially. Instantly, we have been off and the 1:30 pacer flew by me.
I instructed myself: Hollie, it’s worthwhile to relax.
Between the flu and working a marathon, at the moment of all days shouldn’t be the day it’s best to cling with the 1:30 pacer. I’ve run a sequence of half marathons these days all between 1:30:50–1:32. I’ve identified I’m in sub-1:30 form, however I simply haven’t had the appropriate day. Between COVID, abdomen flu, and flu during the last six months that each one appear to manifest round working half marathons, it’s been an unlucky string of occasions.
The primary mile of the Mountains 2 Seaside Half Marathon, I hit in 6:53 precisely. I felt okay, but in addition like I used to be working exhausting. I used to be about 5 seconds behind of the 1:30 pacer. The subsequent mile I stayed there, though I may see the 1:30 pacer pulling away. We went up a small hill and I ran 6:54.
I seen there was a man filming a complete crew’s race in entrance of me. At first, I assumed he was a part of the race however rapidly realized he was not. He stayed off the course for some, however with automobiles coming, he did come on the course. I didn’t see him minimize anybody off, however he was weaving out and in, which is tremendous disruptive to runners to start with. He would cease, whiz by, weave out and in, and it made me uncomfortable. What if he had fallen? He was there for 100% of the race, and there’s no must have 100% of your race filmed. On the finish, I heard the announcers asserting one thing like: “oh wow right here comes a person on a scooter, filming”? I want they’d have stated please don’t do that on the course.
From there we have been welcomed with a downhill and I ran 6:36 and 6:37. I felt like I used to be catching the 1:30 pacer, however they have been nonetheless 5–10 seconds forward. I used to be simply working my very own race, and I’ve at all times identified sticking with pacers shouldn’t be actually for me anyway.
The Mountains 2 Seaside Half Marathon grew to become extra of a grind for me. I spotted that at mile 5, I used to be nonetheless feeling first rate and perhaps it may very well be my day to run quick. It was round then I made a decision, you already know what, I’m simply going to essentially attempt to run quick and never surrender on myself. So what if it doesn’t appear to be the appropriate day for it? I ran a 6:41 mile 5 and 6. By the point I knew it, I used to be on the midway level in 44:10. I took a Maurten 100 caffeine.
I stored pondering, that’s a 1:28:20 on an excellent day. I knew miles 10 and 11 of the Mountains 2 Seaside Half Marathon are fairly tough (hill-wise), and I doubtless wouldn’t run the identical tempo.
We entered the working path and it grew to become type of congested with runners and sometimes 10kers (which made the man filming extra irritating). I ran a 6:39 mile 8, which was in all probability too quick and made miles 9–13 barely more durable.
At mile 9, I instructed myself lower than half-hour. I ran a 6:43 mile 10 after which 6:56 mile 11. The hills at mile 11 are usually not nice. (I imply actually, who needs hills at mile 11 if you’ve barely had any hills?) However I stored focus and actually pushed it. I used to be actually pleased with myself for retaining it underneath 7-minute tempo as a result of whew did that damage.
As we entered the out and again at mile 12 after which seeing the end line round 12.5, I may inform it was a grind. I had about 4 minutes to go 0.65 and it felt prefer it was going to be shut. After I noticed I had solely three minutes to get to the end line, I assumed there isn’t any means I’ll be there earlier than 1:30. I stored pushing and at last I noticed the clock click on 1:29:30 once I was shut. I powered to the end (and boy, it was not fairly) and ran a 1:29:40. My first sub-1:30 half marathon because the Santa Barbara Half Marathon.
Mountains 2 Seaside Half Marathon Ideas:
I knew I wanted so much to go proper for me to interrupt 1:30 once more. The climate wanted to be first rate (and it was at Mountains 2 Seaside Half Marathon, about 50–60 and foggy). I wanted to really feel first rate (and I did, though I didn’t really feel superb), and the course wanted to be quick (Mountains 2 Seaside Half Marathon is a quick course).
So it simply lined up for me on the day. I don’t assume the Mountains 2 Seaside Half Marathon race course is scenic, however it’s quick. I nonetheless can’t imagine I broke 1:30 once more within the half, as a result of it’s felt like this aim has been there endlessly.
I’m wanting ahead to working shorter stuff this summer time.
You may see Strava right here and all race recaps right here.
Interested by how I do gear critiques? You may examine that right here. Love working? You may subscribe to my weekly e-newsletter or learn extra about trainers in my e-book.
Questions for you:
Have you ever run the Mountains 2 Seaside Half Marathon?What’s your favourite half marathon?
