Richmond Half Marathon Recap 1:31.03

Final yr, I spectated the Richmond Half Marathon as a result of I bought injured with a hamstring harm shortly earlier than. I by no means bought the possibility to run once I lived in Virginia and New Jersey, however the timing appears to work effectively now that I come again and go to simply earlier than Thanksgiving. I hoped to run this yr, and coaching had been going effectively.

I do know, in my bones, that I’m in sub-1:30 form; it simply must be the best day and the best time. I hoped that day can be Richmond. It was not, and now trying again I understand I used to be simply starting to get sick which is why I had a scarcity of power.

I’ll say the race photographs are lackluster this yr

Earlier than the Richmond Half Marathon

Touring again to the East Coast this yr was form of brutal. As a result of I get up between 4:00–4:30 for work, going again to East Coast time isn’t normally horrible. For no matter cause, this time round I’ve been so drained. I’ve slept 11 hours twice. So waking up at 4:45 East Coast time (1:45 PST) has not been nice. We arrived in Richmond considerably late, bought our packets, and had been in mattress at 9:00 p.m. We opted to remain at a resort that was walkable to the Richmond Half Marathon. 4:45 race day got here early, and I awakened feeling exhausted.

Not like the Las Vegas Half Marathon a few weeks prior, I didn’t get up with, “I wish to run sub-90 at present.” I awakened with, “I’m so comfortable I’m attending to run this one this yr.” I bought prepared and bought to the Richmond Half Marathon a bit later than I hoped as a result of I used to be slow-moving. I did a 1-ish mile warmup and headed to the Richmond Half Marathon begin. The Richmond Half Marathon begin will get very crowded, and you’re actually bumper to bumper, so I like to recommend getting there early. I waited and waited, and the race went off a couple of minutes late at 7:19.

Richmond Half Marathon Race

After I began operating, I didn’t really feel good. It was crowded, and my calves had been so stiff and I simply had a basic lack of power. I assumed, Wow, it’s not my day at present. I didn’t really feel horrible, however I felt stiff, and my legs simply felt heavy. I used to be instantly upset. I hit the primary mile in 6:59, and I assumed, Whew, if I can common 7:15 tempo at present, I suppose I’ll be comfortable. I attempted to cause with myself that final yr, I watched this race on the sidelines, so be grateful this yr.

The following few miles had been fairly uneventful. I used to be simply plodding alongside. There are quite a lot of small hills on the Richmond Half Marathon, however there isn’t a “large hill.” The small hills simply add up. I ran 7:06, 7:04, 7:01, and mile 5 was a 7:07. After I hit mile 5 of the Richmond Half Marathon and noticed the 7:07, I assumed, Nicely, I suppose at present actually shouldn’t be my day. We had been operating by means of an exquisite park, and it was good to take pleasure in some nature as a substitute of the same old metropolis streets.

I hit the 10K round 44 minutes and thought: That’s nonetheless sooner than you’ve run many 10Ks in recent times. It was proper on observe for a 1:32 half marathon, and I assumed: OK, effectively, that isn’t unhealthy, particularly since you’re not feeling it at present. I used to be being exhausting on myself for actually no cause.

I ran mile 6 in 6:48 with the entire downhill after which mile 7 in 7:10 coming again up. At the moment, I took a UCAN gel. Round mile 7, I noticed I really felt higher than once we began. I didn’t really feel unhealthy in any respect. I by no means determined to “push it,” however I may really feel myself selecting up the tempo when others had been beginning to fade. I started the well-known runner countdown of six miles to go… then 5. I additionally knew that round 12.5–12.75 was a steep downhill. So mentally, I started counting all the way down to 12.5.

I hit mile 8 in 6:55 and mile 9 in 6:53. I used to be not feeling superb, however I used to be feeling quite a bit higher than the beginning of the race. We met up with the 8K runners, however Richmond does it effectively—half marathoners are on one aspect of the street, and 8K runners are on the opposite. This looks like a primary factor to do, however the variety of races that don’t do that and simply enable it to be chaotic is…quite a bit.

I began individuals within the distance and simply making an attempt to catch as much as them. I ran a 6:53 adopted by a 6:47, after which 6:55. By the point I knew it, it was mile 12, and I knew I may push the final a part of the race. Everybody at all times says don’t push the final half mile of the Richmond Half Marathon as a result of you possibly can injure your self. Did I pay attention? No, though I informed myself to take it exhausting however not “too exhausting,” I ended up operating 5:38 tempo down the hill. I crossed the Richmond Half Marathon end in 1:31:03.

Richmond Half Marathon Ideas

I’m pleased with my race on the Richmond Half Marathon. It began off rocky and I actually didn’t assume it was my day as a result of my calves and physique simply felt so drained. It was nonetheless my quickest half marathon in three years, so I can’t complain. Reflecting nearly per week later, I used to be on the beginnings of getting sick so that may be a massive confidence booster. (Now if I can recover from the illness, that may be nice).

I nonetheless consider on a great day I can run underneath 1:30, however that can possible have to attend till the spring. Anyway, they at all times say don’t decide a race by your first mile, however I simply wanted seven to heat up.