Hi all,<br><br>
Thanks for the kudos.<br><br>
Here's the full race report.<br><br><span style="font-size:large;"><b>Town of Wilmington, Massachusetts Happy Birthday Half Marathon</b></span><br><b><i>September 30th, 2007</i></b><br><i>Wilmington, MA</i><br><br>
The 3rd annual Town of Wilmington, Massachusetts Happy Birthday Half Marathon was run this morning at 10am. As a nearly lifelong resident of Wilmington, this race is special to me. I have run in all three of the half marathons. Two years ago, I set my personal best (PR) in a 1/2 marathon on this course with a 1:37:02.<br><br>
For those who have not been following my training this year, my primary goal race for the fall was the <a href="http://www.equinoxmarathon.org" target="_blank">Equinox Marathon</a> in Fairbanks, Alaska. In order to prepare for the Equinox, I followed the Pete Pfitzinger/Scott Douglas 18-week, up to 70 miles per week training program nearly to the letter of the plan. Then, about 2 weeks ago while I was in Fairbanks for the Equinox, I came down with a nasty cold. I started the Equinox with a fever, chest congestion, a sore throat, and a headache. I was pulled off the course by paramedics at mile 12.7 with hypothermia. I was disappointed, but chose to focus on new goals for the rest of the fall.<br><br>
The Wilmington half-marathon had always been a possibility for me even after the Equinox. Had things gone well in Fairbanks, I probably would have just run this race for fun. I also plan on running in the Bay State Marathon in 2 weeks in Lowell, Massachusetts.<br><br>
With another marathon coming up in two weeks, my plan for the Wilmington half-marathon was simple, I was going to run this race as a long training run, and not race it. I was just going to enjoy being out on the course with other runners on a long run, and not have to wear my CamelBack.<br><br>
The weather for the race was absolutely awesome. At the starting line, the temperature was 57 degrees with partly cloudy skies, low humidity, and no wind to speak of. By the time I was finished, the temperature was only up to 62 degrees. Those conditions were absolutely perfect for a run.<br><br>
At the starting line, I met up with 2 runners that I talk with online about running. I re-iterated my plan to them. This was to be a training run, nothing more.<br><br>
So, what is it that someone once said about the best laid plans of mice and men? They're usually about equal!<br><br>
I lined up near the back of the field of runners. As soon as the siren went off, I started running and I noticed I was going faster than I had planned. My heart rate monitor showed me that I was definitely running faster than I had planned. At that point I had a decision to make, either I was going to pull it back or I was going to race this thing.<br><br>
The course is billed as a fairly flat course. Looking at <a href="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=392581" target="_blank">the course profile</a>, you can see that the course is pretty flat. There are a few rolling hills in it, but often, the hills feel more like uphill false-flats than anything. They're nothing to write home about.<br><br>
The times shown below come from my watch, and are not the official times from the race.<br><br><b>Mile 1 - 7:24.9 - 7:24.9</b> - This was far faster than I had planned on running in this race. However, I was feeling good, and the weather was perfect, so I decided it was time to have some fun. My heart rate was in the high 160s at that point, which was a bit of a concern, but I decided I'd just see if I could hold it together for the race.<br><br><b>Mile 2 - 7:28.0 - 14:52.9</b> - The heart rate remained high during this mile, as I averaged 171 BPM over mile 2. However, I wasn't feeling I was overdoing it. I wasn't hot and I wasn't breathing that hard. I just felt comfortable.<br><br><b>Mile 3 - 7:26.1 - 22.19.0</b> - This mile was very flat, and I tried to focus on keeping the heart rate in the 160s. At one point during this mile, I heard another runner say "We're running about a 1:45 pace right?" I said "We're well above that."<br><br><b>Mile 4 - 7:18.6 - 29:37.6</b> - Another fairly flat mile. The heart rate went into the low 170s again, but I still felt comfortable, so I decided not to worry about it too much.<br><br><b>Mile 5 - 7:30.5 - 37:08.1</b> - During mile 5, I met up with a man from England. We talked for a while about other races we had done. We ran together for a little while. I was nice to have some company. My heart rate went back into the high 160s during this mile, but it averaged 172, so obviously I was still pushing it a little bit. At the mile 5 marker, I grabbed my first GU energy gel that was pinned to my shorts.<br><br><b>Mile 6 - 7:36.1 - 44:44.2</b> - I ran with the gentleman from England most of this mile too. We were running comfortably side by side. The heart rate was about 169 at the end of this mile.<br><br><b>Mile 7 - 7:57.3 - 52:41.5</b> - This mile surprised me. I felt I was still running consistent, but I had slowed down by over 20 seconds? My heart rate was also up in the mid-170s at this point. I was thinking to myself "I must be starting to lose it." I knew there was a hill near the end of mile 7, but it wasn't that big, and I couldn't figure out what why I was so slow in that mile.<br><br><b>Mile 8 - 6:49.9 - 59:31.4</b> - Okay, now mile 7 made more sense to me. I suspect Mile 7 was long and Mile 8 was short. Why? I don't think I ran a 7:57.3 during mile 7, but I <b>KNOW</b> I didn't run a 6:49.9 mile at any point during the race. The heart rate was at 174 and averaged 173 during mile 8. Mile 8 is run through an industrial area, and there is little shade, so I was out in the sun. I felt the heat just a bit during that mile, but it really wasn't too bad.<br><br><b>Mile 9 - 7:32.2 - 1:07:03.6</b> - Now that's a bit more like it. I was starting to notice my legs were getting a bit tired, but I just kept telling myself just keep it going. You'll be fine. Also, at the mile 9 marker, I looked at my watch and said "I have a shot at a personal best if I can crank it up just a little bit." The heart rate was in the low 170s but it averaged 175 during that mile.<br><br><b>Mile 10 - 7:21.5 - 1:14:25.1</b> - That was a good mile. The legs still felt a little tired, but I was catching a few runners in front of me, and that gave me a bit of an energy burst. Also, at mile 10 I ate my second GU energy gel. So at the end of mile 10, I still had a shot at a new PR if I kept it going.<br><br><b>Mile 11 - 7:21.9 - 1:21:47.0</b> - Not too bad, but when I looked at my watch I said to myself "It looks like the PR isn't going happen. It'll be close, but I don't think it's going to happen." The heart rate was now at 179 and averaged 176. I was noticing my breathing was much more labored than it had been.<br><br><b>Mile 12 - 7:18.4 - 1:29:05.4</b> - Good mile, but not good enough I told myself. The PR is out of the question at this point. After all, the heart rate is now at 180 and averaged 179 during that mile. My cumulative time was 1:29:05 at this point. That meant I had to run the last 1.1 miles in under 7:56 to set a new PR. There was no way that was going to happen.<br><br><b>Mile 13 - 7:06.8 - 1:36:12.2</b> - I decided at this point I was going to go for broke and open things up a little more. The PR would never happen if I didn't try. So I did all I could to put the soreness, the tired legs, and the labored breathing out of my mind. When I got to the mile 13 marker, my heart rate was 191 beats per minute and it averaged 184 during that mile.<br><br><b>Mile 13.1 - 0:27.0 - 1:36:39.2</b> - I did my best to put on a final sprint. As I turned the final corner I saw the finish line clock was in the 1:36:30 range. My final kick over the last few miles had been barely enough to get the new PR. The heart rate at the finish was 193 and averaged 192 during that last 0.1 mile.<br><br><b><span style="text-decoration:underline;">OFFICIAL FINISHING TIME:</span></b> 1:36:41 <b><i>NEW PR</i></b> Previous PR: 1:37:02 on the same course.<br><b><span style="text-decoration:underline;">OFFICIAL OVERALL FINISHING POSITION:</span></b> 23rd out of just over 104<br><b><span style="text-decoration:underline;">OFFICIAL UNDER 39 MALE FINISHING POSITION:</span></b> 16th out of 33<br><b><span style="text-decoration:underline;">OFFICIAL MALE FINISHING POSITION:</span></b> 22nd out of 70<br><br>
I obviously am quite happy with the result of today's run. This is some vindication for what happened in Fairbanks at the Equinox Marathon. It also gives me a rough idea of what to expect in the Bay State Marathon.<br><br>
I also want to add that this half-marathon is a great little race. The race director does a great job getting volunteers. The Wilmington Police Department had plenty of people on the course to protect runners. There were also plenty of people on the course to point the runners in the right direction. There were official water stops every two miles, but some local residents also put out their own water stops, and that was a big help too. The course is flat enough that you can run a quick time, but it has enough rolling hills and false-flats that it will challenge you just a little bit. If you're thinking about a half-marathon next fall, <b><i>please</i></b> consider this race. It is an excellent small half-marathon that we would all like to see grow into something a little bigger.<br><br>
Thanks for reading.
