Des Moines Half RR

<p>Des Moines Half Marathon</p>
<p>Oct. 17, 2010</p>
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<p>When I got into runing a few years back, I heard that one could expect 5 years or so of PRs.  I didn't know if this rule of thumb worked for codgers like me (late 50's when I started).  Today was an attempt to find out.  My PR in a Half (1:43:30) was a year and a half ago at the Drake Relays.  Last year, I tried to PR at the Des Moines Half but came up about 2 min short.  The course was less hilly than my PR course, so I was irked. Today I again sought a PR at DM so I knew I would have to race this one.  The weather was great: low humidity, temp in the mid 40's to start.  Pre-race preparation went well and included a long run of 26.2 M two weeks before.  A mild cold wouldn't slow me down too much, I thought.  I also thought I might medal if I ran close to a PR, based on previous years' results.</p>
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<p>The race went well for me until about Mile 10.  After a couple of 8-M miles to get in the groove, I was planning to hit 7:50 splits, which I knew would be closer to 7:41 on my Garmin.  Here are the Garmin splits and final time (I remembered to hit the button!).</p>
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<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;">M Split AHR</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">1 7:51 148 with some erroneously high readings (poor electrical contact)</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">2 7:53 137</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">3 7:49 141</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">4 7:43 145</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">5 7:35 148</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">6 7:44 149</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">7 7:46 149</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">8 7:49 149</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">9 7:45 151</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">10 7:53151 max HR 158</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">11 8:06150 slight uphill</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">12 8:24149 hill</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">13 8:05 151</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">.17 7:49 154 max HR 156</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">1:43:29.39</span></span></p>
<p> 6/38 AG</p>
<p>411/3914 OA</p>
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<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Great, you say.  A PR! Unfortunately, the unofficial results had me with a 1:43:30.  Don't they know how to round? Maybe this will change before they get the web site results up.  Even if it doesn't, it was a good day.  Obviously, I've still got some learning to do about how to really race.  Oh, and a few of those durn 55-59 guys must have moved up to 60-64, because I was 4th in my AG last year.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">ETA: placement info and to confirm that the official time was 1:43:30</span></span></p>