[Kriddie]

<span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">Warning: This may be the longest race report evah! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy"></span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">Sunday October 21st was my second Detroit Half Marathon and my third half in my running career.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">It had been a year and a half since my last half. After training last year for Detroit, I wasn’t able to run it so I was ready to prove myself and see what kind of improvements I had made. My first two had the simple goal of finishing. My times were Detroit 2005, 2:17 and Indy 2006, 2:18.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">Goals for this race: Beat 2:17. Get as close to 2:10 as possible. Take a decent race pic.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">Race started at 7:15. I picked up my cousin and we made it down to the starting area in plenty of time despite the dreams I had had the previous two nights in which I was late for the race and ended up missing the start.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">I learned two important things during this race. The first was to come now. The start was on a boulevard with the full marathoners starting on one side and the half marathon runners and walkers on the other. There were corral starts and after we located our area, decided to find the porta potties. They were across the street from our start area and we ended up waiting a good 15 minutes to get to the front. By this time we couldn’t cut across the boulevard to get to our corral so we ended up having to walk to the end of the half marathoners start area. Not enough time to fight our way up to our corral so we stayed put. Gun went off and it took us over 7 minutes to cross the start. Not a big deal until less than 100 feet after starting, we came to a complete stop! Complete gridlock with walkers and slower runners. Spent the first mile doing the dodge, hoping to find some space. First mile, 11:14!</span></span><br><br><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">Got going and soon we were up and over the Ambassador Bridge as the sun was rising. Windy, but very scenic. Passed people all the way up, which is a 5% incline for the first half mile. That was my second slowest mile after the first at 10:04. Several times during the race I was running around 9:40s which is good for me to be doing on a consistent basis and I was feeling good, not struggling at this pace at all.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">Along the Canadian riverfront and into the tunnel to get back to Detroit. The tunnel is probably my least favorite part. Cramped and hot, not extra air and it is somewhat of a struggle at the end because you are going up and twisting out at the same time. Again, on the way out there was a time when I was right on top of people and had to slow down.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">About 5 miles left after the tunnel and the course does twist a bit through the city streets. However, there is great crowd support and plenty of water/Gatorade along the route. Make the final turn and run 4 blocks to the finish line. There was no finish on Ford Field as in previous years, I do hope they are able to get that back next year. My Garmin took a dive around mile 11 but it was all screwy after the tunnel anyway. I knew though that I was close to 2:10.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">Chip time 2:11:21. A new PR by 6 minutes!! I’m happy about it although I keep thinking that if had been in my proper corral I wouldn’t have had such a slow first mile and I probably would have come in under 2:10. Next year.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">Lessons learned. Line up in proper corral. I know the importance of not lining up too close to the front. But, I now know the importance of not being too far in the back either.</span></span><br><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">More importantly, I learned that by following a training program that incorporated tempo runs and longer mid week runs I really could make a significant difference in my time. I think that this is what really allowed me to “race” not just finish. For this, I thank my 30s friends for always giving advice on how to tweak my schedule whenever I asked. I was thinking of you all during my race.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">As for the decent race pic, we'll have to wait and see but I'm not holding my breath.</span></span><br>

 

[runningINnyc]

Yeahhhhhh Kristin!!!! I'm so glad you got the chance to get out there and prove your mad running skillz. Congratulations on a great race and big PR! You've made us all so proud. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile">

 

[Nick]

Thanks for the race report, and congrats on the PR! It was nice reliving some Detroit HM memories. Too bad about the Ford Field finish - I loved finishing that way! (and writhing on the turf in pain after <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink"> )

 

[McTortle]

<b>Kristin</b> - you rock! Congratulations on your PR!!! WOOHOOOOOOO!!

 

[sauconRunner]

Way to go <b>Kristin</b>, what a rockin' <b>PR</b>!<br><br>
I've also learned to not start too far back, especially in the shorter races, it really hurts your time.

 

[Ailarie]

Kristin - Way to go! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile">

 

[Timr1]

That's awesome, congrats on your race, you're going to crush 2:10 next time out.

 

[hawki#2]

Awesome <b>Kriddie!</b> Way to get after it!!!

 

[KP]

<b>Kriddie</b> - very nice. One of two things need to happen next year: either you come west to run Grand Rapids or us head east to run Detroit.

 

[Litchfield Hills]

WTG <b>Kriddle</b> - always nice to get the results from your training.

 

[Frankie71]

Great job <b>kriddie!</b> I think you are right, get into the correct corral next year and you got 2:10 beat! Great job and a great report!!

 

[phillytom]

Congrats on the PR! That's awesome! You smashed your old PR with some smart training. Totally awesome.<br><br>
Now if you figure out the secret to good race photos, we are all ears <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile">

 

[Auntie Moe]

Woohoo!!! Way to go, girl! Great job<br><br>
ps that wasn't even close to the longest race report ever! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">

 

[keriksen]

Great job <b>Kriddie</b>! It's too bad you got stuck in the wrong corral -- you definitely could have had that 2:10. Next time!<br><br>
Congratulations on a huge PR and a well run race!

 

[NCRG71]

Job well done <b>Kriddie</b>!<br>
2:10 is yours next time!

 

[mmoonptdeux]

Great job <b>Kriddie</b>! Sounds like you're progressing nicely - some more steady work, and I'd say 2:10 is definitely history and you'll be knocking on the 2-hour mark.<br><br>
Nice to have some Detroit references - I remember going across that Amabassador Bridge a couple times, but I don't recall ever taking the tunnel.

 

[eccabex]

Great Job Kristin!

 

[equinox marathon 43]

Awesome job Kristin!<br><br>
But you've got a lot to learn about writing a LONG race report! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">

 

[CactusTri]

<span style="color:#FF0000;"><span style="font-size:xx-large;">1<br><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:small;">And yup, that was not the longest race report ever. Congrats on a great time, even with a back of the pack start!</span></span><br></span></span>

 

[Jensparks]

Congrats on your PR!<br><br>
The tunnel sounds not so much fun (especially when I'm so claustrophobic).