Virginia Beach Rock’n'Roll Half Marathon - new PR 1:21:26
Yesterday at the Rock’n'Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, after nearly 6 years and 10 attempts, I was able to beat my half marathon best time. It was October 2000 at the Norfolk Half Marathon when I ran 1:23:54, and I’ve been trying ever since to run faster. Going into the race I wasn’t really sure what I was capable of, so instead of setting a goal just faster than my current PR, I decided to shoot for something a lot quicker - 1:21:54 (6:15 pace). Of course the plan could backfire, and I’d end up limping home tired and sore, but if I didn’t try, I’d never know.
Foolishly the first mile was completed in 6:03. I guess the adrenaline and crowds at the start got the better of me. I told myself to ease off a bit and tried to settle in to a rhythm as everyone else tried to find their race pace too. Mile 2 and 3 ticked by in 6:15 and 6:20 and I felt very comfortable at this point as we headed south on General Booth Boulevard. Only 10 miles to go 
I unintentionally picked up the pace for the next 2 miles (6:11 and 6:12) and by the 10k mark (mile 6 - 6:18) my legs started to feel heavy. Mile 7 was no better (6:16) and I began to question my plan to go off this quick. I usually start much slower, build into the race and finish strong, but at this point I was already struggling to maintain form and working harder than I’d hoped.
To stave off leg cramps I carried 3 Endurolytes with me in a ziplock bag. I approached the next waterstop, ripped open the bag and dropped 2 of the capsules. No time to stop, so I carried on and hoped that 1 Endurolyte would be better than none.
At this point something strange happened. I forgot my aching legs and heaving lungs. I smiled at the Jaws music and misting station on the outskirts of Camp Pendleton. I got a huge boost from the mass of runners still heading south on General Booth Blvd. One of the high school coaches jokingly warned me about “the huge hill ahead” or Rudee Inlet to the locals. It’s not really a hill, just a bridge over a waterway, and I love to power up the incline knowing there’s a huge crowd just ahead on the turn onto 5th Street. Mile 8 was completed in 6:05 and at this point there was no stopping me. Here you get a glimpse of the runners several minutes ahead. It takes your mind off things for a while and gives you a boost too. Mile 9 was the fastest of the race (5:57), but then things started to get tough.
Mile 10 and 11 (6:13 and 6:09) head due north on Atlantic Avenue. There were more crowds than normal but it was still a big battle to stay focused. I ran along the yellow lines in the middle of the road (a) so I would run straight and (b) to stay off the worse part of the road camber. It was a relief to see the turn on 37th Street knowing there were just over 2 miles to the finish and I hoped the Tropical Hammer Gel at mile 10 would give me some kind of boost (Note: 10 mile split of 1:02:11 would have been another PR).
Good friend Kevin Hupp from KaleRunning was shouting for me at mile 11. I was feeling pretty rough by now, but he helped spur me on. I focused on a group of runners ahead and set my mind on catching them. Even though I slowed slightly in mile 12 (6:12), I still passed 4 or 5 runners. No-one was faster than me on the boardwalk and I stayed strong and focused to the finish (mile 13 - 6:10). My finish time was a blur as I crossed the line but I knew I’d beaten my best by at least a couple of minutes.
2006 is turning out to be my best year of running ever. 2 marathon PR’s and now a half marathon PR. What else can I achieve before the end of the year? Turning 40 in August wasn’t so bad after all….
Race stats:
Overall place: 80th
Gender place: 65th
Age-group place: 6th
Average pace: 6:13
Number of finishers: 16170
Number in age-group: 1107
Number in gender: 7005
5k split: 19:22
10k split: 38:50
10 mile split: 1:02:11
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