AM... Spanish Fork 1/2 Marathon. The plan for Spanish Fork was much the same as it was for the Park City 1/2... I wanted to go out around marathon pace (5:55-6:00) and then drop the pace as the race went on. I didn't want to be overly competitive, but at the same time figured that once we hit the middle of the race, could drop time if I was feeling good. I met up with James at the start and we warmed up 2 miles together. Then at the starting line we saw Chad as well. Among the three of us, we decided to go out on around marathon pace for at least the first 4-6 miles, and then drop pace if we felt good. The three of us went out together for about the first three miles or so, and when I didn't grab any water a small gap opened between myself, Chad and James. I really didn't speed up--just wanted to stay on pace and didn't feel I needed water so early on. Chad surged to join me, but James hung back a little bit. Chad tracked off my shoulder until somewhere around the 5 mile mark, and I started to slip away from him--I didn't really make any strong moves, just kind of wound up that I sped up a small amount and Chad stayed about even. However, we hit a pretty good uphill around 6 1/2 miles, and I worked the hill pretty hard to stay on 6:00 pace, and when we hit the downhill I opened up and popped a 5:29. I figured that would give me a pretty good cushion, so dropped back to around 5:40 pace, and stayed at that pace for the remainder of the race. I think if I was really "racing" this 1/2 that I could have probably held about 5:40 pace--so somewhere around 1:14. That being said, I was hoping I could have closed a little bit faster the last 3 miles--more like 5:35 pace, but all in all I can't complain. It was mission accomplished for the run/workout--and good day for Wasatch Running Center as Chad and I went 1-2. After, James and I ran the 5K route for cool down and Chad hooked up with us for about 1/2 of it after running in with his wife (who was running the 5K)--total of 18.2 for the day (although James says he's going to refuse to be so exact on his mileage, even though he has a Garmin now!). Here's the race breakdown... Mile #1 - 5:52 (Packed up w/Chad, James, and one other guy)
Mile #2 - 6:02 (Still pack running)
Mile #3 - 6:01 (Still pack running, but some slight gaps)
Mile #4 - 5:53 (James dropped off a little, Chad is running off my shoulder)
Mile #5 - 5:52 (Chad and I still together, but it seems like I'm pulling away)
Mile #6 - 5:55 (I have a gap on Chad at this point, although I don't really know how--I haven't really made any sort of move)
Mile #7 - 5:59 (Steepest uphill section--maybe 1/2 mile long or a little longer. I feel like I'm a pretty decent uphill runner, so I pushed here a little bit hoping to create a bigger gap)
Mile #8 - 5:29 (Turned the corner of the uphill and saw a fair downhill ahead. Since it came after a turn, I surged pretty hard knowing I could put a pretty good amount of time on the field.
Mile #9 - 5:42 (Wanted to settle back to 5:40ish pace for 2-3 miles)
Mile #10 - 5:41 (Still just hanging on pace, feel OK, not great)
Mile #11 - 5:43 (Still just hanging on pace, feel OK, not great)
Mile #12 - 5:42 (Was hoping to drop pace here down to about 5:35, but just didn't have it. With such a big lead, I just figured I would finish out the run--the purpose of the workout was accomplished either way).
Mile #13 - 5:40 (Staying on pace--had to come to a 3/4 stop crossing a road that wasn't traffic controlled)
.1 - 31 (Finish in 1:16:08 - Not a bad time--especially going out slow and working the second half of the run). Afterward I went to the CC meet hosted by BYU at East Bay Golf Course--it was a great race, and Minnesota beat BYU... all is right in the world!
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