The results...A new half-marathon PR of 1:31:53 (official time)with average mile pace of 7:01!! Placed 35th out of 643 overall and 4th in age group (more to come on this later, keep reading).
I knew when waking up that I was going to have to run with a strategy of taking what the wind gave me as I have issues running in the wind. I would rather run hills, at least there is a downside to a hill! I knew from the wind direction and course knowledge that the wind would be in my face most of the way out and some on the way back with wind pushing me the last 2-3 miles. For once, my strategy to back off a little against the wind and going faster during times of no wind or wind at my back worked perfectly as I did not waste too much energy fighting the wind. My mile splits show exactly where the wind was and was not.
| Split | Time | Avg Speed |
| 1 | 0:06:58 | 6:58 |
| 2 | 0:06:47 | 6:47 |
| 3 | 0:06:44 | 6:44 |
| 4 | 0:07:13 | 7:13 |
| 5 | 0:07:20 | 7:20 |
| 6 | 0:07:08 | 7:08 |
| 7 | 0:07:08 | 7:08 |
| 8 | 0:07:05 | 7:05 |
| 9 | 0:07:12 | 7:12 |
| 10 | 0:07:03 | 7:03 |
| 11 | 0:07:01 | 7:01 |
| 12 | 0:06:45 | 6:45 |
| 13 | 0:06:27 | 6:27 |
| 14 | 0:01:01 | 5:49 |
| Summary | 1:31:58 | 6:58 |
I feel especially good about my time because my legs really have felt like crap. With only being three weeks out from the Gasparilla Marathon, I wasn't sure what to expect. The legs felt pretty dead the first half of the race until I got my first gel down at mile six and the wind wasn't in my face as bad. The race started into the wind for the first mile then turned back and went into a tree lined loop back through the starting area. It was then five miles out to the lookout point and then turn around for the last five miles. I got a huge lift looking at the most awesome sunrise I have ever seen with a huge sun coming up over the Skyway Bridge. I wish I would have had a camera with me. I had a few guys pass me as I was running into the wind around miles 4 and 5, but I picked off all but a couple as I surged the last miles of the race.
The only bummer of the day was my 4th place finish in my age group which contains a valuable lesson never to be repeated again. I lost 3rd place by four seconds due to my own stupidity. The guy that beat me had passed me earlier in the race and I got him back around mile 11. I thought I had pretty much lost him as I poured it on mile 13. But, he hung onto me and I could hear him coming as we approached the end of mile 13. We turned into the parking lot right into the stiffest wind of the day (did I mention it was raining too?) which I really leaned into to hold my momentum. I don't know if it was a combination of me tiring or him surging, but he made a move to get by me on the turn into the finish that I failed to go with. Once he got away, it was too late to fight him. Seeing that the clock was still under 1:32, I poured it on myself to ensure I got under which I was thrilled about until I saw the results sheet and the guy I didn't go with was the one who took 3rd in my age group. So, lesson learned...No matter what, I will fight off anybody going to the finish line (people be warned)!!
Next up is the Hare Racing Experience 5K April 3rd at USF. Only five more weeks until the Kentucky Derby Marathon! Hopefully, I can get two solid weeks of training before tapering.
[caption id="attachment_371" align="aligncenter" width="332" caption="New Half-Marathon PR of 1:31:55...AWESOME!!"]
After the race, we broke down camp and went to the lookout point to see the Skyway Bridge and then did some shelling at the beach.
[caption id="attachment_372" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The Skyway Bridge"]
[caption id="attachment_373" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Kite Surfers in front of the Skyway."]
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