The Montgomery Half Marathon saw over 1000 runners participate in wonderful weather on a great course. The weather really could not have been any better. I ran the same course in 2:06 last week and thought I would struggle to get under 2.
I finished in 1:56, an 8:51 per mile pace.
This race was extremely well executed on all fronts. There were plenty of well-staffed water stops and I saw no issues with traffic. Not to mention the number of spectators cheering runners on in the race. The best part: The Alabama State Drumline. Their music added an extra level of motivation through the Alabama State Campus.
I told my wife Mandy, "I need to find drumline music for the iPod."
The post race festvities included Jim N' Nick's Barbecue, Beer, and more Gatorade. The band played classic songs most people would like and many runners and attendees stayed around to see times posted and the awards.
I had no idea Perry Street was that big of a hill.
So, for my first half marathon, I thoroughly enjoyed this event. A big thank you to all of the race volunteers, the police officers, the firemen on Forest Avenue rooting us on, the spectators, and anyone else who helped spread the word about this race.
I look forward to getting a PR at this race next year.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
Thoughts on the Day Before the Race
The best part of pre-race preparation: I eat a lot and call it "fueling" for tomorrow's race. Lot's of carbs, powerade, Mexican food, etc.
My sore hip is still... well sore. I have bursitis. No big deal and everything I have read said that I can run through the pain without causing further damage. I do need to invest in generic ibuprofen for the amount I am taking right now.
The weather looks to be excellent for the race. What a difference a week makes!
My goal is to run under 2 hours, but the primary goal is to finish the race with all body parts intact.
I feel like this race is the culmination of a lot of things. Many runners in the city have bemoaned the fact that we do not have any longer races that involve the downtown area. As of right now, over 900 runners are expected to participate, proving that Montgomery can carry an event like this one.
So good luck. Happy Eating...er Fueling, and I will see you tomorrow.
(I'll be the one in the middle).
My sore hip is still... well sore. I have bursitis. No big deal and everything I have read said that I can run through the pain without causing further damage. I do need to invest in generic ibuprofen for the amount I am taking right now.
The weather looks to be excellent for the race. What a difference a week makes!
My goal is to run under 2 hours, but the primary goal is to finish the race with all body parts intact.
I feel like this race is the culmination of a lot of things. Many runners in the city have bemoaned the fact that we do not have any longer races that involve the downtown area. As of right now, over 900 runners are expected to participate, proving that Montgomery can carry an event like this one.
So good luck. Happy Eating...er Fueling, and I will see you tomorrow.
(I'll be the one in the middle).
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Nice Weather
Have you had the opportunity to run in this nice weather? I ran this morning in long sleeves and my hands were cold. This first week of fall in Montgomery is beautiful with clear skies and a little chill in the air. The leaves have already begun to turn.
I was concerned when the Half Marathon was planned that we might be in for a scorcher, but this race looks to have ideal running conditions: High 77 and Low 53. Last week I ran the course and finished extremely dehydrated as the first 7 miles were humid and the last 6 were just hot!
The race organizers listened to wisdom and modified the course again, this time removing the climb up Adams Avenue at mile 12. The new course takes us over the interstate on Perry, turns us on High Street, and then turns us up Bainbridge to the capitol. Bainbridge is a slight incline until it reaches Hull St., but definitely not what we were facing on Adams.
Time to get in those last training runs prior to the race this Saturday. See you there.
I was concerned when the Half Marathon was planned that we might be in for a scorcher, but this race looks to have ideal running conditions: High 77 and Low 53. Last week I ran the course and finished extremely dehydrated as the first 7 miles were humid and the last 6 were just hot!
The race organizers listened to wisdom and modified the course again, this time removing the climb up Adams Avenue at mile 12. The new course takes us over the interstate on Perry, turns us on High Street, and then turns us up Bainbridge to the capitol. Bainbridge is a slight incline until it reaches Hull St., but definitely not what we were facing on Adams.
Time to get in those last training runs prior to the race this Saturday. See you there.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Course Updated, Check Mapmyrun.com
Hey everyone!
The course has changed one final time, taking out the Adams hill and moving the runners on Winona instead of St. Charles in Capitol Heights.
Check out the new course.
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/al/montgomery/904125364081513246
The course has changed one final time, taking out the Adams hill and moving the runners on Winona instead of St. Charles in Capitol Heights.
Check out the new course.
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/al/montgomery/904125364081513246
Course Run on Saturday
I ran the complete course on Saturday for my last long run prior to the race. My friend and I agreed that the place for spectators to watch is about halfway up Adams Avenue when people realize that there is more hill to come.
Hill runs can be tough, as my still sore hip is reminding me. But, I finished the run in 2:06, just 6 minutes behind my goal pace of 2 hours. The hills are going to be brutal, but maybe the weather will not be quite so humid. (I am tempted to have my wife meet me at the top of Dexter Avenue with a shopping cart, as I am afraid my legs may be unusable by that point.
Please spread the word about this half marathon to your friends and family. Let's be honest, we would all love for this race to happen every year for the benefit of local runners and civic duty for the community, but this race will only succeed insomuch as it is able to produce enough money to make the race worthwhile. We have to make this race worthwhile for the event planners, hosts, sponsors, and the charities the race supports.
So tell people you know to come down to the alley and enjoy a fun event. The more people we bring, the more we will see events like this in our city.
Hill runs can be tough, as my still sore hip is reminding me. But, I finished the run in 2:06, just 6 minutes behind my goal pace of 2 hours. The hills are going to be brutal, but maybe the weather will not be quite so humid. (I am tempted to have my wife meet me at the top of Dexter Avenue with a shopping cart, as I am afraid my legs may be unusable by that point.
Please spread the word about this half marathon to your friends and family. Let's be honest, we would all love for this race to happen every year for the benefit of local runners and civic duty for the community, but this race will only succeed insomuch as it is able to produce enough money to make the race worthwhile. We have to make this race worthwhile for the event planners, hosts, sponsors, and the charities the race supports.
So tell people you know to come down to the alley and enjoy a fun event. The more people we bring, the more we will see events like this in our city.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Beware the Hills, Pace Yourself
I ran a 5 mile hill run today with a stiff, but pain free, hip. I enjoyed the run even though the lack of rain has made the temperature rise. People unfamiliar with the Southeast have no idea what heat and humidity we have to deal with... in late September!
We had a large group this morning and the consensus amongst the group is that you push out of the get up Jefferson at your own peril. Many of these people have been running these roads for years and we would all do well to learn from their experience.
This race course allows for ample chances to make up time once the course levels out. The first three miles of this race have significant hills, then it mostly levels out until the last three miles. This layout gives us seven miles to make up time and even bank time for the future runs.
I will run the course tomorrow for the first and last time before the race. I will also post pictures of the hills as you can only realize how terrible Adams Avenue will be if you see it looking down at you.
We had a large group this morning and the consensus amongst the group is that you push out of the get up Jefferson at your own peril. Many of these people have been running these roads for years and we would all do well to learn from their experience.
This race course allows for ample chances to make up time once the course levels out. The first three miles of this race have significant hills, then it mostly levels out until the last three miles. This layout gives us seven miles to make up time and even bank time for the future runs.
I will run the course tomorrow for the first and last time before the race. I will also post pictures of the hills as you can only realize how terrible Adams Avenue will be if you see it looking down at you.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
"I was Attacked!!"
So, if you are running on Jefferson and forced to use the sidewalk, please take care to dodge the conspicuous long grass. Danger hides there:
Sand Spurs. (I'd load a picture if Blogger would work right... or if I knew how to use it better).
All of the sudden, sharp pains erupt in my foot and force me to stop and investigate what kind of villainy would cause these pains. These embedded darlings attached to my socks and made my fingers bleed as I removed them.
The pain! The horror!
Okay, so it is not that big of a deal. It took 2 minutes and I was able to keep running. I lead a pretty ordinary running life, so I made this experience a little dramatic.
My apologies.
Sand Spurs. (I'd load a picture if Blogger would work right... or if I knew how to use it better).
All of the sudden, sharp pains erupt in my foot and force me to stop and investigate what kind of villainy would cause these pains. These embedded darlings attached to my socks and made my fingers bleed as I removed them.
The pain! The horror!
Okay, so it is not that big of a deal. It took 2 minutes and I was able to keep running. I lead a pretty ordinary running life, so I made this experience a little dramatic.
My apologies.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
