Fox Cities Half Marathon Race Report

09.23.12 - Fox Cities Half Marathon

So, I always use the Fox Cities Half Marathon to gauge my training and fitness level. This year is a little different, as in the past my goal race is normally three weeks after this race, but this year I still have another six before I will run my goal race. The weather this year was unbelievable and reminded me a lot of Chicago 2009. Temperatures in the low 30s at start with a light cross wind to tail wind of around 8 mph. I lined up in the first row and was guaranteed a clean start, which is always key. Going into the race, my goal was to be sub 1:27:00, with a stretch goal of sub 1:26:00. I knew to be sub 1:26:00 that I was going to have to run 6:33 miles, so I started out at around that pace. I finished mile 1 at a 6:35 pace and began to settle down and fall into the race by mile two, where I ran a 6:32. Just after mile two comes the largest elevation change on the course (it is really a mole hill in comparison). When I hit the highway overpass, I shifted into another gear and the race was on. I continued to click off miles in the 6:20s, until mile 10 when I recorded my slowest mile at 6:42. I honestly don't remember what happened that mile...was it the wind??...an uphill??...not sure. But after that the last 5K was back in the lower 6:20s...When I got to the chute I could see the clock read 1:24:XX and I knew that I was going to go sub 1:25:00. I ended up crossing the finish line with a chip time of 1:24:51!! Over one minute faster than my stretch goal and around 3:30 faster than my previous HM PR (1:28:28) that I had ran there last year To top it off, I ended up finishing 19th overall out of the 2,624 finishers!! Below are my splits and HR:

Just a fantastic race in all respects: Smart, even pacing, digging deep in the end, blowing away your stretch goal. If that doesn't leave you excited for your last 6 weeks of training, I don't know what will.

Congrats. And with this result, after your BQ, its time to start mapping out your sub-3 plans. For real.

I can't see the splits, cause my employer seems to block them. I don't know. But if Dave said you had a smart even pacing, I would trust him.

Well done, Nick!

Congrats, Nick on a real smart and well run race! You deserved it with all the hard work you have been putting inespecially in the hot weather this summer. I'd say the BQ is in the bag.

Congrats Nick, that's a fantastic race. It was good to get to run in colder weather, it makes such an incredible difference. Glad you got the opportunity to see how you could do with that not a factor. And you still ahve six weeks to go, that's great.

Fantastic job all around! I love that you hit sub6 pace in the final sprint in. Dave's right. Go get that BQ next (YOU GOT IT!) and then join me in the Sub3 quest!!

Awesome job, Nick! Way to go! I'm hoping for excellent weather for your upcoming BQ marathon!!

Good Job Nick, this is a great indicator of what we can expect in your upcoming marathon. Now just remember to walk the line without going over it into the red zone and become injured. Another word of advice is to watch your progress so that you don't peak too soon and fall flat on race day. Best of luck!

T Miller wrote:Good Job Nick, this is a great indicator of what we can expect in your upcoming marathon. Now just remember to walk the line without going over it into the red zone and become injured. Another word of advice is to watch your progress so that you don't peak too soon and fall flat on race day. Best of luck!

Sound advice Tim. I still have a couple tough weeks before I taper. So, I am hoping to peak at the right time.