Houston Half - short PR report

Sunday was the first race in the Houston Marathon Warm Up Series in the guise of the Houston Half.  My prior PR was from 2004 at a time of 2:40:something.

Over the Summer, I had done a lot of endurance building in the dark mornings of Houston heat and calm winds.  I have gained about 15 pounds of the 20 that I lost last year, so I wasn't really hopeful for a 2:24 time for Sunday.  I'm working for a 5 hour marathon in January.

Morning temps were seasonal, but getting warmer.

The bottom line is I finished with a time of 2:22:48, a 10:54 pace, and a 17 minute PR.  It was a shock to me that I actually did better than I planned.  Now, I can continue to train for a 5 hour marathon with tangible evidence that it's doable.

My next race is December 14 and the Sugar Land 30K and is the 3rd and final race of the Warm Up Series.  A 25K race in November is the 2nd race.  More details on this race are available on my blog, Funkadelic Happening.  Thanks for your time.

Sweet!

Whoa!

A 17-minute PR in a full marathon is huge. To cut that much time in 13.1 is astounding.

Well done! Whatever you're doing, keep it up! It's working.

Jim Lentz wrote:Sweet!

Thanks, Jim.

Mark B wrote:Whoa!

A 17-minute PR in a full marathon is huge. To cut that much time in 13.1 is astounding.

Well done! Whatever you're doing, keep it up! It's working.

Thanks much, Mark, but it's not quite as huge as one would think, given the following analysis.
1.  I think this was only my 4th half race, with two of them either recovering from a marathon or an injury (last year).
2.  The PR was from 2004, as part of my training for my first marathon in 2005.  I was just looking to not look stupid, practice hydrating through water stops, and beat the course opening cops to the finish line.  My parents got to see me run.
3.  If I had been whole last year, I would've had a PR, but not as huge.

I figured that I would PR this race, just because I knew I could run a half at faster than 12:15 pace. 

But I was astounded that I did run sub-11 pace.  Prior to this race, I had never strung 13 11:something miles together at the same time.  So, I will celebrate that in spades.

As a teaser for the 30K in December, I will lead the party and buy the first round of drinks, if I have a double digit PR at the 30K.  Last year, I had a 26 minute PR at the 30K breaking a record, also from 2004, with an overall pace of 11:54. 

McMillan would have you believe that a 10:54 half pace equates to an 11:12 30K pace and an 11:28 marathon pace (5:00:32).  So, stay tuned and get your drink tickets together.  Thanks again, Mark and Jim.

Well well, lookie here. It looks like you're hitting your stride Dougie. And you may say it's not big hairy deal, but a PR is a PR. So here's to keeping it rolling in the 30K and to keeping your head in the game in the last 6 miles of the marathon. Hooah!

Awesome Doug!!!  You're definitely on track for that sub-5.  This has to keep you motivated.  No such thing as a bad PR.  Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KBFitz wrote:Well well, lookie here. It looks like you're hitting your stride Dougie. And you may say it's not big hairy deal, but a PR is a PR. So here's to keeping it rolling in the 30K and to keeping your head in the game in the last 6 miles of the marathon. Hooah!

mountandog wrote:Awesome Doug!!!  You're definitely on track for that sub-5.  This has to keep you motivated.  No such thing as a bad PR.  Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for commenting, y'all.  I will do my damndest to keep up the momentum.  And thanks for the encouragement.

Congratulations!  Quite the PR and really to be expected with all the finite training that you've been doing over the past.

I've got to side with everyone else - that is an awesome PR no matter how you slice it.  Great race and hopefully just a precursor of good things to come!

Great job and a great result!

dot520 wrote:Congratulations!  Quite the PR and really to be expected with all the finite training that you've been doing over the past.

Thanks, Dot.  it seems I need to appreciate the 17 minute PR more than I am.

Tom H wrote:I've got to side with everyone else - that is an awesome PR no matter how you slice it.  Great race and hopefully just a precursor of good things to come!

Thanks, Tom.  If it's any consolation, I have taken the effort from the Half and now believe that a sub-5 marathon is more than just a wish.

Michael Enright wrote:Great job and a great result!

Thanks, Michael.  I'll keep plugging away at the goal.

Big PR. Congrats.