Of Mice and Marathons

Detroit International Half Marathon

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Location:

Lake Orion,MI,

Member Since:

Dec 28, 2011

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

PRs

16:52 Phillies Charities 5k (2016)

35:52 Beach to Beacon 10k (2015)

58:10 Broad Street 10 Mile (2016)

1:16:02 Philadelphia Rock and Roll Half Marathon (2015)

2:46:54 Philadelphia Marathon (2015)

Personal:

I live in Michigan with my wife, Megan, and our boys, Charlie and Sawyer. I started running in September 2010.

(Please note that Strava links might contain blog inappropriate langauge)

 

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 25.70 Month: 131.40 Year: 453.50
Miles With Megan Lifetime Miles: 613.75
Nike Zoom Streak LT2 White/Orange Lifetime Miles: 189.95
Saucony Kinvara 5 Viziglow Lifetime Miles: 530.45
Kinvara 10 Lifetime Miles: 186.30
Kinvara 10 II Lifetime Miles: 137.80
Miles With The Boys Lifetime Miles: 99.90
Nike Zoom Streak LT4 Mr. Pinks Lifetime Miles: 21.60
Saucony ISO Freedom 3 Lifetime Miles: 595.65
Saucony ISO Freedom 3 #2 Lifetime Miles: 154.30
Altra Rivera Lifetime Miles: 330.65
Altra Rivera (Dark Blue) Lifetime Miles: 121.50
Saucony Kinvara 5 (2023 Vault Shoe) Lifetime Miles: 263.15
Saucony Kinvara 5 (2023 Vault Shoe II) Lifetime Miles: 228.00
Saucony Kinvara 13 Lifetime Miles: 180.90
Saucony Endorphin Pro Lifetime Miles: 148.70
Saucony Freedom 5 Lifetime Miles: 43.70
Saucony Kinvara 13 #2 Lifetime Miles: 13.40
Race: Detroit International Half Marathon (13.109 Miles) 01:20:22, Place overall: 31, Place in age division: 3
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
1.500.0013.110.0014.61

AM: Detroit International Half. 14.6 miles total.

It was a cold morning. Around 34 degrees but it felt colder. Race was at 7:00AM, so I had to get up at 5. Megan and I drove down and found a place to park, which was quite easy. Did an easy 16' warmup with two strides. Probably should have done 20' or 25' as I used to, but I've been trying to warm up without doing too much for a half. I have done as much as 3 miles and that might be too much.

Goal was sub-1:20, which I knew wasn't out of the question but difficult. Figured I would start around 1:21-1:22 the first mile or two and work down. I figured 1:20-1:21 low was probably an accurate assessment of fitness, but I am also not doing the same sort of workouts I usually do.

It was extremely congested at the start and the C coral was full of just-barely-sub-8' pacing and starting line selfies (the starting line area was packed with non-racing people as well). I decided to butt my way forward as far as I could go without looking suspiscious. It makes you look like a jerk, but it is annoying and dangerous to have moving at too disparate of speeds. It was still too congested, but I forgot what it is like to be at a relatively big race (just under 10k just for the half).

First few miles were pretty slow. First 5k around 19:20-19:30, which was not making me happy. Most of the first miles were dark enough I couldn't see my watch that well and I wasn't taking splits anyway. My legs felt like they wouldn't turn over. Breathing felt like harder marathon effort. Honest hill around mile 3 going over the bridge and you get it back on the other side. I started to pick up things after that and got rolling okay.

Miles 4ish to 8ish were in Windsor, Canada. It was a nice area. Very metric. Looked a little different than my hometown of Windsor Maine.

The tunnel coming back was weird, hot, and creepy. Nice downhill and then a slight uphill for your efforts in the fart steamy air. Around miles 8 or 9 I tried to push because I knew I was probably in the 1:20 range. Passed a few people and worked on passing a few more in the final 5k, which I did. Around mile 11 my quad started to give out, which is rather strange as my quads are never an issue. Started to lose my legs at the 13-mile-mark, but made a decent attempt to kick. It's a long finishing stretch. Not Boylston street long, but long.

Did not cool down as my quad was painful (I think it is just a cramp). I did walk a bunch in the cold with my lips turning blue and teeth chattering because I have no sense of direction and couldn't find Megan.

Splits from Strava (even though they are likely not completely accurate):

6:06: 6:13, 6:19, 6:04, 5:47, 6:03, 5:58, 5:52, 6:06, 6:06, 5:59, 6:04, 5:58, 5:33 pace for partial

Satisfied with my time, which is 3 seconds slower per mile than a 10k 4 weeks ago. Lots of work to do, but I had a good time and raced fairly well.

PM: 16.1-mile ride. HR 126.

A good portion was on single track. It was cold and very beautiful and I had fun.

Nike Zoom Streak LT2 White/Orange Miles: 14.60Cross Training Minutes 2018 Miles: 86.00Specialized Diverge Pro Miles: 16.10
Weight: 174.50
Comments
From jtshad on Mon, Oct 22, 2018 at 09:14:32 from 75.174.40.207

Nice race. Good time especially with the crowds and cold temps. Sorry about the cramping.

From Jason D on Mon, Oct 22, 2018 at 20:34:57 from 73.144.91.168

Thanks, Jeff. I actually prefer the cold, but walking around after in it was very unpleasant. It turns out the quad was just a nasty cramp. Very sore today, but otherwise everything is good!

From Bret on Tue, Oct 23, 2018 at 14:40:11 from 216.234.133.229

Great report Jason - looks like a really good result and solid effort. Congrats. Your fitness is improving nicely.

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