So I’m linking up today with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.
Every time, I run a half marathon, I like to look back at my previous half marathon races.
I can’t believe that this will be my 15th. And 10th after my ankle surgery. (So Dr. Ortho, I can run again!!)
My first and BEST was the Naples Half Marathon in January of 2011. My goal was just to finish and I did in 2:28:27 (gun time, no chip timing).
I immediately registered for the 1st annual Lake George Half Marathon in April of that year. Unfortunately, I had to run in sleet & freezing rain for 13.1 miles & without my Garmin. My time was 2:22:39 (gun time, no chip timing) and a PR until 2014.
Out with strained Achilles for 6 weeks during the summer of 2011 delayed my training for the Adirondack Half Marathon (so I walked the 2nd half of the race.) I finished in 2:44:59. It was still fun because I was running it with lots of friends.
Again impulsively, I decided to sign up for the inaugural Fall Foliage Half Marathon as a training run. This was my hilliest half but I finished in 2:32:50.
My goal race of that year (2011) was the Santa Clarita Half Marathon that I was running with a friend in California. This time it only poured for half the race and I finished with a disappointing 2:30:12.
After 5 half marathons in 2011, there were NONE in 2012. (The year of the broken ankle & foot stress fracture.)
My next Half Marathon, the First Watch Half Marathon in Sarasota, Fla came in 2013 16 months after serious ankle surgery and 5 months after a foot stress fracture. I was just glad to be running again. The course was beautiful, my friends were waiting at the end and I was happy with my 2:33:59 time.
The Mohawk-Hudson Half Marathon in the fall of 2013 was supposed to be the one where I would be seriously training and hopefully get a PR. Then I broke my foot. With a late start to my training and my weekly miles not what I would have liked, again this half marathon was just “I’ll be happy to finish.” So I did in 2:24:14. I enjoyed it since it was my first half where I slept in my own bed the night before.
For the Love Run Half Marathon in the Spring of 2014, I was injury-free for the whole training but I trained during an awfully cold, snowy winter. Despite running in monsoon rains, I managed to PR at 2:22:35. I made new running friends and we had fun during our weekend in “wet” Philly.
That summer, after running a 10 mile race, I impulsively registered for the Saratoga Springs Half Marathon. This taught me to never run one in the summer. It was very humid & I felt sick so I struggled to a 2:26:00 finish.
Impromptu and free. I registered for the Hangover Half Marathon for New Year’s Day 2014 and ran it as a training run on a cold, windy, lonely, boring course. And it was my fastest at 2:18:33. Go figure?
Training in frigid temps and running in Florida in January I thought would give me problems but the stars were aligned and I had the BEST.HALF.EVER in West Palm Beach. Beautiful weather, awesome scenery, a big PR and age group win. I sprinted to a 2:09:40 finish!!!
I had awesome aspirations for the Asbury Park Half Marathon this past April. But foot pain ended that and I had a disappointing 2:20:18 finish time.
The Vermont City Marathon Relay on Memorial Day weekend was an unplanned race. Although, my finish time of 2:25:24 was slow, I thoroughly enjoyed the race and sharing it with AJH.
The Walkway Half Marathon was my 5th of 2015. I was looking forward to running this inaugural race and especially to seeing this new and highly publicized bridge. I had not trained much since April, overslept and ran without my Garmin so I was not disappointed with my time of 2:25:53. And I enjoyed the course.
Now to my upcoming race…
The Roll N Roll Brooklyn Half Marathon is an inaugural race so there are no race reports to read. I have no idea if it is flat or hilly. (I have heard that Prospect Park has hills but not as bad as Central Park. )
There will be a few first in this race:
- First Rock N Roll race
- First out of town race not staying near the start (have to get a bus & subway)
- First time using Airbnb instead a hotel or a friend’s place
- First race with waves
- First really big race
- First race in NYC
- First race wearing Hokas
I’ve been looking forward to this race for a long time and it’s finally here. Look who else is running this race!!
Here are my Goals:
A. Finish under 2:18:33 (making it my 2nd fastest Half)
B. Finish Faster than my previous half (under 2:25:53 )
C. Finish under 2 1/2 hours
D. Beat my slowest time (under 2:44:59)
E. Enjoy the race and Finish uninjured 🙂
And what will I wear?
baseball cap, SkirtSports skirt (Tantrum pattern), Hoka shoes, compression socks, shirt TBD (depends on the weather which seems to get worse everyday.)
Happy Running! Anyone else running this race? What’s on your mind this Thursday?
I wish I was running this race! I’m not too far from NYC so it would have worked. But, after NYC Marathon last year, I’m taking a break from the expensive races this year.
Good luck!!!! Brooklyn is pretty amazing – the best part of the NYC Marathon Route besides Central Park!
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Thanks. I am excited. I also will be running a 5K through Central Park on Oct 31.
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I haven’t run in NYC before I visited a lot when I lived in Boston. I always expect hills in New York, but hopefully it won’t be as bad as Central Park. An inaugural race is exciting but I’d be nervous with no previous race reports.
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Yup. There are hills in the park. So we’ll see how it goes.
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I haven’t run a rock n roll race I haven’t enjoyed. It’s a great race series. Looks like you have had some yucky weather during your races. Hopefully the weather will be perfect for you this wkend and you get a new PR:)
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I’m hoping for good weather and a good race. I don’t think I have a PR in me but you never know.
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Darlene you have had some great races! I have done the RnR New Orleans for the past 2 years and I think the RnR series ones are just awesome! I think you’ll be surprised at how smooth they are run. I like the corrals and letting waves go. I know my time doesn’t start until I cross the start line which keeps me a little calmer. You have great goals to reach for and I know you’ll do great! Can’t wait for the recap!
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thanks for the encouragement.
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15 half marathons?! Rockstar!! And with so many trials to overcome too. Hope your next race will be awesome, and that’s so cool that Harriette will be there!
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This sounds like a fun race! Who knows? Maybe you’ll get the bug to run NYCM!
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Ahhh…proof there is life after injury! You go get ’em, Darlene!
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Aww, you did great! You still beat a lot of your goals 🙂 If I can finish and feel good I can be happy,like at Disney – I walked a lot and finished in like 2:38…and I loved it!
I love your recap on your races 🙂
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Thanks. As time passes, I’ll feel better about it. I hate PAIN!
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