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Striders Half Marathon

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Location:

Fort Collins,CO,

Member Since:

May 15, 2003

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Local Elite

Running Accomplishments:

Unaided PR's:
5K: 14:48 (Track - 2001)
10K: 30:45 (Track - 2001)
10K: 31:32 (Bolder Boulder - 2013)
Half Marathon: 1:06:09 (Duluth - 2013)
Marathon: 2:17:54 (Grandma's) - 2014)
Marathon: 2:19:47 (Indianapolis Monumental - 2013)
Marathon: 2:19:49 (Indianapolis Monumental - 2010)

Aided PR's:
10K: 29:38 (Des News - 2011)
Half Marathon: 1:05:30 (TOU Half - 2011)
Marathon: 2:18:09 (St George - 2007)
Marathon: 2:17:35 (Boston - 2011)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis in June of 2008. Started taking Enbrel in March, 2009.

Run as much as I can, and race as well as I can. Make the most of however much time I have left as an able-bodied runner.

Training for the 2018 Colorado Marathon

Long-Term Running Goals:

  Run until I'm old, and then run some more. Stand tall.

Personal:

1 wife, 2 kids. 1 cat. Work as a GIS Specialist/Map Geek

Endure and persist; this pain will turn to your good. - Ovid

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. - Romans 5:1-5

 

 

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Race: Striders Half Marathon (13.1 Miles) 01:07:29, Place overall: 1
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesCrosstraining milesTotal Miles
6.900.0013.100.000.0020.00

Striders Half Marathon. As a rare treat, we had great weather this year: overcast, little to no wind, and temps in the low 40s.

This race was to be my last big workout before Boston. Since I had a shorter buildup for this marathon, I wanted to race a bit more frequently, so I did the St George Half in late January, then the Moab Half in mid-March, and the Striders Half today. My main goal was just to run well and get my confidence back up after a rather rocky Moab race a couple weeks ago, and to stay in control and not tap the well at all in doing so. (no need to get too tired or sore this close to Boston). It ended up being a really positive effort today, and I accomplished all that I set out to do. I felt sharp both physically and mentally.

When the race started, I got out to a quick start, but the first three miles were all pretty conversational. Bryant Jensen, who I figured would be my main competition, and Riley Cook went with me. The first three miles were 5:10, 5:11, and 5:06 (all mild downhill). Riley dropped back after 3, and then it was just Bryant and I.

I felt good at this pace, and wanted to keep it going for the 3 remaining downhill miles. Miles 4-6 were 5:00, 4:59, and 5:01. It was not a conscious surge, kind of happened organically, but I liked it and went with it. Was definitely breathing harder (no longer conversational pace), but still felt very controlled and loose. Bryant dropped a couple steps behind me, but kept close contact, and then dropped further back after Mile 6.

With Bryant dropping back a little, I pressed the pace as the course exited the canyon and started on the rolling hills around the lake. Mile 7 was another 5:00, and then 5:05 for Mile 8. The pace was now feeling pretty hard, but I was actually enjoying the hills a little bit after the long downhill.

Miles 9 and 10 were 5:14 and 5:08, respectively. Just 5K to go, and I felt like the race was pretty much sealed. The long uphill incline to the finish was coming up, and I didn't want to push too hard for this race, so I just tried to keep the pace honest and steady, but also cruise a little bit. 5:16, 5:19, and 5:19 for Miles 11, 12, and 13. Coasted into the finish in 37s for the 0.1, and finished with a time of 1:07:29.

This was almost 2 minutes faster than what I ran in 2007, and I also recaptured my old course record, which had been broken by Alex Tomas in 2009. So that was good. The course is a net downhill, but still somewhat challenging with the rolling hills and high altitude, so I feel pretty good about the time. And I feel good about starting my taper next week, and about what I need to do in Boston in 16 days.

Cooled down for about 4 miles afterward with a whole crew of folks.


Comments
From steve ash on Sat, Apr 02, 2011 at 16:45:18 from 76.23.2.151

Oooh.. Really? 1:07:29. Wow..

From Oreo on Sat, Apr 02, 2011 at 16:49:26 from 174.27.150.39

Awesome Paul. All you runners were cruzin in front of my place this morning. Nice job on the win and hope Boston is ready for You!

From Clay on Sat, Apr 02, 2011 at 16:53:59 from 76.27.46.68

Nice race Paul!!! I have ran that race before and those rollers around the lake are fun! Do well in Boston, your awesome!

From Kam on Sat, Apr 02, 2011 at 19:05:12 from 71.195.225.137

Great job on the win, Paul. I saw you at the and watched you haste away for about a half mile. I knew the race was in the bag for you.

From Burt on Sat, Apr 02, 2011 at 19:19:39 from 72.223.90.79

Congratulations! Good luck at Boston.

From Walter on Sat, Apr 02, 2011 at 20:30:14 from 24.10.169.110

Great run and keeping close to a 5 pace through most of that course. You are so freakin awesome! Take Boston by storm my friend! remember to stay to the center of the road when running by the Welesley girls! No kisses! Just battle those hills.

From josse on Sat, Apr 02, 2011 at 22:09:39 from 75.196.135.180

I told you the weather would be good. Great job and can't wait to see what Boston has to bring for you. Happy taper:)

From Bob on Sat, Apr 02, 2011 at 23:15:05 from 99.37.51.166

Way to go champ! You'll have a great Boston.

From Jon on Sat, Apr 02, 2011 at 23:37:18 from 98.84.71.81

Good job, Paul. That's a nice time for not going all out. You should be primed for Boston.

From Superfly on Sat, Apr 02, 2011 at 23:55:48 from 74.211.21.81

A 1:07? That's just ridiculous! Your in a league of your own right now. Glad the weather was good too.

From Cody on Sat, Apr 02, 2011 at 23:56:17 from 174.52.244.185

I am glad you finally got some good weather at that race! And man did you ever take advantage! Amazing

From Benny's on Sun, Apr 03, 2011 at 00:08:48 from 24.170.84.44

good job paul!

From Scott Ensign on Sun, Apr 03, 2011 at 00:28:52 from 67.40.114.36

nice!!!! good luck in Boston!

From Steve on Sun, Apr 03, 2011 at 00:48:44 from 75.169.109.132

You are a great runner to watch. I don't think we will see that record broke for a while!

From JamesH on Sun, Apr 03, 2011 at 02:11:29 from 208.117.127.7

Congrats Paul. Nothing like a "conversational" 5:06.

From Twinkies on Sun, Apr 03, 2011 at 12:16:44 from 67.182.252.148

Congrats on the win and the course record. It's hard to believe that the weather was good for that race. Have fun in Boston.

From Seth on Sun, Apr 03, 2011 at 13:00:54 from 75.169.133.61

Great running man! Give 'em hell in Boston!

From jtshad on Sun, Apr 03, 2011 at 13:46:19 from 69.20.183.178

Great race, go get 'em in Boston!

From allie on Sun, Apr 03, 2011 at 15:09:22 from 174.23.241.50

mother nature has picked on this race for too many years -- glad the weather was nice for it this year.

congrats on another great race and best of luck in boston.

From Becky1 on Sun, Apr 03, 2011 at 16:14:04 from 76.23.13.133

Congrats, those times blow my mind away!!!

From Dave S on Sun, Apr 03, 2011 at 18:54:13 from 4.253.99.197

Congrats on a great race and getting that course record back. Looking good for Boston.

From Holt on Sun, Apr 03, 2011 at 20:02:48 from 71.213.94.186

Clyde were chatting about what you would probably hit - looks like you are ready to roll! Best of luck in Boston; we will all be pulling for you!

From Sasha Pachev on Mon, Apr 04, 2011 at 13:24:17 from 192.168.1.1

Those sub-5:20 at the end in on that terrain at 5000 feet when not challenged are a good sign. The effort suggests that you should be able to maintain sub-5:20 up until mile 23 in Boston. After that it all depends, difficult to predict from this, and from anything else for that matter. But one thing you've got going for you is that the last time you blew up in the marathon was TOU 2004, and that was caused by running low mileage, then cramming high mileage shortly before the race. With more consistent training you've never blown up, so if you can make it to 23 at a certain pace, you will likely hold it to the finish.

From Paul on Mon, Apr 04, 2011 at 15:45:03 from 24.10.141.104

Thanks everyone.

Sasha's race time predictor gives me 2:19:20 at Boston based on Striders. Whether that's accurate or not, I will definitely need some true raceday magic to push me over the top; I'm relying on the aura and energy of Boston to give me a boost!

From Aaron Kennard on Mon, Apr 04, 2011 at 19:28:49 from 98.245.117.176

You'll do awesome at Boston! That's a great race and indicator of where you are. Look forward to seeing you out there in less than 2 weeks!

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