2011 Brooklyn Half Marathon 1:25:06 / 6:29

Chip Time: 1:25:06
Pace: 6:29
Rank: 173/5909
Age Grade: 69.5%

After the disastrous 10K from last week, I'm very happy to grab my 5th fastest half marathon. I know I'm not in the best shape compared to last year where I ran 90 seconds faster. But I knew I had to start conservatively and save some at the end. Coming back from injuries is tough as I'm still recovering from my calf/achilles, minor health issues and medicated with decongestants. Hence from the get-go I knew that a PR was never in the works. However, if I'm able to finish a solid performance I'll be happy and hopefully the step in the right direction. Reviewing the splits I think I did ok where there were few fluctuations. Overall, I'm glad to get this result under my belt because within a span of 6 weeks, I've competed in 5 races (Boston Marathon, Scotland 10K, Newport 10K, Healthy Kidney 10K and Brooklyn Half). I really think it is time to take a step back to continue training and ease off the racing. Starting 5/22/11, there will be no racing for 4 weeks (or a month). There I said it otherwise, drinks on me!

Splits:
01: 6:38:02
02: 6:42:15
03: 6:27:24
04: 6:26:57
05: 6:33:58
06: 6:39:17
07: 6:26:32
08: 6:21:43
09: 6:25:22
10: 6:26:17
11: 6:26:00
12: 6:22:04
13: 6:32:08
.1: 42:26

@ Sidebar and Belmont for a joint team-mate bday-

2011 Healthy Kidney 10K - 40:33 / 6:32

Net Time: 40:33
Pace: 6:32
Rank: 220/7563
Age Grade: 66.5%

This one HURT! Maybe it was too much too soon or just a case of over-racing. This was definitely a letdown after last week's Newport 10K. My legs felt flat and after Harlem Hill I was spent! It was the best that I could that day and I knew from the get-go after Mile 2 that breaking 40 was not in the works. I knew I wasn't feeling well and could have easily dropped out of the race, however I need to finish what I started. It certainly wasn't my best race, but I think it is important to OWN EVERY performance whether good AND bad; hence appreciating and savoring the good races.

After the race I had to head back to the doctors in Queens. During that time on the 7 train I just reminisce on things I could've done right. I think it is case of starting the first mile a bit too fast and could not handle the pace. Now that the Brooklyn Half Marathon is on the horizon I really don't have a clue if breaking 1:30 is in the works for me. Oh well, live for another day and another race!

Splits:
01: 6:11:09
02: 6:22:74
03: 6:26:32
04: 6:51:21
05: 6:35:59
06: 6:32:02
.2: 1:35:22