Rock 'n' Roll Dallas Half Marathon

The 1:23 goal had not much base and was more of mental. I knew I was much better than 1:24:46, that I did last November, but apparently nowhere close to my 1:21:06 PR. In order to PR(<2:58:35) in Boston, I felt I needed at least 1:23 half. So 1:23 it was after it turned out to be a perfect race day with temperature around 49 and 16mph wind.

I disregarded the wind, cause I figured most likely it would be on and off, thus would not affect the run that much.

 
I know this course very well. I have done this race twice before. Besides, the early miles overlap with Dallas Marathon/Half course. I have done Dallas Marathon/Half maybe 6 times combined.

The course has gentle and short rolling hills before mile 8, then all the way down, very gradually. So I decided on 6:20 pace for the first 8 miles, then saw what happened. I didn't anticipate I would break 1:23 too much if any. So that was really an even pace plan with anticipation of a little pick up late miles to offset the extra distance I had to cover.


The only change I intended to make was diet, to eat a little more. I faded badly, 20 seconds in the last two mile in the two of my last three half marathons. I was experiencing eating less in fear of side stitch. I didn't think so, but wanted to test out if not eating enough contributed the fade.

I had pretty good meals Saturday. Sunday morning at 4:00am, I ate a bagel. Then 30 minutes before the start, I took a gel.

Everything else pre-race went wrong.

The race has this weird setting with start and finish 3.5 miles apart. I drove to finish, Fair Park. The half hour drive turned out to be 50 minutes due to the traffic jam close to Fair Park, always an issue, never resolved. I left home at 6:00am, and thought I was early enough, apparently not.

Then we had a little long wait for the shuttle to the start. When I got the start, I had maybe 35 minutes. Two potty stops, I changed and dropped my gears. I could only do a very short jog.

But I was not panicing and entered the corral only 5 minutes before the gun.



The race was smooth. I felt good and was checking my pace constantly right after the gun as usual and dropped back. When I saw 6:11 and felt easy, I was like: wow, I feel nothing. Maybe I am way better than 1:23.

"Then, wait a second, I can't be that good, right?"

I looked again, 6:11 was time, the pace was 6:30. Ha.

So I picked up. I missed the mile 1 mark, but apparently I was a little slow.

"Now focus, moron."

So I did.

Other than that, it was pretty much a non event for me. Every mile mark, I checked my actually time. It was 10-15 seconds late, but I knew the best course of action was to be patient, not to burn too much energy on those hills, which I was not good at. I knew the successs of the race lied on the gentle declines of the last several miles.

I was able to team up with a very stable runner, Matt, then another in those tough miles. That was very helpful.

Here are splits for the first 8 miles:

6:20
6:25
6:12
6:18
6:18
6:23
6:17
6:20

Somewhere at mile 7, Matt said to the other runner: it will be downhill all the way soon.

I started to get excited. I pulled a 6:08 and 6:10 for mile 9 and 10. According to the chip time, I arrived mile 10 at 1:03:18, 2 seconds ahead of the plan.

It became tough. The image of fading in the last two miles of prior two halves emerged in my mind a little. I shut it down, but decided to back off a little just in case. 6:17 for mile 11.

Then I realized I was groaning hard in the two fades. And now it was just hurting on my calves. That's the moment I was convinced I was going to not only hit my goal, but also finish strong.

So I picked up. 6:12 for mile 12.

I decided at this point to go wild. I picked the girl ahead of me for a long time and hammer the pace. 6:04 for mile 13.

1:22:31 at finish.

And I won my age group, the first time in a large event.

And funny, I checked the two AGs around mine. I couldn't win either, not even close.   

I guess finally the tide has turned to Jerry's favor.

Nobody knows me, nobody cares, but I am going to Boston...

Oh, one more thing, this is Jerry's debut race as an American.

http://www.marathonfoto.com/

Last Name: Young
Bib: 1110
Event: Rock 'n' Roll Dallas Half Marathon

Congrats Jerry on an excellent run, for breaking your time goal, and for the AG win!!!!  See you soon!

Way to go Jerry.  This result bodes well for your Boston.  Just remember that you'll have to be patient like you were in this race in order to make that PR possible. 

Best of luck!

Chop-Chop!
Nice!

Got a feel for your split strategy, now?

I had a 1/2 this weekend, too.
And... Although Boston isn't a goal race, I'm starting to think about my pace strategy.

T Miller wrote:Way to go Jerry.  This result bodes well for your Boston.  Just remember that you'll have to be patient like you were in this race in order to make that PR possible. 

Best of luck!

Yes Sir! I don't have experience on hills, which is a problem. I will need a perfect day, weather, patience like you said, no potty stop   

It's going to legendary.

Michele \"1L" Keane wrote:Congrats Jerry on an excellent run, for breaking your time goal, and for the AG win!!!!  See you soon!

I will see you Michele!

Gobbles wrote:
Got a feel for your split strategy, now?

No clue how to run the hills, but have been thinking, heck, just run even splits   

I will post a question for Boston veterans.

Great job, Jerry!

Jerry wrote:

Gobbles wrote:
Got a feel for your split strategy, now?

No clue how to run the hills, but have been thinking, heck, just run even splits   

I will post a question for Boston veterans.

I used this page for NYC last year and while I didn't stick exactly to the paces prescribed, it was a very good guide to how to run it. Well worth the $6 or whatever it costs.

http://mymarathonpace.com/Pacing_Spreadsheets.html#Pacing_&_Info_Spreadsheets

Terrific job, Jerry, and well-run! Congrats!

Wonderful, Jerry!  Congratulations!  Perhaps you know better now how to deal with your pre-race nutrition issues.  It's getting straightened out at last.

Jim Lentz wrote:Great job, Jerry!

Thanks Jim.

mul21 wrote:

Jerry wrote:

Gobbles wrote:
Got a feel for your split strategy, now?

No clue how to run the hills, but have been thinking, heck, just run even splits   

I will post a question for Boston veterans.

I used this page for NYC last year and while I didn't stick exactly to the paces prescribed, it was a very good guide to how to run it.  Well worth the $6 or whatever it costs.

http://mymarathonpace.com/Pacing_Spreadsheets.html#Pacing_&_Info_Spreadsheets

Thanks Jim. I will look into this.

Michael Enright wrote:Terrific job, Jerry, and well-run! Congrats!

Thanks Michael.

dot520 wrote:Wonderful, Jerry!  Congratulations!  Perhaps you know better now how to deal with your pre-race nutrition issues.  It's getting straightened out at last.

Not yet, I felt I might have over-ate it a little the day before still. The morning bagel seemed to work well.

Thanks Dot!

Great job Jerry. Congrats on the AG win. You're ready to go now for Boston. See you there.

Alex Kubacki wrote:Great job Jerry. Congrats on the AG win. You're ready to go now for Boston. See you there.

Thanks, Alex. See you soon.

Great work out there, Jerry! And looking sharp, too, citizen!

To get an AG award in an even that large is very impressive. Many congratulations! Here's hoping for a great Boston.

Mark B wrote:Great work out there, Jerry! And looking sharp, too, citizen!

To get an AG award in an even that large is very impressive. Many congratulations! Here's hoping for a great Boston.

Thanks Mark. I will enjoy Boston in a hard way this time.

It took me 30 years to figure out being disciplined in the early miles is the key to a good race and a strong finish. Looks like you have it figured out too. Nice run and AG win.

He was the "Young" American (David Bowie reference.) Nice race Jerry, super AG win and time, looks like you're primed for a sub-3:00 at Boston if conditions are right! Also great looking race duds, sweet!

Great job on pushing yourself you make it sound easy,I hope you have a great race in boston as well 

Dave Bussard wrote:It took me 30 years to figure out being disciplined in the early miles is the key to a good race and a strong finish. Looks like you have it figured out too. Nice run and AG win.

That's very flattering from a runner at your caliber, Dave. Thanks!

fostever wrote:He was the "Young" American (David Bowie reference.) Nice race Jerry, super AG win and time, looks like you're primed for a sub-3:00 at Boston if conditions are right! Also great looking race duds, sweet!

I will see you soon

KBFitz wrote:Nicely done Jerry! It looks like your massive miles have set you up very well for a breakout performance in Boston. Go Jerry!

Will do, Kevin.

I think Jerry isn't as lazy as advertised!  Great race for many reasons!  You have some really good pictures there - congrats on your first American race and congrats on an awesome time!  I (sort of) know you and I care by the way!  I think the tide turning in Jerry's favor is a very good thing - your splits are enviable and what a way to finish strong!!!  Congrats buddy!

amyjoann wrote:Great job on pushing yourself you make it sound easy,I hope you have a great race in boston as well 

John Kilpatrick wrote:I think Jerry isn't as lazy as advertised!  Great race for many reasons!  You have some really good pictures there - congrats on your first American race and congrats on an awesome time!  I (sort of) know you and I care by the way!  I think the tide turning in Jerry's favor is a very good thing - your splits are enviable and what a way to finish strong!!!  Congrats buddy!

Thanks Amy and John! I will try my best in Boston.

Awesome race Jerry!  Best of luck in Boston...

nkrichards wrote:Awesome race Jerry!  Best of luck in Boston...

Thanks!