Oak Brook Half Marathon

JohnP Mon Sep 05, 2011 4:25 pm

Today I ran the Oak Brook half marathon mainly as a training run. I wanted to run a race before the marathon to get in race mode, that is, plan for it ahead of time, eat better, sleep better, etc., but especially rehearse the night before and morning of routines. Most of that stuff went OK except for the morning of. The race is about a half hour from my house on the toll roads. I had the directions all printed and understood how to get there. Then, inexplicably, at the last minute, I said let’s go a different way. The problem is that there was no exit on the toll road where I needed to get off coming from the opposite direction. I wound up driving to O’Hare airport to get turned around as there are so few exits on the toll roads. I was supposed to run two miles before the race as a warm-up but wound up with only time to do 1.5 miles. I’ve never gotten to a race so late before.

The plan for the race was to run MP for 7 miles, and then pick it up a bit. What made this a little challenge is that the course is somewhat hilly (I train on flat ground) and it was fairly windy at times. So I did my best and pretty much went by effort and did not hit all the splits I wanted but came close. All in all, I think it was an excellent long tempo run. This is a really good race, lots of parking, well staffed, good food after and of course 312 beer. Though it was a training race, I think it is my second fastest half marathon ever. My PR is 1:42:15 on a flat course (Indy) and today I ran this in 1:43:38. Pretty happy with the results. I did 3.77 miles afterwards as a warm down for a total long run of 18.37 miles today.

Good news is I beat Sarah Palin! She ran a half yesterday: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-palin-marathon-20110904,0,1357976.story

Race splits:

Split	Time	Avg HR	HR %
1	0:08:09	134	79%
2	0:07:54	140	82%
3	0:08:07	142	84%
4	0:08:21	139	82%
5	0:08:03	141	83%
6	0:07:54	143	84%
7	0:07:51	143	84%
8	0:08:00	148	87%
9	0:07:40	150	88%
10	0:07:48	151	89%
11	0:07:49	151	89%
12	0:07:42	153	90%
13	0:07:30	155	91%
14	0:00:47	158	93%
*Summary*	1:43:40	145	85%

dot520 Mon Sep 05, 2011 4:40 pm

Oh, boy....nothing worse than rushing to the start line. At least this was a training run and not your goal race. I'm so excited that you beat Sarah Palin....oh, yeah....it's all good!

The weather sure did change...folks in your pic are wearing long pants and jackets!

John Kilpatrick Mon Sep 05, 2011 5:04 pm

Almost a PR on a training run? That is fabulous and a great sign. Sounds like a non-relaxed start after the rough commute to the race (that would totally freak me out), but it looks like you met your goal exactly - good deal! Congrats.

Jim Lentz Mon Sep 05, 2011 5:04 pm

Great job on the race especillay with how windy it was today! Sounds like a good race.

Michael Enright Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:12 pm

Nice run. I am always anxious about getting to the race, and your change in directions would make me nuts, so I understand. I'll have to read the Palin story!