Popular Brooklyn Half Marathon (Repeated State, first Time Doing This Race)

This year I ran in the Popular Brooklyn Half Marathon.

The race started at 7:00, my corral did not go until 7:20 in the morning (weather was 56-59 degrees when lining up, then climbed in 70 degrees by the end) and we started at Prospect Park and ended in Coney Island.  This was a huge race with 28,000 runners doing the half marathon.   

Race:  Popular Brooklyn Half Marathon 

Location:  Brooklyn, NY

Bib: 17844 (Corral 'K')

Time: 1 Hour, 59 minutes, and 39 seconds /11,605th place (out of 26,801)

Division: M50-59 / 198th place (out of 522)

Course:  Some elevation changes in first half, then down grade (Point to point race)

Weight:  211 lbs.

Distance Training:
5/4 - 11.5 miles in 1 hr. 42 minutes (8:53 pace)
4/27 - 8 miles in 1 hr. 9 minutes
4/20 - 11 miles in 1 hr. 37 minutes (8:54 pace)
4/13 - 10.5 miles in 1 hr. 28 minutes (8:26 pace)

Speed Training 5/8:
.5 miles @ 7:21 pace
.5 miles @ 7:15 pace
.5 miles @ 7:04 pace

Hill Training 5/8:
.07 @ 7:28 pace
.08 @ 7:43 pace 
.10 @ 7:13 pace 

Road Running:
5/7 -  2 miles
4/6 - 9.7 miles

Georgia (State #20)

Flattest course I've ever ran - only one incline which was a small hill which was near the end.   Well organized, huge metals, and a good bit of fun!   The weather was perfect - over cast with just a small hint of ran - and the temp of 47 - 65 degrees.    

 Race:  Best Damn Race (I really don't like the name with 'Damn' in it)
Location:   Savannah, Georgia
Bib:  225
Time:  1:54.10
Division:  55-60 (7th out of 14)
Course:  Part Loop, part there and back through the city of Savannah. 
Elevation: flat and fast course that starts and finishes at Forsyth Park
Weight:  210 lbs. (put on weight in the last week)
Training: 

Training leading up to the race

Distance Training:
02/02/2019 -  Ran 10 miles in 1:23:42 (8:22/mi)
01/28/2019 - Ran 8 miles in 1:09:03 (8:38/mi)
01/19/2019 - Ran 7.50 miles in 1:03:09 (8:25/mi)

Speed Training:
02/01/2019 - Ran 3.1 miles in 23:55 (7:43/mi)
01/25/2019 - Ran 3.1 miles in 24:25 (7:53/mi)
01/21/2019 - Ran 3.1 miles in 24:14 (7:49/mi)

Massachusetts (State #19) ~ Note: New England is Complete

The race started at 9:00 in the morning (felt like rain, but never did. Instead it was nice and cool) and we started at DCR Myles Standish State Forest (which we had a problem finding on the GPS).  This was a small race with 300 runners doing the half marathon.   

Race:  Run To the Rock, 24th Annual 
Location:  Plymouth, Mass 
Bib: 1292
Time: 1 Hour, 58 minutes, and 10 seconds
Division: M50-59 / 15th place
Course:  Lots of rolling hills, and a couple really tough ones (Point to point race)
Weight:  215 lbs.
Training:
- 11 Miles on 9/1 @ 9:01 per mile
- 8.5 Miles on 8/25 @ 9:13 per mile
- 6.6 Miles on 8/18 @ 9:03 per mile 

TRAINING:  trained up to 11 miles at a 9 minute mile.   Last weight was 210-218 lbs (on the heavy side), did some outside and hill training in the last week.  Also because the gym lost a/c - ran in terrible heat.  Mood:  good, but a little nervous (as always).

Side Note:   Jennifer (wife) and Megan (youngest daughter) came with me to Plymouth - and we had a great time.  We stayed two days in an Airbnb which was perfect for us.  

New Hampshire (State #18)

Went to this race with my daughter Megan, which made it a memorable trip.

Race:  Big Lake Half Marathon, 18th Annual 
Date/Time:  May 18, 2018 @ 8 am
Location:  Alton, New Hampshire
Bib: 345
Time: 1 Hour, 59 minutes, 25 seconds (267 place)
Pace:  9:07
Division: M50-59 / 17th place
Course:  Up and Back, Near a lake
Weight:  209 lbs

Training:
- 5 Miles on 5/12 @ 8:20 per mile 
- 11 Miles on 5/5 @ 9:12 per mile
- 3 Miles on 6/30 @ 9:44 per mile
- 6 Miles on 6/14 @ 9:09 per mile 

About the Race:
I woke up at 5 AM for the race and went to the race location.   It was sunny, but cold.  35 degrees.   I was the first runner there.  I sat in my car until I saw the registration desks open.  I lined up on the front line (because no one else took the spot.   The beginning I did a good pace of 8:30 per mile - and a lot of folks passed me.   As I passed the 1/2 way point - I started passing other and in the end finished with a 1 hour 59 minutes time!   This made me so happy.

The end of the race - they had water, bananas, ice cream, pizza and beer.  I wasn't interested in anything but water - and after seeing my official time, jumped on the shuttle (a school bus) and went back to my car.  

Brooklyn RnR Half Marathon (Repeat)

 The race started at 7:00 in the morning (looked like rain, but never did) and we started and ended the race on Prospect Park.  This was a large race with 8,000 runners doing the half marathon.   To my surprise this was a personal record for me (by a couple seconds).  

Race:  Brooklyn Rock and Roll Half Marathon
Location:  Brooklyn, NY
Date: 10/14/2017
Bib: 4315
Time: 1:52:51 (personal record) Pace 8:20 per mile
Division: M50-54 / 37th place (Over All 1473 out of 8515)
Course:  3 Long Hills (There and Back)
Weight:  199.5 lbs.
Training:
- 9 Miles on 10/7 @ 9:22 per mile
- 10 Miles on 9/30 @ 9:23 per mile
- 8 Miles on 9/23 @ 8:56 per mile

Vermont (State #17)

The race started at 8:00 in the morning (nice and cool) and we started and ended the race on Sherburne Beach on Lake Champlain (really beautiful).  Small race with only 170 runners doing the half marathon.  

Race: Charlotte Change Bridge Half Marathon
Location:  Shelburne VT
Bib:  676
Division: M50-54 / 4th place (Over All 41st out of 170)
Course:  Rolling Hills (There and Back)

Training: August 26th - 10 miles @ 9:20 pace per mile
Weight:  210 lbs.

State #16 Ohio

This weekend I ran in the Good Year Half-Marathon in Akron, Ohio.   I stayed at the Hilton which is fairly close to the start/finish which was convenient. The race started at 6:30 in the morning which was great because it was cool for at least half of the race.
 
1 Hour, and 58 Minutes.