Chambersburg Half Marathon Race Report – March 9, 2013
After my last marathon not going as planned last fall in Harrisburg, I decided I was going to take a backseat to the distance and focus on getting faster this spring at shorter distances and really focus on my speed specifically at half marathon distance. Spring marathons have not been kind to me to begin with a PW the last 2 springs. Been there, done that, and got the race shirt lol One step back to take two steps forward.
Been following a Daniels 5k-15k training plan from his book Running Formula. Three quality days a week most weeks and a major step up in training for me from anything I have done in the past three years of running. Training has gone well and definitely notice a difference in my fitness with the training and keeping my mileage consistent in the mid-50 mile range.
The Chambersburg Half was my first ever race three years ago and one that is really special to me here in my hometown of Chambersburg. Really missed this race last year due to a DC marathon the week after (See PW marathon above-lol) Comes at a good point in schedule in my effort to get faster and see where I am at for a May half as well.Set a goal of a sub1:38, but recent weeks of training told me maybe a 1:35 was possible and that was what I would shoot for
Race day arrived and had a good 10-day taper for race and confident the hard work of Daniels would payoff in Chambersburg. Did not sleep too well waking up every couple of hours not being able to contain my excitement for race day. Followed my normal race day routine got dressed and head off to start. Love that this race is in my backyard with a short 5 minute drive to start.
Arrived at race, picked up my packet and chatted with a few running friends and pinned my bib number on. Ran my routine warm-up mile with a couple of fellow runners and was ready to run yet another Chambersburg Half.
Race started promptly at 8:30 and inched my way toward front of field. Listened to race director go over some pre-race stuff and race started and I was off.
Mile 1 – 7:10 - just trying to settle in and get in a groove. Plan was to start race at &;30, but best laid plans sometimes just don't work out. Start has a BIG downhill for first .4m or so. Last time I raced fast first mile too at 7:15, so there is a precedent there.
Mile 2 – 7:20 – settled in nicely with a 7:20 mile as we gradually climb up to worst hills of the course up Henry Road.
Mile 3 – 7:37 – kinda expected a slower mile for Mile 3 with finishing climb up Henry before the downhill before turning on Springview Rd. with biggest climb with a 3-5% grade. Felt good passing people walking up this hill. Mile 3 pretty much ends at Mile 3 marker and next mile has a big downhill for about 0.5m or so.
Mile 4 – 6:58 – Woah Nellie! Slow down there Billy!
BIG downhill for most of the mile and then turns on to a nice flat
stretch. Feeling good and warmed up at this point and made up for slow
Mile 3.
Mile 5 – 7:20 – mostly small rollers with couple minor climbs. Stayed on pace and feeling really good.
Mile 6 – 7:27 – a little slower than I liked. Hit half-way (6.55m) mark 47:45.
Mile 7 – 7:20 – this is a tough part of course with out back stretch. Out mostly downhill and back big strecthes of uphill which spills over to next mile. Kept moving and feeling good.
Mile 8 – 7:27 – lots of uphill with tail-end of out and back stretch. Kept pushing forward as fatigue starting to set in a bit.
Mile 9 – 7:25 – small rollers for most part and kept pushing and digging a little deeper to keep pace close
Mile 10 – 7:40 – worst split of race as course gets back on Springview which is a long climb up to biggest hill. Calves felt a little tight at this point, but pushed thru just focusing on keeping legs moving. Knew once I hit crest f hill remainder of race mostly down hill.
Mile 11 – 7:21 – hit crest of hill and got a good downhill to push me up Henry the last real uphill of race. Slight downhill as I hit Mile 11 marker. Time to drop the hammer with 2 miles to go.
Mile 12 – 7:12 – gave all I had left with some rollers, but course mostly downhill from here on out.
Mile 13 – 7:12 – another goods plit giving it all I had left with end in sight and small climb as we neared finish.
Last .1 – 6:32 - finish line in sight and gave it one last kick and hit finish at 1:36:22. Ecstatic I finished with time I did and yelled out a big scream as I got my finisher medal. Another Chambersburg Half in the books and I could not be happier. An almost 4 minute PR (3:40), 4th in the 40-44AG with overall 7:21 avg pace. 17 second per mile improvement. No one passed me after Mile 5 except for one guy around Mile 9. Guess all that quality is paying off
Kinda can't believe I ran that course that fast. It's got me encouraged for Frederick in May as well as when I toe that marathon line again this fall. That's getting way ahead of things though, but can’t help but be a little giddy about what this fall might bring. For time being just gonna enjoy this new PR for the moment. A PR I felt I should have had last fall. I have no regrets though stepping away from the marathon this spring and probably should have done this a few years back. I have 8 weeks until Frederick and still have lot of work to do. I know I have faster time in me just based off this race today. Do Work. Get Faster!
After my last marathon not going as planned last fall in Harrisburg, I decided I was going to take a backseat to the distance and focus on getting faster this spring at shorter distances and really focus on my speed specifically at half marathon distance. Spring marathons have not been kind to me to begin with a PW the last 2 springs. Been there, done that, and got the race shirt lol One step back to take two steps forward.
Been following a Daniels 5k-15k training plan from his book Running Formula. Three quality days a week most weeks and a major step up in training for me from anything I have done in the past three years of running. Training has gone well and definitely notice a difference in my fitness with the training and keeping my mileage consistent in the mid-50 mile range.
The Chambersburg Half was my first ever race three years ago and one that is really special to me here in my hometown of Chambersburg. Really missed this race last year due to a DC marathon the week after (See PW marathon above-lol) Comes at a good point in schedule in my effort to get faster and see where I am at for a May half as well.Set a goal of a sub1:38, but recent weeks of training told me maybe a 1:35 was possible and that was what I would shoot for
Race day arrived and had a good 10-day taper for race and confident the hard work of Daniels would payoff in Chambersburg. Did not sleep too well waking up every couple of hours not being able to contain my excitement for race day. Followed my normal race day routine got dressed and head off to start. Love that this race is in my backyard with a short 5 minute drive to start.
Arrived at race, picked up my packet and chatted with a few running friends and pinned my bib number on. Ran my routine warm-up mile with a couple of fellow runners and was ready to run yet another Chambersburg Half.
Race started promptly at 8:30 and inched my way toward front of field. Listened to race director go over some pre-race stuff and race started and I was off.
Mile 1 – 7:10 - just trying to settle in and get in a groove. Plan was to start race at &;30, but best laid plans sometimes just don't work out. Start has a BIG downhill for first .4m or so. Last time I raced fast first mile too at 7:15, so there is a precedent there.
Mile 2 – 7:20 – settled in nicely with a 7:20 mile as we gradually climb up to worst hills of the course up Henry Road.
Mile 3 – 7:37 – kinda expected a slower mile for Mile 3 with finishing climb up Henry before the downhill before turning on Springview Rd. with biggest climb with a 3-5% grade. Felt good passing people walking up this hill. Mile 3 pretty much ends at Mile 3 marker and next mile has a big downhill for about 0.5m or so.
Mile 4 – 6:58 – Woah Nellie! Slow down there Billy!
Mile 5 – 7:20 – mostly small rollers with couple minor climbs. Stayed on pace and feeling really good.
Mile 6 – 7:27 – a little slower than I liked. Hit half-way (6.55m) mark 47:45.
Mile 7 – 7:20 – this is a tough part of course with out back stretch. Out mostly downhill and back big strecthes of uphill which spills over to next mile. Kept moving and feeling good.
Mile 8 – 7:27 – lots of uphill with tail-end of out and back stretch. Kept pushing forward as fatigue starting to set in a bit.
Mile 9 – 7:25 – small rollers for most part and kept pushing and digging a little deeper to keep pace close
Mile 10 – 7:40 – worst split of race as course gets back on Springview which is a long climb up to biggest hill. Calves felt a little tight at this point, but pushed thru just focusing on keeping legs moving. Knew once I hit crest f hill remainder of race mostly down hill.
Mile 11 – 7:21 – hit crest of hill and got a good downhill to push me up Henry the last real uphill of race. Slight downhill as I hit Mile 11 marker. Time to drop the hammer with 2 miles to go.
Mile 12 – 7:12 – gave all I had left with some rollers, but course mostly downhill from here on out.
Mile 13 – 7:12 – another goods plit giving it all I had left with end in sight and small climb as we neared finish.
Last .1 – 6:32 - finish line in sight and gave it one last kick and hit finish at 1:36:22. Ecstatic I finished with time I did and yelled out a big scream as I got my finisher medal. Another Chambersburg Half in the books and I could not be happier. An almost 4 minute PR (3:40), 4th in the 40-44AG with overall 7:21 avg pace. 17 second per mile improvement. No one passed me after Mile 5 except for one guy around Mile 9. Guess all that quality is paying off
Kinda can't believe I ran that course that fast. It's got me encouraged for Frederick in May as well as when I toe that marathon line again this fall. That's getting way ahead of things though, but can’t help but be a little giddy about what this fall might bring. For time being just gonna enjoy this new PR for the moment. A PR I felt I should have had last fall. I have no regrets though stepping away from the marathon this spring and probably should have done this a few years back. I have 8 weeks until Frederick and still have lot of work to do. I know I have faster time in me just based off this race today. Do Work. Get Faster!
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