Gettysburg Blue Gray Half Marathon - October 20, 2013

The Gettysburg Blue Gray Half Marathon was not my first choice as a tune-up to Philly. RnR Philly a flat and fast course was but a bout of bronchitis and 2wk layoff took care of that.

 I live about 30 minutes from Gettysburg so a short drive to start. Arrived at race and resluzed I forgot my Garmin. I was not realky happy about that. It is what it is though. A friend had a spare stopwatch so that was better than nothing.

It really kinda stressed me out right before race. Still a 1:39 is not too bad without the watch but much unneeded stress. Think also I might have asked too much of myself to PR here trying to make up for my DNS in RnR Philly. This has been a challenging cycle to say the least. 

Race was really crowded with 800+ runners on a narrow PA country road to start. Hard to get on pace weaving around runners. Probably should have started more to front. Mile 1 at 7:40 and was way off pace. Mile 2 things opened up a bit and lot of downhill. Way too fast at 6:40 to compensate mile 1. Think not having Garmin really hurt here. Next few miles 7:00, 7:10, 7:12 I think based off what I remember. 

Wind picked up here and combined with rolling hills started slowing down as splits more at MP than at HMP. Think uneven miles early on really hurt me. Just ran at this point and figuring out math just made my head hurt. Miles felt hard 9-13 but manageable. Nice hill at finish. race directors are cruel that way.

Think I it was a good hard hilly training run and not get so caught up about a failed tune up race. Just a tune up and not end goal or indicator how Philly will unfold.

Philly is what matters and putting in 2 last good training weeks before taper. Not changing my goal as this race was just a tough day for me and things probably be different if I remembered my watch. Stupid Billy!:) I got this in Philly. BQ or not I am lining up for a big potential PR. That's what is important.

I think a year ago I'd never would have run a 1:39 on this course. 800+ other runners who finished after me kill for my result. #BQinPhilly