good day at the races

I did the Philly Distance Run (Half Marathon) this morning, after riding 90 miles yesterday.

The race went better than expected. I guess it was the cool temperatures that kept my heart rate low. I expected to start at 7 minute pace and pick it up in the last 6 miles to 6:30 pace.

I hit the first mile marker in 6:15 pace and wasn't breathing hard. My heart rate was about 155 and I decided to stay in that zone for a while longer, which resulted in a fairly consistent pace between 6:15 and 6:25. At mile 9, I decided to run the last 4 miles with my heart rate above 160. It was difficult to get my legs moving faster, but I managed 6:05, 6:00, 5:58, and 5:45 in the last 4 miles, barely getting my heart rate beyond 160 until the last 1/2 mile, where I was in the red at 170+.

In the end, I somehow managed to run 1:21:30, which is a 1/2 Marathon PR for me by over 30 seconds. Nice to get a PR at my age ; ) I guess going out at a comfortable pace and picking it up in the end actually works pretty well.



<-- Passing one of the top female masters runners over the Strawberry Mansion Bridge - the bagpipe player (background) really got me going at this turn around point.