Colfax Marathon (Denver)

Colorado was on another euphoric level. Capitol Building.

5k race/Tune up for Marathon Sunday

Recently returned from an awesome trip in Denver, Colorado. I was in the Mile High city for the Colfax Marathon, my first time running in the Centennial State. A few days after running, it was a great opportunity to reflect on my performance. Initially, I was irritated with the result. After walking around the city reflecting on the race, my feeling turned from irritation to fulfillment. I got asked constantly about altitude. That factor is not controllable so the only way to adapt is arrive early to get acclimated.

Approaching marathon weekend, I did not have any objectives achieving a personal best. My goal was running a smart/methodical race. No mile splits below 7:30 and do not go out too fast. On Saturday, the day before the marathon, I ran in a 5K race to serve as training/tune up. After running the 5K distance and four months of training, I felt really confident heading into the race the next morning.

Six AM was the earliest marathon start I have taken part in. Luckily, City Park was walking distance from a house I rented for a few days. Headed over to the start at 4:40 to do gear drop off and last minute preparations (stretch and food). Colfax was the first marathon wearing a hydration back pack filled with water. I practiced carrying that in my last two long training runs. Very grateful that piece of equipment got me through the race. Carried six energy gels (one every 4 miles) in my belt pack and hand held bottle sack. My hand held bottle was filled with Nuun Electrolyte Hydration. Overall, my race preparation was very good. Now, it is time to toe the start line in City Park.

Just after six, the course marshall yells into the microphone, "On your mark, get set, go…"

The Colfax Marathon is under way. Leaving City Park, heading towards downtown,  I focused on setting the pace, not going out too fast. Winding through City Park onto Colfax Avenue, an Elvis impersonator entertained passing runners. Aside from the bathroom stop at mile four, I felt really good setting the tone for an excellent race. Running through downtown Denver was an amazing experience. How many races do you get to run through a Fire Department with the staff greeting/cheering you on? So far, only Denver offers that (Fire Station No.1). Onto the Cherry Creek bike path towards Confluence Park. Turn left across the bridge to South Platte River trail that runs along Centennial Gardens and Elitch Gardens Amusement Park. The route goes back onto Colfax Avenue but I have to make my first run through Denver Broncos Mile High Stadium. Really enjoying my run through downtown Denver as I exit the stadium back onto West Colfax Avenue. That is only 7 miles.

Just past the seven mile mark on West Colfax Avenue, the altitude started to effect me. I kept moving forward. I realized my times were getting slightly slower but I focused on enjoying the scenery because a loop around Sloan's Lake is coming up. Halfway mark was at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. Once I got into the second half of the race, it became a struggle. Just past mile 18, the 3:30 pace group passed me (Colfax Avenue). I focused on keeping my legs moving and staying hydrated. It was a struggle sipping my hydration products. That was the least of my worries. Just keep moving forward. Just past mile 19, my friend Samantha held up a sign cheering me on. That made my racing experience that much better. Encouraged me to keep my legs moving. It also got me very excited for the final ten kilometers including the second run through Denver Broncos Mile High Stadium.

Once I ran through downtown again, I really considered walking the last couple miles to the finish line. Kept telling myself, you did not come here to walk. Run the marathon all the way through. Keep my legs moving. That motivation kept me going despite my slow mile splits. Leaving downtown returning to City Park got me very excited for the finish. Once I entered City Park, my excitement began to grow knowing the finish line is very close. Once I saw the time clock at the finish, I felt very satisfied with how the day turned out. Finishing time 3:35:45 with a pace of 8:14 was not a personal best. I told myself I would not be upset if I did not set a personal record. As I crossed the finish line, I let out a big roar indicating I was relieved to finish the race. It is unbelievable that I have completed five marathons in three years. Definitely have come along way from no accolades in sports during high school and college.

Letting out a roar of relief after completing my fifth marathon. It was an amazing day.

The reason why I was irritated was I had a chance to obtain a personal best but it did not happen. After talking with Marla about the race and walking around the Mile High city reflecting on my performance, it turned out to be an excellent day. It was a very good performance running at altitude for the first time while carrying a hydration pack. I definitely want to come back to Colorado for a vacation and/or running race.

I met so many amazing people while I was visiting Colorado. Thank you to friends and family that send me encouragement; Colfax Marathon staff for putting on an awesome race weekend; Volunteers for making my race experience enjoyable; Police, Fire, and EMT staff for keeping the runners safe.

Thank you Sam and Chris for cheering me on Colfax Avenue. Really appreciate the sign.

Showing off my finisher medals at Red Rocks

"I can do all this through him who gives me strength"-Philippians 4:13
"I want to be number one in everything"-Pat Bowlen

Spartan Tri-State Beast (New Jersey)

Spartan Beast was a success. Can't wait to do it again soon.

WHAT AM I!? I AM A SPARTAN!

On April 27th, I participated in the Spartan Tri-State Beast event in Vernon, New Jersey at Mountain Creek Resort. Thirteen miles with thirty obstacles to challenge those who are brave enough to conquer the beast of a course. This was my first Spartan race. Picked a great race for my Spartan debut. As a marathon runner, this was a different challenge for me but eager to take it on. Running marathons is a wonderful achievement. Completing a Spartan race is on another level.

After completing the Beast, I learned so much about myself physically, emotionally, and mentally. Part of the reason why I return to running events time and time again. Spartan events will be no exception. This post will focus on lessons learned from Saturday's Beast event. It will not have an extensive recap on the course and obstacles. Here are some lessons I took away from my first Spartan race:

Train
Sign up for Spartan Workouts by email. Check out their YouTube page for obstacle tutorials. Despite struggling with some of the obstacles, I was able to get through the course with little trouble. Having running experience helps. I ran a variety of road and trail races prior to my first Spartan Race. Went to the gym regularly to help with upper body strength, legs, core, and back.

Having fun
Races are not always going to go as planned. It is important to not get discouraged. Whenever, I feel upset during a race, I adjust my race objectives. Yes, I got upset when I had to do burpees for not completing the obstacles successfully. When that started to happen, I took the failures in stride and focused on having fun along the course. After completing your first competitive event, you go into the next event better prepared. It builds character. Thank you for making the Spartan Beast race fun.

Listening to my body
Studying the course, I walked along the trails in between obstacles and narrow paths on the trail. It was a perfect opportunity to conserve energy. Talking to other competitors on the course made my experience more enjoyable. For fuel and hydration, I carried a hydration backpack with two liters of water. Also, three gels and FIT AID supplement drink got me through the Beast course. Prior to the race, I ate oatmeal with cashew butter and sliced banana. Drank Coconut Water to get a supply of electrolytes prior to the start. Spartan competitors fuel and hydrate differently. Plan accordingly. You can never have too much food supplements and hydration.

Building a Community
Talking to other competitors puts my mind at ease. Whether it is asking for advice on race experiences to completing difficult obstacles, competitors are happy to provide in their insights prior to the race. Since the Spartan community has been wonderful, I am coming back for races in the future. Talking to competitors on the course and shuttle bus has built up my confidence and broadened my social circle too. This is the main reason why I keep coming back to endurance events time and time again.

My first Spartan event was very memorable. Too many burpees to count, a few blisters, great obstacles, awesome competitors, and a challenging course. My body was muddy wet, sore, and tired. The finishers medal was worth all the trouble and hard work. Thank you very much for making my very first race a memorable experience. The staff, volunteers, and photographers made the event safe and fun. Can't wait to do it again in a few months. Next stop: Massachusetts

AROO!

Eastern States 20 Mile race

March 24th
I participated in The Eastern States 20 mile race. It spanned three states beginning in Kittery, ME and finishing just across the state line in Salisbury, Massachusetts (20.25 to be exact). My training called for a nineteen mile run. It was a perfect opportunity to use this race as a training run (so much for that). It is a struggle separating being competitive from an easy training run. Despite this, I was very happy with the result but have plenty of room to improve.

Going into a race, I attempt to plan a strategy mentally, ensuring the run goes smoothly.  For this race, I wanted to run 5 mile blocks at a particular pace. For instance, miles 1-5 would be ran at 7:30 and finishing the final 5 at 7:00. Regarding fuel and hydration, I carried three GU Energy Gels and stopped for water three times along the course. With the strategy in place, it was time for the race.

Race morning, I drove to Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, New Hampshire for the shuttle bus. The 7:45 AM bus would take myself and the rest of the runners to Robert Traip Academy High School in Kittery, Maine. Arriving after 8 AM, it was tough finding the ways to pass the time until the race starts. 11 AM is the latest I have started a race, not sure how I felt about that. I took the opportunity to stretch, eat a light meal, hydrate, and a warm up jog. As the race approached start time, runners walked a short distance to the start downtown. It began on a narrow up hill driveway next to a public parking lot. Runners on your mark…

Race began heading towards the New Hampshire state line into downtown Portsmouth. Checking my watch at mile 1 (Memorial Bridge), my pace was 7:06. I quietly swore at myself for going out a little too quick. At this point, my original (mental) plan was scrapped. For the remainder of the race, my goal was to clock consistent splits without going under 7 minutes per mile.

Running through downtown Portsmouth was wonderful. I was excited to get onto Route 1-A along the coast. The remainder of the course would be ran on this road (Mile 3-20). As the race progressed, I was very pleased with my progress staying focused with my new plan. The only down side running on the coast is possibly running through head winds. It happened a couple times but I did not push too hard without getting very tired. Aside from that, the splits were excellent through the first fourteen miles. Approaching mile 15 (Hampton), my body started to slightly tire. Seeing that passing competitors would be few and far between, I put my head down to finish strong. Traffic was getting heavy approaching the slower half marathon runners. Some spots on the course had difficult, if not,no opportunities to pass. Locke Point Ocean Boulevard bridge only had room for two abreast. Also, Hampton Beach and Route 1-A approaching the Massachusetts state line (finish) was tough with vehicles approaching you. It gave me a chance to draft behind the twenty mile competitors conserving energy. Crossing the bridge, I was desperately looking for the finish line (where is it?). It was a relief hearing a volunteer at mile 20 shout, "Turn left and the finish line is 50 feet ahead."

Time: 2:25:44.3/ 7:12 pace (68th overall)

Miles 1-20: 7:06; 7:09; 7:11; 7:04; 7:00; 7:04; 7:07; 7:08; 7:04; 7:05; 7:05; 7:05; 7:11; 7:12; 7:22; 7:25; 7:27; 7:32; 7:37;  and 7:35 with the remaining distance at 7:21 pace.

Crossing the finish line, I was relieved and very pleased with the result. As stated earlier, I have tons of room for improvement. Thank you to all the event organizers that made the event possible. It was a very fun race. Law Enforcement did a great job keeping competitors safe. Can't forget the volunteers who made a tremendous difference, making the event enjoyable.

Rye, New Hampshire around mile 5.

What do I need to work on for my next long distance race?

1. Improve sleep habits night before race.
2. Write down race plans instead of relying on one mentally.
3. Meal plan night before race
4. Talk with coaches and/or pacers about how to prepare for long distance races

Route. Photo by Marathon Sports.

My first trip to Maine, through New Hampshire along the coast, and finishing in Massachusetts was a memorable experience. I would highly recommend this race to all runners looking for a long run tune up to a spring marathon. Currently accepting recommended races in Maine and New Hampshire. Congratulations to all the runners who finished the event. Hope you accomplished your goals Very grateful to meet some awesome athletes. Good luck with your future endeavors. Until we meet again.

Lace up and lets go to work
-MJ

2018 year in review

2018 was a very fun year. I can't wait for next year.

How do I describe 2018? Ambitious, fun, inspiring. It was a tremendous year filled with accomplishments, achievements, adventures, making a difference, learning new skills, and laughs. No question the year was filled with struggles. It is normal to have tough times but it is up to you on how the individual adapts. It was frustrating starting a task only to stop and quit. My biggest criticism was not having consistently productive days. Sticking to a schedule and staying focus is another improvement I need to work on.

Obviously, I participated in several running races. Instead of boring readers with another recap, click the links to view more details about my running.

To begin the year, I was training for a marathon coming up in a few months. Vividly remember two days of training in extremely cold, sub-zero temperatures. One day, I volunteered a couple hours at a homeless shelter in Saratoga Springs. Henry Rollins visited Albany for a spoken word tour talking about his world travels. It was an inspiring show.

February
After eight years and over 100,000 miles with my Chevrolet Malibu, it was time for a change. Made a decision to lease a brand new car, model, and brand. Celebrated my birthday doing a training run and eating non-dairy ice cream pint (Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie). Ended the birthday celebration weekend on a positive note with a Union hockey game against Cornell and a live performance by Dropkick Murphys.

March
If my memory serves me correctly, I took some time off social media to get refocused. Racing season began with the Garden State 10 in New Jersey. There was a half marathon challenge, 5K run followed by the 10 mile race.

April
In order to stay active, I swam in an olympic size pool for the first time in several years. It was a struggle but it felt rewarding doing an activity that was difficult. It is a excellent cross training method for marathon runners. My racing season carried on with two events: Code Blue 8K and New Jersey Marathon. This was my fourth time completing the marathon distance. The course was wonderful, finishing on the boardwalk, overlooking the ocean. I believe a wedding ceremony was being conducted on the beach while the race was in progress.

May
No distance races this month but so many fun events. Spent a weekend catching up with high school friends at a wedding. Spent a Sunday taking a walking tour with John Joseph, Cro-Mags vocalist. Saw the original Misfits line up perform in Newark, NJ. Arena Football returned to Albany and I was fortunate to attend a regular season game. 2018 is not even over but I can't wait for next season.

June
No surprise, more training for an upcoming race. Ran in a local trail race for the first time in nearly four years. A week later, I was in Boston running 10 kilometers with thousands of other competitors including elite athletes.

August
311 and Offspring performed in Syracuse on their summer tour. Felt like a nostalgic teenage in the front row singing along to their hit songs.

September
I decided to run two half marathons in a two week span to salvage a good running season. Disappointed I could not run a second marathon due to investments. Before the running, I drove to Woodstock Farm Sanctuary for a facility tour. Michelle Wolf had a one night only show in Albany. Sold out show at 7 PM was wonderful. For my races, I decided to run in Vermont. In terms of performance, it was excellent and strong. The two race gave me the quickest times in the half marathon distance. Can't wait to race again in the Green Mountain State soon. Read recaps here: Manchester and Vermont Sun (Brandon).

Woodstock Farm Sanctuary

October
A strong racing season concluded in Boston at the B.A.A Half. After running the 10K race in Boston a few months ago, I decided to sign up for the half marathon race soon afterwards. Not my quickest time but it was so much fun running in a fantastic city. Very pleased with the results over a span of month.

November
I volunteered at the MVP Stockade-athon race in Schenectady. It was second time participating in the last three years. It was also a wonderful month of trying beneficial activities: Cryo therapy and infrared sauna. Visited another animal sanctuary en route home: Tamerlaine Farm Sanctuary. Before the month ended, I decided to give the gym membership another try. Signed up at Planet Fitness, and it has been going great. Planning workouts on a weekly basis has made a tremendous difference.

December
The 21st will mark three years of drug-free living. The biggest reason was losing a good friend that was the same age as me due to a car accident. Also, a couple friends have been staying on the straight arrow, even with children of their own. Thank you very much for the inspiration. I am a much better individual today than I was a few years ago. My thirties have been wonderful so far. I would love to keep that up going into my forties and beyond.

Thank you friends, family, healthy foods, and running for making 2018 a wonderful year. I can't wait to see what the new year brings. Love you all. Stay strong. Reflect. Work on improvements for the new year.

-Matt Jerauld

B.A.A Half Marathon (Boston)

That's a wrap on a successful racing season.

Race weekend arrived and went. I was looking forward to the B.A.A Half Marathon, race I have been training for the last several weeks. Going into this event, I was pretty confident with how much progress I have made in several weeks including training. The past few weeks, I ran two half marathons, setting personal bests in both events. What does Boston have in store for me?

Up at 6 AM and the first thought is wearing shorts or tights. The temperature was sixty degrees with 10 mph winds. I decided to wear tights to keep myself warm. Upset that I did not pack a dry fit long sleeve shirt. That was the furthest thought from my mind. After a quick breakfast, I walk up the street to Franklin Park at 6:30 for the 8 AM start. I do not like to eat a heavy meal the morning of a big race. I bring along GU Energy Gels to consume on the course. For fluids, I add Tailwind Nutrition to water to insert electrolytes in my system. If a water table is present, I will have a few cups to keep myself hydrated. 

Around 8 AM, the starting horn sounds, over six thousand athletes are off and running. My objective was to run a methodical race keeping my pace in check. Looking to run 6:50-7:00 for the first 9-10 miles then a little quicker the remaining distance to the finish.

Leaving Franklin Park, the course took a right onto Arborway towards the Forest Hills Transit station. The first mile pace was 6:40. I took the opportunity to dial the pace back slightly so I would have energy to finish strong. Just past the first mile marker, the rolling hills made their presence along the Emerald Necklace section (Jamaica Pond, Olmsted Park, and Riverway). It was a beautiful section of the course with several thousand fans lining the streets cheering all the participants on as they passed. I ran a loop around those three parks with a turnaround point on Riverway. The first half of the race, my paces were under seven minutes.  

Going onto the back side of the course, I began to tire. Maybe running three half marathons in a span of one month was catching up with me physically. Starting at mile 7, the hills got more gradual. I decided to keep moving forward. Around mile 9, achieving a personal best was slipping away. Even if my pace was slow, I kept running so I can get across that finish line. Lot of hills on the course but I had a fun time running in Boston. Relieved that the last four miles were back in Franklin Park (Circuit Drive, Zoo, and White Stadium). 

Finish time: 1:34:19 at 7:13 per mile pace

Not a personal best for the race but I had a great time sharing the course with over 6,000 runners. It was nice to end a great racing season on a positive note. The weather was absolutely wonderful. The spectators, volunteers, safety personnel, and event organizers were terrific. Also, thank you to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute with support from The Jimmy Fund.

Post race reflection: Running races are not always about achieving a personal best. There are times when you need to just have fun running. Running in Boston gave me the chance to take in the scenery along the course. Yes, I have so much more to learn about distance races. You can do all the training and planning you want for a race. Guarantee you there will be issues. Listen to your body mentally, physically, and emotionally. Enjoy the running journey, be patient, and persistent. I had this conversation in a cab on the way to the bus station with another passenger.

This is a good way to conclude this recap. Thank you to everyone who made the B.A.A Half Marathon a fun experience. It was awesome sharing the course with excellent athletes. I will be back someday to complete the mission.

Persistent and patient running,

-MJ

Vermont Sun Half Marathon

Photo: Pat Hendrick Photography

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and, most of all, LOVE of what you are doing.” – Pele

Sunday was my second Vermont half marathon in two weeks: Vermont Sun. All I have to say is it was a great success. This was a great way to get one step towards the conclusion racing season. One more half to go in two weeks. Here is a Manchester Half Marathon update.

Vermont Sun began and finished in Branbury State Park. Prior to this race, I was raving about the excellent weather for race day. 10 AM start was the latest I have ever competed in. Aside from that, the weather was perfect. Little chilly with the temperature in the fifties and partly sunny. My favorite saying, "This is perfect running weather," especially that Fall season has officially begun. The course was a down and back, which I am not a big fan of. It gave me the chance to run on rolling hills, dirt roads, and under the shaded trees. 

Going into this race, I did not put any heavy expectations on my finish time. If I did not set a personal best for this race, I was not going to be upset about it. I was expecting some steep hills on the course. There was only one very steep hill just after mile 6 and before the turn around point. This race, I had a chip tied to a running shoe, which was a first.

Photo: Pat Hendrick Photography

Start-Turnaround point (Rogers Road)

Runners take their marks at the Start/Finish line. My objective was to run 7:00-7:20 pace. The half marathon runners began the staggered start. It was nerve wrecking very briefly to be in the front row. My GPS on the watch was not fully ready when the race began. I just pushed the start button and ran. As the time official yelled Start, I wanted to get a very good start and away from traffic as quick as possible. I was surprised to find myself in third place leaving Branbury State Park. Turned right onto Vermont Route 53 towards Fernville Road. At this time, I was in second place with the eventual overall winner, about a quarter mile ahead of me. I did not let that phase me. Focused on running a strong pace without tiring very early in the race. Making it a habit looking at my watch constantly while racing. Even though I would like to avoid it, it has helped me run more methodically. The results are starting to show. Back to the race, the first five kilometers had some rolling hills including a gradual climb just past mile 2. According to my watch, the paces were excellent (7:03, 6:53, 6:58).

After the mile 3 marker, the course turned onto Fernville Road. Then, a turn onto a long stretch of course, Hooker Road and Rogers Road. Around mile 4, the road went from gravel to dirt. It would go back and forth on this portion of the course. Before mile marker 5, I grabbed my first cup of water. While maintaining a quick pace, I was taking in the scenery along Lake Dunmore. Just past mile six, I encountered a steep hill just before the turn around point on Rogers Road. I stayed focus knowing the course was going to be easier coming back to the finish. Decided to use my first energy gel around the 10 kilometer mark and finish just before the turn around point. The first six miles were slower compared to the rest of the race. Took my second water cup at the turn around point (6:52, 7:12, 7:11).

Turn around (Rogers Road)-Finish (Branbury State Park)

After the turn around mark, the course got a little more quicker. The pace was quicker during the second half of the run. Not too many steep hills. Where I got my first water cup, the kid volunteers were kicking the cups around like it was a game (6:53, 6:44).

After mile 9 before the turn onto Fernville Road, I panicked briefly when the course guide was gone and was not sure where to turn. Luckily, I saw the yellow arrow signs and followed them to get back on track. I was upset briefly but I put that aside, focusing on finishing the race strong. Despite that mix up, I still had a good pace (6:54, 7:03). My watch was off on the distance but I got that out of my mind quickly. The GPS not being fully ready possibly had something to do with it. 

It was nice to get back onto the final stretch, Vermont Route-53. Consumed my final energy gel at around mile 11 (7:03) to get me through the final two miles. Setting up for the strong finish. At this point, I did not look at my watch. The finish line is getting close, I can sense it. Passing the Silver Lake trail parking lot, the Branbury Park entrance is in sight. Running the final stretch towards the finish line, I was excited to have the crowd cheering me on. As for the photographs, I hope they are good.

Photo: Pat Hendrick Photography

Crossing the finish line, I knew I did great, second place overall. I held that runner up position for a majority of the race. Last three splits according to my watch (6:40, 6:30, with the last tenth of a mile at 7:12 pace). Got my chip removed from my shoe and watched the next couple runners cross the finish line, third place overall male and first place overall female. After getting situated, I went to the trailer for my result. I was very surprised at my time (1:29:15.7 at 6:49 pace). It was very encouraging hearing the volunteers and event organizer that I had a "killer run." That gave me a tremendous boost of confidence going into my race in two weeks. Congratulations to all the runners who received awards. It was a pleasure talking to everyone after the race. Excellent job Corey Robinson for beating the course record and winning the overall. Also, shout out to Isabelle Dickens for winning the female overall and coming close to the female course record.

Funny how you do not go into a race with no expectation but end up with an extraordinary level of confidence for the hard work put in. I really can't wait to race again in two weeks. 

I want to take the opportunity to thank all the staff that put on the race, Vermont Sun Fitness and sponsors, the volunteers along the course, Pat Hendrick Photography, 802 Timing, and Branbury State Park for hosting the race and letting me jump into Lake Dunmore after my race. I actually look good in my race photos for a change.

Photo: Pat Hendrick Photography

From the rolling hills in the Green Mountain State, keep on running.

-MJ

Maple Leaf Half Marathon (Manchester,VT)

Saturday, brought me to Manchester, Vermont for the Maple Leaf Half Marathon. This was my first time running a half marathon in The Green Mountain State. Overall, I was very pleased with the race course which was challenging but not daunting. It felt wonderful to be racing again. Thank you to all the sponsors, event organizers (Manchester Lions Club), volunteers, and safety personnel for making my first half marathon in Vermont a very fun experience.

Could not have got through the run without help from my fuel essentials.

Mile 1-6

Prior to the race, my plan was to keep the pace around 7:20 because the first six miles had graduated elevation on the course. I wanted to have energy left in the later stages of the race. For this portion of the race, the paces went according to plan (7:07, 7:25, 7:02, 7:27, 7:15, and 6:51). I try to avoid looking at my watch constantly because my focus starts to lack but this race was an exception. Also, it was very helpful sticking to pace goals. If my pace was too quick, it gave me an opportunity to dial it back slightly (a little slower). Made several passes on this portion of the course and kept the runners in sight for most of the race. Also, I planned my water stops prior to the race. Usually, my first one is four miles into the race. At around mile four, I grabbed the first cup of water. 

Mile 7

Another excellent pace just before the big hill. Grabbed my second cup of water but did not get a good grip on it. I didn't have time to dwell on that mishap. Luckily, I had a GU Energy gel to get me through the next few miles including the Windhill Road stretch, 6:56 mile. Some portion of the road was run on a dirt road.

Mile 8-9

It was time for the most daunting hill on the course, Windhill Road. My objective was to have a slower pace (around 7:45) on this portion compared to other mile markers. I ended up with a 7:43 at that stretch which was better than expected. If it was 8 minutes, I wouldn't have been disappointed. The same runners were in my sight. One of them looked back to see where I was. That same runner would do it again after mile 9. Now it is time to keep moving.

Mile 9-Finish

Now that the daunting hill portion of the course was finished, the remaining stretch began its gradual descent. My objective was to pick up the pace, run under 7 minute miles for the remaining portion of the race. Break open that other GU Energy Gel and go to work. Just after mile 9, I caught up to the runner who looked back at me a couple miles back. Back onto the dirt road portion of the course until just after the ten mile marker. I ran along side this runner for about two miles. He thanked me for pushing him though. I asked him where we stood position wise. I believe we were in the top ten at that moment. Quickly got that off my mind and started reeling in a few more runners that were still in my sight. 

Mile 11, I slowly picked off a couple runners. I grabbed my final cup of water while continuing my quick pace to the finish. Passed my final runner at around the twelve mile mark. Mile 11 and 12 was a beautiful stretch of the course running on Vermont 7A back into downtown Manchester. Made the final push not really looking at my watch at all because I showed no signs of slowing down and felt fantastic (6:40, 6:36, 6:42, and 6:40 with the last portion at 0:59). It was an exciting feeling coming back into Dana Thompson Memorial Park for the finish. The crowds were cheering me on along with the announcement of my name. Thank you very much for making my first Half Marathon in Vermont a memorable one. 

Can't you tell I am thrilled with how race weekend went?

Final time: 1:33:14 with an average of 7:07 per mile

6th place overall and 1st place in my age group (30-34)

Thank you very much Manchester for a memorable experience. I will never forget it. On to Salisbury in two weeks for another race. 

Let's Go To Work

-MJ