Today was a beautiful day. I’m super excited to get this Navy Air Force Half Marathon Recap done to share with y’all! The weather was gorgeous, I felt good and everything was just hitting on all cylinders. I had been waiting for this race for months and it did not disappoint. I don’t usually recap expos and stuff like that so I won’t spend too much time on this one but to say it was a hot mess. It took about 45 minutes to get my race bib because lines were crazy. It was not awesome. I was underwhelmed with the level of (dis)organization at the expo, but don’t let that discourage you from running this race.
The course is pretty standard issue for a DC race. We started near the Washington monument (as you can see below in the picture with my colleague Meghan) and it was a bit chilly so I kept my throwaway shirt on until we started moving. The course winds around towards the Lincoln monument and crosses the Memorial Bridge at about mile 1.5. We then ran past the back side of Lincoln towards Georgetown. We followed Rock Creek Parkway up a few miles until the turn around. Then you come back the way you ran up and head over to Haines Point for the last few miles. Relatively flat with a small hill around mile 6.5 and another tiny hill at the finish (not even really a hill but feels a bit like one at mile 13!).
You know I like to recap by miles so, here we go!
Miles 1 -3: The start was incredibly congested and people were not in their appropriate line up spots so the first couple miles were slower than I wanted them to be but I wasn’t too worried. I just keep moving and knew it would clear out soon. You can tell that it did clear up significantly by mile 3, which was great. Even though I had a TON of buddies running this race, I was running solo pretty much the whole way. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing — I was able to just focus on my race, which I wanted to do. 9:44, 9:42, 9:21
Miles 4-6: At this point we were running up Rock Creek Parkway, which is an area I am extremely familiar with and spent a lot of time training over there during my last cycle of marathon training. The familiarity helped deal with the tiny, gradual incline as we headed up the Parkway towards the turn around. 9:29, 9:19, 9:36
Miles 7-9: At this point, I knew I wasn’t going to go sub-2 but also knew that I could hit 2:05 if I kept pushing. I tried to just hold pace in the 9:20s and that seemed to work. K was at mile 8.5 briefly, so that was fun. The course doesn’t have a lot of spectator support so if that is something you need, be aware. 9:21, 9:21, 9:27
Miles 10-13.1: This final stretch is mostly on Haines Point which can be a real mental battle. I don’t love Haines Point, but I’ve run it enough that I am very familiar with it and I go into races knowing that it’s flat and pretty boring and am prepared for that. I really thought I was pushing it that final mile, but looking at my times, it’s clear I was pretty done. I definitely left it all out there on the course! 9:28, 9:33, 9:31, 9:52
Oh – so what was my official time? 2:05:49 This was a 15 minute PR for me and I am so proud. I worked really hard in this training cycle and I saw results. I will talk more about what’s next for me soon but overall, I feel like a total rockstar. I know I gave this race everything I had and I’m really proud of myself. It can sometimes feel uncomfortable to say that (like I’m bragging when I’m not) but the truth is, I’m proud. π
Did you race this weekend? Tell me about it!
Nicely done! I’m thinking about doing this one next year.
Thank you (and yay to you being able to actually comment!) – it was a great day! Can’t wait to hear more about Ragnar!!
So happy for you! Congratulations!! Nothing like a PR when you know you gave it your all! And a good day for a race, nice breeze. Your hair looks really cute btw. Rocking that Flock singlet!
M @ readeatwriterun.com recently posted…Friday Five – Blogs to Try
Thank you so much — especially for the hair compliment π
I thought of you today during the Parks Half in Bethesda…it was a great day for a race! Congratulations on your PR; 15 minutes is HUGE!
Thank you! I’d love to run the Parks Half sometime – I know that’s a great race!
Great seeing you today and congrats on the amazing PR! Can’t wait to hear what is next. I completely agree with you on the expo…. will detail it Tuesday.
Jennifer recently posted…Friday Five – Blogs to Love
GREAT seeing you as always! ugh, the expo!!! can’t wait to read your recap!
Sometimes those slower starts can help in the end. Great job and you really crushed that PR. So happy for you that your hard work paid off.
Pam recently posted…Weekly Roundup: Sept 14th
thank you so much! i think you are right and the slower start may have been a blessing in disguise.
HUGE PR! Congratulations!!! You ran each mile OVER a minute faster, wow!!
Christine recently posted…#TBT : My first Marathon β Marine Corps Marathon
thank you so much! π
Congratulations!! That is an amazing PR, you worked so hard and it paid off! You are a rock star!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets recently posted…RnR Philly Half Week 9 Recap: Philly 10K and Tough Long Run
thanks janelle. it felt really great to cross that finish line!
Congrats! You should definitely be proud of that PR π I didn’t race this weekend but did my first run with double digit miles and that was a great confidence booster for me.
Chaitali recently posted…Friday Five – Blog posts
ooooh first double digit run is AWESOME. congrats!
Congrats! I was rooting for you hoping that you’d make the time you wanted. A 15-minute PR! You give me hope for myself.
Tiffany@ThisIsTheAfter recently posted…Feeling Proud!
thank you so much!
Wow 15 min PR is huge! You’ve been working really hard and it paid off! Congrats enjoy your moment you deserve it π
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…200 must haves for a 200 mile Ragnar Relay-An Overpacker’s Guide
thank YOU! can’t wait to read more about ragnar π
Congratulations!! I’m so glad all your hard work paid off. You should be proud! It’s not bragging when you’ve worked so hard!
Kat @ Life by the Laces recently posted…Friday Five: Bloggers!
thanks so much, kat! i was really happy with my results.
Congrats on a successful race!! Nice PR. WOOT!
Jess@Flying Feet in Faith recently posted…Friday Five: Blogs I Stalk Religiously
thanks jess! π
YES!!!!!! So so SO happy for you π congratulations, great feeling!
Mar @Mar on the Run recently posted…Week 10: Navy Air-Force Half Recap
thanks BRF! it was a great feeling! now i feel sore π
Wow! A 15-minute PR is huge β congratulations! I hope you spent the rest of the weekend relaxing π
Jess recently posted…Race Recap: One Lucky Buckeye 4-Miler (2014)
oh i did, you know it!
I LOVE this! You worked so hard and deserve to be so so proud of yourself!
Rose recently posted…Reflections on my DNS
thank you so much rose! i need to sign up for another NC race so we can hang π
Im so bummed I miss you AGAIN. I saw Mar on the course and was looking like crazy for you but you must have been just behind me as I finished in 2:00 even. Great job crushing your goals and an AWESOME PR! So proud of you and all of your hard work!
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…I have found the most delicious protein bar & a Giveaway!
yeah, i also started back in the slower area because we couldn’t push past the people. i knew you were ahead of me but i somehow never saw you either. boo. clarendon day?
I have an 18 miler that day, but I will be finishing it off with the double π
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…I have found the most delicious protein bar & a Giveaway!
You should be proud! Glad to see all your hard work paid off! Congrats again π
Michelle @ Running with Attitude recently posted…Week 8 and Counting
thank you so much michelle!
Amazing!! Congrats π
Danielle recently posted…Race Recap: Gretaβs Run 5k
thanks danielle!
Congratulations! That is a HUGE block of time to chip off a PR. Go enjoy yourself and give yourself a massive pat on the back.
thank you so much!
Hardwork pays off! Congrats on your PR
LaToya recently posted…Rise & Grind!
thank you!
Congrats on your PR! I was doing the Navy 5 miler due to injury but ended up with a half marathon medal since they ran out of the 5 miler medals. Between that and the expo I was disappointed in the organization of the race. (They messed up the shirts too.) I guess this means I have to run the half marathon next year.
Chelle @ Blogs Like a Girl recently posted…Friday Five: Blogs To Love
yes, not the most organized. sorry you had an issue with the medals – that’s silly! but yes, the half is a great course! congrats on finishing the 5 miler!
Way to go on the big PR-that’s awesome! Sounds like a pretty great race with no major issues where you were feeling good! Cheers!
Lauren recently posted…Friday Five Linkup: 5 Blogs I’m Loving Right Now
thank you so much!
Congrats on a great race and a new PR! You should be proud of yourself, and never worry about saying so β you know us runners understand! π
Heather Runs Thirteen Point One recently posted…week in review: september 8β14
aw, thanks heather — i appreciate it!
Congrats on the massive PR! You are a rock star!
Judith recently posted…Bethanyβs English Channel Swim Story
thank you!
Woohoo on the huge PR!!!
Abby @ BackAtSquareZero recently posted…Changing our After
thank you abby! it was a GREAT day to run.
Congratulations! Your training really paid off! And it was a fantastic day for racing! I think I need to train more on Hains Point so I can get over it, but its so boring! And flat!
Coco recently posted…Ragnar Recap — Running RagnarDC
it is so boring and flat – i try to use it to my advantage but it can be tough!
I’m so excited for your, Courtney! You and Julie have been training so hard; I just knew you were going to do great!! It was so nice to see you all together; looks like it was a beautiful day for a race. Can’t wait to hear what’s up next!! π
Tara @ Running ‘N’ Reading recently posted…Marathon Training Week 5
thank you so much tara!
Way to go Courtney! That 15 minute PR is quite impressive, although I’m not shocked in the least since you worked your butt off this summer. I can’t wait to hear what your next big race is going to be since I know that you’ll rock that as well!
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…2014 Arlington Police, Fire & Sheriff 9/11 Memorial 5k Recap
thank you so much kathryn π
Congratulations, Courtney! What a great PR – you were booking!
Debbie @ Deb Runs recently posted…Cruisers Rockin’ The Relay – Ragnar DC Recap Part 1
thanks so much debbie!!
You deserve to be proud of that awesome PR. Congrats!
Also, I would love to know what you thought of the RLRF training plan you followed and if you’ll be continuing to following that plan. Maybe a future post?
Jennifer @ Running on Lentils recently posted…Colorado Trip: Part Two
thank you so much jennifer. i definitely loved the run less run faster plan and will be using it to train for my marathon (a little bit modified since i’m not starting from zero). and YES – probably at least two future posts π