My love for Richmond just grew tenfold this past weekend. I’ve talked quite a bit about Richmond and why I love the race. Well, I will now gladly add the half marathon to that list. I had a wonderful time in Richmond and an excited to share my Richmond Half Marathon Recap with y’all.
As you’ll recall, I set 3 goals for this race. My A goal (perfect day) was in the 2:10 range. That would not have been a PR, but I wasn’t searching for a PR, just a strong run. Since I wasn’t shooting for a tough goal time, I decided that I just wanted to run by feel. I covered my watch with my sleeve during the entire race and did not look at it until right before mile 12. But before we get to mile 12, let’s start from the beginning.
The race started at 7:30, so I met up with friends, training buddies and Oiselle teammates for pics at 7am. After pictures and another final bathroom break, we headed out to the corrals. I dropped my bag at bag check and got in place to run. The weather was perfect for distance running. Cool, about 35 degrees at the start but sunny. Low humidity and a slight breeze. Chilly to start and I kept my throw away gloves on until about mile 8, but really solid weather overall.
The half marathon course covers the same ground the full marathon course does, but they divert the courses away from each other so the marathoners and the half marathoners are never really on the same part of the course at the same time except at the finish. It works out really well and the course is never super crowded but you’re never all alone. All this to say that I’d already ran most of the half marathon course during the full – except for two sections – an out and back around mile four and a loop in a park around mile six. So I knew what to expect for the most part.
I ran most of the race with my friend Deb from my training group. We had lots of fun and spotted other friends while running. The loop in the park was the hilliest portion of the course and I was not thrilled with the unexpected hills. It really was not awful, but I just wasn’t expecting it, so kept being like “ugh. another hill?” In reality, those hillier miles didn’t affect my pace really at all. I loved running the parts of the course I remembered and except for those middle miles, the race went by quickly. As we passed the marathon signs in the later miles, I was reminded of how I’d felt the past two years running the full. I have to say, I was also really glad I was running the half. 🙂
Here are my splits:
- 9:47
- 9:39
- 9:41
- 9:41
- 9:34
- 9:37
- 9:33
- 9:41
- 9:29
- 9:34
- 9:31
- 9:26
- 8:37
- last little .1 at the finish: 7:34
Let’s talk about that last mile. So about a quarter of the way into the last mile, I spotted Coach T. Coach T coaches for the Potomac River Running Company’s training programs here in DC. She was my coach two winters ago and I regularly saw her at the track this summer. She’s amazing and I love seeing her at races. Well, she was at about mile 12.25 and when I spotted her and shouted “Coach T!” she decided to give me a bit of a push. She ran just ahead of me saying “come on! Push it! Pick it up!” Meanwhile, I regretted saying hi 🙂 Just joking – the push was awesome and probably was the thing that gave me that PR. I felt like I was dying but it was incredible. Thanks, Coach! And then of course, the final bit of the course is a steep downhill in which your legs just fly. It was awesome.
Final time: 2:04:52 – a new PR by just under a minute (my previous PR ws 2:05:49). I negative split the race, which was a great feeling. I’m ready to go for sub 2 next spring. I really liked not looking at my watch and may try to do some more races and runs that way. It was super refreshing and made the race very low stress.
What I wore: Oiselle Distance shorts, Oiselle lux long sleeve shirt, Oiselle singlet, Injinji socks, Zensah calf sleeves (affiliate links) and Adidas Boost Glide sneakers. I carried my Nathan handheld and had my phone in my back pocket of my shorts.
Fueling: I drank water with Nuun in it for the first couple hours. I had some Honey Stinger chews in my handheld pocket but never ate them. I do think I should’ve fueled at some point during the race, but I wasn’t hungry. I ate my breakfast (pb&j sammie) a bit later and so food wasn’t appealing. I think a gel would’ve been great, but I can’t tolerate gu and was nervous to try the gel they offered on the course because I had never tried it. Once I crossed the finish line, I felt kind of woozy – probably due to the lack of calories. However, a bottle of Powerade and a slice of pizza (because Richmond is amazing) later, I felt brand new!
I can’t say enough good things about this race. I’ve always loved the full and I enjoyed the half just as much. Oh, I have to add – after I finished the half, I walked over to mile 25 on the course and cheered in some of the full marathoners. It was amazing. I love spectating almost as much as I love racing – and that’s a lot. A great day of racing and cheering – I can’t think of anything better!
If you ran please link up your Richmond race recap below – I’d love to hear about your race.
Have you ever run Richmond? If you are thinking you might want to, go sign up! It’s 70$ for the full and 60$ for the half until Thursday night!
Congrats Courtney! You’ve had quite the fall running season :). I have not done Richmond yet but it’s on my list for one year.
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Hungry Root-A New Twist On Veggies
You’d love it. It’s a great race!!
Congrats, Courtney!! You have been KILLING IT on all of your races, can’t wait to see you join the sub-2 club next year!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets recently posted…Weekly Meal Plan for 11/15/15
Thanks Janelle – it was a lovely day and I love running Richmond!
Congrats on a great race and a PR!! I will be back to Richmond next year for the full so I hope to meet up!!
I think I’ll be back next year as well!
Congratulations on another PR! You are having a great racing season!
It’s been kind of crazy but I’m happy!
CONGRATS! Sounds like an awesome race, and Coach T sounds like a sadistic but effective motivator 🙂
CK @ COoking Up Kefi recently posted…Vegetarian Thanksgiving 2015
Haha that’s a very accurate description 🙂
This fall has been your race season! You’ve done fantastic. Plus you’ve gotten a lot of great race photos too!!!
Are you done until next year?
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Book club review and linkup: My Life on the Road: The Wit, Wisdom, and Insights of a Road Racing Icon by Bart Yasso
Thanks Wendy! I have one more half this weekend – I plan on taking it VERY easy! 🙂
Congrats on your PR, Courtney! Unexpected PRs are always the best, and it sounds like it was a good thing that you said “hi” to Coach T!
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Facing Reality
Yes, definitely was a good thing to get that push! I would’ve hated to just miss a PR 🙂
Courtney, I’m so glad that you had such a great race day; I was super excited to see your pics over the weekend and I’m thrilled that the weather was good, you felt good and you were able to share it with some great folks. Congratulations!!!! I had a feeling this would be a good one… 😉 Hope your week is off to a great start!
Tara @ Running ‘N’ Reading recently posted…#3B26 Marathon Training – Week 8
Thanks Tara – the weather was so great. So many of my friends ran huge PRs!!! Great weekend 🙂
Congrats on the PR! Great race. GREAT final KICK!!
Wendy recently posted…doubt
Congratulations on the PR!
Thanks!
I love following your training. It’s clear how hard you’ve been working and deserve that PR. I’m glad you had such a great time in Richmond. Growing up in VA, I’ve always loved visiting Richmond.
Hollie recently posted…Training: Workouts and Races
Thanks Hollie – I always find Richmond to be a delightful town. Both for running and for hanging out after running 🙂
I had a few friends run this race (both bloggers and IRL friends) and only read and heard positive things about it. My coworker and friend lives in Richmond so I guess I could try to get up there for a run someday (this one or Monumental Ave). I saw the finisher’s blankets and you can’t beat pizza after a race either.
That is so neat that Coach T helped you and pushed you in the race. A negative split is awesome and a new PR to boot, especially so soon after your marathon. You’re definitely getting faster and stronger and there’s no doubt in my mind that you can’t go Sub-2 (esp. with that last mile split after 12 miles of running). Great job, and I hope you have a good recovery too!
Amy Lauren recently posted…Weekly Rundown: November 9-15
THANK YOU! Your comments about my sub-2 goal really mean a lot. If you are thinking about Richmond, it’s really cheap if you sign up this week 🙂 It’s such a great race!
Way to go girl! You rocked it! This race sounds like a blast!
Alaina @ The Simple Peach recently posted…Friday Five: Healthy Holiday Snacking
Thanks – I think you’d love it!! Hint, hint! 🙂
Congrats on a PR run! You ran a great race. It was such a beautiful day!! I have never run a full yet, maybe someday 🙂 the park really made me a bit crazy lol so tight! Other than that, I love the course, you are guaranteed a last great mile lol I loved knowing what to expect this year 🙂 it was my second time!
Karen recently posted…Race Day!
I LOVE the Richmond half. I was so sad that I could not make my schedule work to get down there to run it. (Nevermind that I’m not running much right now.) I was down there a bit later on Saturday and the weather would have been perfect. Fingers crossed I can make it happen next year, but it’s right at tournament time for all the soccer teams…
MCM Mama Runs recently posted…Weekend Wrap Up
I loved it as well. I may or may not have signed up for next year’s full already 🙂 Although I might have to defer because I think I have a wedding that night… 🙂
Wow, great race! Almost everyone I’ve ever met who has run Richmond (full or half) has loved their experience. Sounds like I need to sign up now! Revel in that PR – woo hoo!
Yes you do – it’s wonderful!!
Congrats on the PR! You will definitely be ready for Sub 2 next year!
I’ve done training runs where I cover my watch up. I just need that final time at the end!
Thanks Meranda! It was really fun!
Yay! So glad it was fantastic for you!
Coco recently posted…My Birthday Gift To You
thanks- it really was awesome!
Congrats! You worked so hard this training cycle and it paid off with an incredible fall season! I ended up signing up for the half for next year – the price was too good not to resist 🙂
Jennifer recently posted…2015 Chicago Marathon Race Recap Part 1
yay!!! so fun – love that you signed up 🙂
Awesome job, Courtney! It sounds like you had a great race and PR’d when you weren’t planning on it. Love when that happens! Love to see Oiselle team representing 🙂
Angie @ Pace with Grace recently posted…Low Key Weekend Recap
Great job on the PR. A good way to head into spring training.
Lesley recently posted…A Running Soundtrack
I’m so happy for you, Courtney! How awesome to get a PR on course that you love and while not expecting it. Love, love, love that you didn’t look at your watch the whole time and ran by feel and had really consistent pacing with a negative split. It’s difficult for me to have consistent pacing on even half-mile repeats! Also love the push from your coach at the end. Overall, sounds like an awesome day. Congrats!!!
Jennifer @ Running on Lentils recently posted…Weekly Recap 11/9 -11/15: Adding Speed / A Bum Back
Thank you- it was a wonderful day and I was surprised at how freeing it felt not to look at my watch while running. I really liked that!
Congrats on the PR!! Sounds like Richmond was an awesome time! I may have to add that race to my list. 🙂
Yay!!! Congrats on the PR! You killed it with negative splits!! I still haven’t run this but it is definitely on my list. Since I”m taking a year off from the marathon, maybe in 2017….but I could probably be talked into the half next year 🙂
Congrats on the great race! 🙂 Nice photos and time!
Sara recently posted…Review of Plantronics Headphones
Thanks Sara! It was so fun!
congrats on the PR! It sounds like you had a great run. I loved reading all the Richmond recaps as I really loved this race last year and wasn’t able to do it this year. I look forward to doing it again at some point in the future.
Chaitali recently posted…Weekly review
2016!!!!!! 🙂
Congratulations on a great race and the PR! It’s amazing what running by feeling can lead to. I’m also hoping for sub 2 in 2016. Eek!
Elizabeth recently posted…November: Life Currently…
Woohoo – do you have the race picked out??
Congrats on your new PR! You rock! Isn’t it great to finish a race feeling so good about the experience – beautiful course, great crowds, good weather, new PR…
Debbie @ Deb RUns recently posted…Worthy of Cherishing
YES! It was awesome. A great day for so many friends, as well!!
So this is scary… Not only do we have matching FULL marathon PRs, guess what my HALF marathon PR is? 2:04:55. Scary. Maybe the universe is telling us we need to train together for that sub-2:00!
hahahaha, I love this! That’s so fun! Yes! I’m trying to get Joyce to join my training group (google ARRC) – you should as well 🙂 A bunch of my buds in that group will all be going for sub-2 at Shamrock in March!
Congrats on your PR! This was my first full marathon (thanks for the linkup!) and I must say that I really enjoyed the race despite the aching legs and feet. Great post, happy running! 🙂
Congrats on your first! 🙂
I’m considering running the half this year – just how hilly is it? 🙂 I have some hills in my normal loops (this is Virginia after all) but I’m still a little nervous about the hills 🙂 Thank you!
Definitely check out the elevation chart but it’s not bad. There is a hilly section in the middle that you should look at, but I wouldn’t describe the race as “hilly” overall!
How exciting! I did my first half this past Feb and just signed up for this one last night! Are you running this year? If so best of luck on your sub par run I’m sure you will crush it!!