David Jones - RACE DAY SUCCESS

Race Day has finally come and gone. Robb and I have successfully completed our first 1/2 marathon. My goal for the race was 2 hours but really thought it would be more like 2 hours 15 minutes. The day started out very cold. At our 7:00 am start time it was about 30 degrees, but it didn't take long to warm up. Turned out to be a perfect day for running. The first mile was very slow(9:21) due to the nearly 700 runners being led down a couple of lanes of road. After the first mile I decided I needed to pick up the pace and get around some of those slow pokes. After 3 - 4 miles the pack was pretty spaced out and I could run the pace I was comfortable with. This course was pretty flat with just a few hills and those were not too bad. I finished mile 6 right on 52 minutes. Felt pretty good so far. Robb blew by me at about mile 8 or so. I tried to hang with him for a while but couldn't keep up. I just tried to run a good steady pace for the next few miles. Got to 10 miles right on 1 hour 27 minutes. That is about a minute off my best 10 mile time. Still felt pretty good. Not tired or winded at all. Only problem was my feet hurt. I knew I could make it from there. From mile 10 to 12 was pretty fun because I knew the end was getting near. I passed mile 12 right on 1 hour 46 minutes and still felt good so I told myself to grit it out and kick it in gear for 1 more mile. Finished the 13th mile in 7:12. I didn't mean to kick it up that much. Next thing I know the last 2/10th were done and I was crossing the finish line in 1 hour 53 minutes and 52 seconds. Over 6 minutes better than my goal. I didn't realize it at the time that Robb had just finished 30 seconds and 6 runners ahead of me. If I had known I was so close to him I would have tried to nip him at the finish line.

I am really happy with the way Robb and me ran the race. It was a blast and I beat my goal easily. I am ready to try another one sometime. Might even consider working up to a full marathon one day. Now I feel pretty confident about completing my Hood to Coast legs with not too much diffuclty. Here is a picture of Team Plumb Crazy members at the finish area. Notice the medals. Awesome Baby!!!!!