Half Marathon Time Trial

So after much debating I finally decided I would run my half marathon time trial up at the track on Sunday. Set off in my shiny new shoes with a couple bottles of water.

Plan was 1:26, which is 6:34 pace. That's 52.74 laps at 97.8 seconds per lap, or 100m every 24 seconds. I had the splits written on my hand. Weather was nice, but perhaps a little hot.

Started a little fast and did the first 5 laps in 7:57 vs a planned 8:09. Next 5 laps were in 8:10, so I was still 10 seconds up after 10 laps (2.5 miles). Next 5 laps were slower at 8:19 which put me back on schedule. Laps 16-20 were a struggle and I lost another 9 seconds (8:18 vs 8:09). I was 20 laps, or 5 miles into a 13 mile run and I decided it was going to be too much of a slog to keep on pace for another 55 minutes. Decided I would instead run a 10k TT and then follow it with a 5K time trial at a little faster pace. Felt good about that and did the next 5 laps back at proper pace in 8:09. Total for the 10K was 40:53, which was 7 seconds slow for 1:26 half marathon pace.

Walked/jogged/drank water for 10 minutes and then started the 5K TT - this is just 12.5 laps. Started steady; first 5 at half pace in 8:11, next 5 a little quicker in 8:05 and the final 2.5 faster in 3:53. 5K time of 20:09 - which is 14 seconds faster than a 5K at half pace. Ran a bunch more easy miles and some faster laps for 15 miles total for the day.

If it was a race, I think I could have maybe done the 1:26 half, but to do it alone on the track for no good reason was not gonna happen. I might look for a 5k or 10k between now and early May to get a real fitness assessment, or I may just wait til the Parkway Half Marathon on May 3rd.

Back to normal training this week, planning mid/high 70's.