Race #223
Half Marathon #80
2024 Race #2
2024 Half Marathon #1
Greenville Half Marathon #9
I went into this wanting a good race, a launch for my half marathon PR training. I planned to run a solid race, maybe test if I still had that marathon pace of 8:30ish in my legs.
The weather cooperated as well with a starting temp of 39 with the temps in the mid 40s for the most of the race.
Mom and I started together in corral 2 although that was a bit confusing because no one really regulated that.
I knew that the first few mile miles would be the most crowded and have rollers throughout. Thus, I settled into a pace and did not try to push it. Good thing too. I couldn’t even if I had tried thanks to the sheer number of people around me.
Mile 1 – 9:04
Mile 2 – 8:39
The race heads north for a little over a mile before turning to head back towards Greenville.
Just after mile 2, Mom told me that she planned to slow her pace just a little bit. We made plans for where we would meet up after the finish and I picked up my pace just a tiny bit. We still had a couple more rollers before we got back on the Swamp Rabbit Trail.
I didn’t look at my watch much but was pleased when I did to see the average pace hovering around the 8:30-8:45 mark.
I’ve run this trail so many times over the years that not much sticks out in my mind except the fact that I felt good, solid and the fact that I wanted to pass one girl with a camelbak because the sound of the liquid swishing inside irrationally mildly annoyed me. (Eventually, I did pass her.)
Mile 3 – 8:47
Mile 4 – 8:46
Mile 5 – 8:41
Mile 6 – 8:33
Around mile 7, after we crossed a timing mat (placed at 6.9 for some reason rather than 6.5) I started thinking about negative splits.
I didn’t look at my watch each mile but I tried to increase the pace a little each mile.
Mile 7 – 8:28
Mile 8 – 8:31
Mile 9 – 8:33
Mile 10 – 8:40
With a 5k to go, I locked into race mode.
Mile 11 – 8:26
Mile 12 – 8:24
Mile 13 – 8:10
I didn’t count but I did think about passing as many people as I could.
I started to feel the pace the closer I got to the finish, slowing down only for the ridiculous switchback to get off the trail and onto the sidewalk for the final stretch. (I really wish they would just push back the turn around in TR back a few meters so we could just cross the street rather than use the underpass, but alas, I don’t think that will ever happen.)
As I came around the corner, I saw the guy in front of my grab at his thigh a few times and then half to walk. That really sucks.
I made the final turn and started full out sprinting. I also heard someone call out “go, Ms. Enjaian!” I knew it had to be one of my former or current students, but I was too in the zone. 😊 I found out later that who it was. His whole family ran either the half or the 5k. He won his age group with a 1:34!)
I finished feeling great and strong.
Overall – 1:52:47
So did Mom! She came in about 7 minutes later, under 2 hours!
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