Race Report - Tobacco Road Half Marathon
As Marathon Weekend 2024 came to a close, I realized that the May, 2021 sub-4:00 marathon proof of time I'd been using had come to the end of its lifespan. The problem was, that was the last race I actually raced for time as I had focused on more completion-related goals for ultras and RunDisney challenges in the ensuing years. Adding to the challenge was that I had gotten complacent in my diet and had put on an extra 40-50 pounds. As a result, post-MW has been focused on both reestablishing my pace and dropping my weight back to an acceptable level.
The Tobacco Road Half Marathon was ideally timed for me to take a first shot at a new PoT. The course is also well-suited for a time trial, being the flattest and fastest course in my area (although not really flat). My marathon and half marathon PRs are both at this race. Also bolstering my attempt was the 31 pounds that I've been able to lose since Marathon Weekend. My only goal for the race was to reestablish a Corral B PoT with a sub-2:08 finish.
Weather was pretty good for the area this time of year, with temps ranging from 56-59 degrees (T+Ds 103-106). The race started with a combined half and marathon mass start of ~4,000 runners. The initial crowding kept me from getting up to speed and into a rhythm until ~1.5 miles had passed. We started on neighborhood roads with rolling hills and at mile 2.5 we turned onto the American Tobacco Trail's (ATT) crushed gravel trail. The ATT runs down an old rail line and, while not flat, it features long stretches of mild grade. Things opened up on the ATT, as the marathon course heads north and the half course heads south, and I was able to get into a good rhythm.
Cruising down the trail, I hit the halfway turnaround at 1:03:18 on my watch. Coming back, those gentle downhill grades didn't feel so gentle as my legs started to tire a bit. I felt like I was doing well with maintaining my pace despite a couple of minor mishaps where insufficient volunteers at a couple of aid stations led to problems with getting fluids and with runners having to slow almost to a stop as the volunteers had to "reload" on cups to hand out. Between the halfway split time and watching my quarter mile splits, I knew I was going to be close on my goal as I turned off the trail back into the neighborhood roads around mile 10.5.
I spent those last miles mentally focusing on maintaining my intensity and not letting my pace drop. In the end it paid off as I crossed the finish line at 2:06:35. I'm very happy with my effort and its results today. Having the PoT in hand will also take some pressure off of my other spring races and let me relax and enjoy them a bit more. All in all, a good day at the races capped off with a nice St Patrick's themed medal! Thanks for reading!
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