2020 Creve Couer St. Paddy's Day Half Marathon
March 7, 2020
1st Overall, CR, 1:09:53 (5:19 pace)
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| Start |
In the beginning of 2020 I decided to change my focus from trail ultras back to the roads. More specifically the road marathon. My plan was to run the Illinois Marathon in April and hit a Boston qualifying time. The Creve Couer St. Paddy's Day Half Marathon fit perfectly into the schedule as a tune up race.
This race came at time where I was in one of the best 18 week training blocks of my life. Everything was clicking and progressing nicely. I was arguable in the best road running shape of my life. A PR in the half was imminent, I just had to go out and actually do it.
Race day brought cooler temps in the upper 30's with frosted grass but clear skies. What to wear became more of an issue than anything else. The goal...to run a PR half and win and if I set a CR in the process, kudos. The day brought all three and I couldn't have been happier.
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| Finish |
From the gun I settled into a pace I thought would be comfortable and manageable. Luckily my race game plan aligned perfectly with Taggart VanEtten's. Honestly if it wasn't for him I doubt I run the time I ran. I had to keep pressing and feather that red line the entire race. We ran shoulder to shoulder for 11.5 miles. The course is an out and back style with a few more hills than I expected. Paved bike path for pretty much the entirety of the race except for a short packed gravel section on the Katy Trail by the turn around. The wind on the way back proved tough as well but the foot traffic still heading out helped encourage us. Time came and went fairly quick and before I knew it I was rounding the Creve Couer Lake heading for the finish. My overall time and effort really brought me a lot of joy. Just for the sheer fact that I've put a lot of time and effort into the training block and seeing the results you want come out of it is everything. This race was the impetuous I needed to continue through my training block and into my goal marathon. At this race I also made a new running friend in Taggart. He too PR'd in a big way and sharing that with him is equally satisfying.
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| Taggart and I |
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