Platte River Half Marathon

I ran the Platte River Half Marathon on April 7, 2013.

3 weeks after a great Moab race, I decided to go for a PR and the elusive 1:30 half marathon barrier.

My goal pace was 6:53 a mile.  This is a really good course, mainly flat with a slight downhill, little hills along the way with one big hill after mile 12.  Weather was perfect, cool sunny, slight tail wind and I was feeling good, except for some allergy problems that hit me pretty hard on Saturday.  I had some problems breathing at the start, through the first mile but then felt good after I settled into my pace and didn't notice it much.

I held my goal pace through 6 miles, then mile 7 I dropped to a 7:10 pace, which surprised me because I did not feel a drop in pace.  I pushed to get back on pace, but could not get back below a 7.   Mile 12, I dropped to a 7:19 and I knew the PR (1:31:16) was out of reach with a big hill in front of me.  I had no push and no kick left, the opposite of Moab 3 weeks ago.  Great start and faded at the end.  The hill at mile 12 goes over the train tracks and is very long, it even curves a bit so you can't see the top, then it drops down quick and a left turn to a flat finish the last quarter mile.  1:33:18

Garmin Watch Data for Race

82nd overall and 10th in my age group.  I gave it my best shot but it wasn't there that day.

Results for the Platte River Half Marathon

Also running was Rick, who is training for Colorado and did this more as a training run.  He killed it, running a 1:35:35, a PR by over 3 minutes.

I rode with my friend Jill to the race (Thanks for the ride).  She ran a really good race too, 1:46:02, she's back to where she was a couple of years ago.

Fun post race, lots of good food (real food), from the Buckhorn Exchange, nice day, good crowd and band and of course Beer.

Fun race, definitely recommend it for a spring half marathon.

I'm still going for that sub 1:30 half marathon this year.  Maybe Slacker or Georgetwon this summer.