Patrick Henry Half Marathon
13.1 mi
Organized in partnership with the Richmond Road Runners Club, the Patrick Henry Half Marathon is named after Hanover County's famous Colonial-era patriot, Patrick Henry, who proclaimed the Revolutionary War's rallying cry, "Give me liberty or give me death." The 13.1-mile race starts and finishes in Poor Farm Park in Hanover, traversing both rolling countryside and Ashland's scenic railroad district.
On a cool, August morning my wife and I toed the starting line in Poor Farm park. We met up with a colleague of mine at the start line and prepared for the race. After a playing of a live Grateful Dead rendition of the National Anthem the cannon blasted and all 1,000 runners were off. For a minute I swore I was in San Fransico.
The first mile of the course led us through the park and out to the country side. The line of runners probably stretched at least 1/2 mile at this point. The first mile was a slow 9:50 due to this congestion. The next few miles I picked it up and at the 5k point my split was 27:39 or 8:55 min/mi pace.
Oh how fast things can change. Around the 4 mile mark we hung a left at a Y onto Blunt's Bridge Rd. For the next 1.3 miles the road resembled a roller coaster, only the majority of the profile was in the vertical direction. With grades topping out at 9%, Ozzy's Crazy Train, blaring from event's soundstage speakers pre-race, entered my mind.
I know that things are going wrong for me
You gotta listen to my words
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
It hurt. But a few small rollers later we made it to the 10k aid station in 55:20 or 8:55 min/mi pace. The mile spilts show I was more consistent in pacing for the second 5k, with a range of only 9 seconds bewteen mile times.
It was welcomed sight to see my buddy at the aid station. You can read this account here but the water he gave while volunteering at the stop was great! Thanks bud!
The next few miles took us through historic Ashland, around Randolph-Macon College and back out to the countryside. Not much to mention. It was warming up. The sun came out. The miles ticked by to double digits.
A set of 4 annoying rollers started at mile 10 and I was happy to see them go at mile 11. Mile 12 was marked with a steep 9% grade and at this point my knees were complaing something audible. Rice Krispies had nothing on me.
Around 12.5 mi we re-entered Poor Farm Park and race toward the finish. My HR steadily climbed 7 bpm over the course of the previous 8 miles, from the start of Blunt's Bridge Rd to the park entrance. In that last 1/2 mile by heart increased its cadence another 6 bpm. Sight of the finish. Adrenaline. Final kick. All these factors propelled me to pace faster than any of the previous mile splits.
I had done it. It did not hurt nearly as much during as the days after and it wasn't slow; actually it was a mid-pack time. I crossed the line, grabbed the technical shirt and grabbed my finisher's medal.
02:03:09
09:24 min/mile
506/916
Mission Accomplished.
13.1 mi
Organized in partnership with the Richmond Road Runners Club, the Patrick Henry Half Marathon is named after Hanover County's famous Colonial-era patriot, Patrick Henry, who proclaimed the Revolutionary War's rallying cry, "Give me liberty or give me death." The 13.1-mile race starts and finishes in Poor Farm Park in Hanover, traversing both rolling countryside and Ashland's scenic railroad district.
On a cool, August morning my wife and I toed the starting line in Poor Farm park. We met up with a colleague of mine at the start line and prepared for the race. After a playing of a live Grateful Dead rendition of the National Anthem the cannon blasted and all 1,000 runners were off. For a minute I swore I was in San Fransico.
The first mile of the course led us through the park and out to the country side. The line of runners probably stretched at least 1/2 mile at this point. The first mile was a slow 9:50 due to this congestion. The next few miles I picked it up and at the 5k point my split was 27:39 or 8:55 min/mi pace.
Oh how fast things can change. Around the 4 mile mark we hung a left at a Y onto Blunt's Bridge Rd. For the next 1.3 miles the road resembled a roller coaster, only the majority of the profile was in the vertical direction. With grades topping out at 9%, Ozzy's Crazy Train, blaring from event's soundstage speakers pre-race, entered my mind.
I know that things are going wrong for me
You gotta listen to my words
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
It hurt. But a few small rollers later we made it to the 10k aid station in 55:20 or 8:55 min/mi pace. The mile spilts show I was more consistent in pacing for the second 5k, with a range of only 9 seconds bewteen mile times.
It was welcomed sight to see my buddy at the aid station. You can read this account here but the water he gave while volunteering at the stop was great! Thanks bud!
The next few miles took us through historic Ashland, around Randolph-Macon College and back out to the countryside. Not much to mention. It was warming up. The sun came out. The miles ticked by to double digits.
A set of 4 annoying rollers started at mile 10 and I was happy to see them go at mile 11. Mile 12 was marked with a steep 9% grade and at this point my knees were complaing something audible. Rice Krispies had nothing on me.
Around 12.5 mi we re-entered Poor Farm Park and race toward the finish. My HR steadily climbed 7 bpm over the course of the previous 8 miles, from the start of Blunt's Bridge Rd to the park entrance. In that last 1/2 mile by heart increased its cadence another 6 bpm. Sight of the finish. Adrenaline. Final kick. All these factors propelled me to pace faster than any of the previous mile splits.
I had done it. It did not hurt nearly as much during as the days after and it wasn't slow; actually it was a mid-pack time. I crossed the line, grabbed the technical shirt and grabbed my finisher's medal.
02:03:09
09:24 min/mile
506/916
Mission Accomplished.
Labels: Race Report, Running
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