PRR First Half Half Marathon 2015: 10 years of race results, and a new PB.

On Sunday February 15, I completed my 10th Pacific Road Runner's First Half Half Marathon. With it, I managed to run yet another PB on possible the most ideal conditions ever for this race.

Since January, I have made a diligent effort to work on my speed in prep for Boston. Weekly hill repeat, track sessions, back to back long runs on the weekend, and the regular morning runs have all worked into my training. I am running about 7 hours and covering an average of 80 kms per week. Couple that with cutting out beer and crappy foods, and I was feeling good about the prep that I have put into my Boston Marathon training.

One aspect of training that was a question mark was that I have not been diligent in including tempo workouts. The big question for me was: Could I run 21 back to back 4 minute kilometers, as I had in the previous two years?

25th Annual First Half Half Marathon Race Report

After a month of XC trail racing, the big test went down on Valentine's weekend: Pacific Road Runner's First Half Half Marathon. My first running in this race was 10 years ago. From the 16th annual to the 25th annual, much has changed for me, but little has changed with this event. Once again, the organisation, the post race food, the course, the scenery, all of is is top notch. The race remains a flat, fast course that brings out Vancouver's best runners in February.

Over those ten years, I have transformed myself into somewhat of a runner--my times on this course have gotten faster, expectations have gotten higher, and my love for a race that once was one of the most scenic races showcasing some of the best Vancouver has to offer has become something that resembles strictly business. The goal of PB'ing every time at the First Half has become the annual objective. See my report from 2012.

Recovery...

Last weekend was amazing. 75kms over three days, not a tonne of distance for 3 days, but all runs were specific workouts. Throw in the 30km race, and it was a taxing 3 days. What more could a person ask for?
Over this week I have come up with an answer-- maybe a day or two between the Saturday hills at SFU and the Sunday race. The weekend was great. The week? Rough. People who do not run think that runners destroy their knees, but the reality is that a runner's quads are what get trashed.

First Half Half Marathon: Another PB!!

I tackled the Pacific Road Runner's First Half Half Marathon on February 10th, 2013. This is one of the most scenic and beautiful road courses I have ever done: a flat, fast course on the seawall around Stanley Park, starting and finishing at the Yaletown Roundhouse. This race usually is blessed with a beautiful day of February weather, and today was no exception.

I think that the reason this race is so good is that it is a Variety Charity fundraiser. This year the Pacific Road Runners donate 40% of the registration fees to Variety, which amounted to $50,000! The other 60% goes to putting on one of the best races going, bar none. That goodwill is evident in the volunteers and in the race organization.