Lost Dutchman Half Marathon Race Recap

Sunday I ran in the Lost Dutchman Half Marathon. This was a last second choice for me. My goal race is the Eugene Half in April and the Phoenix Half in a couple of weeks is a major one on the schedule. My planned workout for the day was 18 with last 8 at 5:45 which I knew would be a tough one. I decided last minute to email the race director for the Lost Dutchman Half and ask for an comped entry which was $100. He very generously said yes so I decided to do my workout in the race where there would be competition and water stops. Perfect. This race holds good memories for me because it was the first race I trained for two years ago when I got back into running. I was hoping for a sub 1:30 and I ran a 1:23:50 and it kick started my return to running. When I told my coach what I was planning he actually told me to go for 5:45s and then pick it up at the end which was more aggressive but I was fine with it. A bunch of my buddies were doing the race and it's always nice when we all get together. I was working out with these guys a lot last year but injuries for some and other things have made it more difficult lately. It was great to see the Bandidos up in the front. As for the race I didn't look at my watch much during the race and went off effort as much as I could which is something I've been working on but my competitive side definitely kicked in. 

Me, Brett, Ricardo, JT

And They're Off!

The race is right up against the Superstition Mountains and has some great scenery.

I ended up in third for most of the first half and I felt like I was giving a pretty decent effort but holding

back just a little. Most of my splits were between 5:40 and 5:55 depending on the terrain. The course had no major hills but was very rolling and always changing. I thought it was kind of a tough course (I live in extremely flat area). Anyway at the turnaround I turned my effort level up a notch and started to close on the top two. On the long incline in the 10th mile I was about to catch the top guy but I was starting to wonder if I would have enough left to race him to the finish. I was really hurting to be honest. We ran a couple of miles together trading a few surges before I finally was clear of him for good with just over a mile to go. I ended up getting a nice boost of energy and was able to close in 5:20, 5:24 over the last two miles. The highlight of the race for me was seeing my wife and kids going around the last turn and getting to see them as I was coming in for the win. My daughter says I always get second so it was nice to win one! The official time was 1:14:58. 

The finishing stretch. Those are my bright green Saucony A5s I'm wearing.

This turned out to be way more of a race effort than I was hoping but I'm happy with the way it played out. I was not tapered at all (workout the day before and a big mileage week for me) so I was happy with it. Also, the course was challenging and I think I should be able to take a nice chunk of time off at the Phoenix Half in a couple weeks. I cooled down with the second place guy afterwards and we got to talking and his brother is Andrew Wheating who is one of the US's top 800/1500 guys. I thought that was pretty interesting. He is a triathlete just getting into it and that was his first non triathlon half marathon. He was 1:15:40 which I thought was pretty impressive. All in all good day. Always nice to win a race and see friends I don't see that much. Allison and I had already planned a babysitter for the afternoon so it worked out perfectly that we had something to celebrate. We went to Four Peaks Brewery and had a fun relaxing afternoon. Now it 's on to the Phoenix Half Marathon in a couple of weeks.

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