2019 Made in America 1/2 Marathon

The start - I'm in the middle

Fellow Medina County Road Runner Jennifer Ridgeway and I park at the finish, then jog the short mile to the start area. It's about 40F, and now that we're warmed up, it feels like it'll be a great day for running. We say hey to some of our other MCRR buddies, and then we're off.

The first four miles are on hilly roads, then we turn onto the towpath for the flat remainder. I talk to a couple runners around me, but this relatively small field spreads out fairly quickly.

I am running just slightly better than 8:30 per mile pace. Doing the math (and this is complicated, but I've got nothing else to think about), I determine that I've got to pick up the pace just a little to beat last year's time of 1:50 and change. Maybe a fast final 5K will do it. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Regular readers of this blog may find this ambition - to beat last year's time - just a little familiar. Just last week at the Veteran's Marathon, I had been trying to better my 2018 result, but missed by a minute. One thing I am sure of: that this won't happen again. No, that is not possible.

Eight and a half miles in, I catch up with Jennifer. She has had some problems, but I convince her to run with me. It's good to have the company, and I think we're both benefiting. I also want to pick up the pace.

I (we) do. A little. Mile ten goes by in a little under 1:25 (editor's note: Dan used to complete entire 1/2 marathons under 1:25), and mile 12 in 1:41 and change. Now I really have to pick it up. Can I do it? Come in at least as fast as last year?

Crossing the finish line in 1:51

Nope. Close - within a half-minute (told you it wouldn't be a minute) - but no cigar. My 1:51 is still okay enough to beat all the geezers in my ancient age group, Never mind that Ron Legg, who's in an even older AG, beat me by a mile. Or two.

So it was a fun race and another pretty good result. Now I'm ready for whatever is next. Maybe a warm bath.

Jennifer Ridgeway and I