Treasure Coast Half Marathon

“It’s not the distance you must conquer in running…it’s yourself”.

(Michael D’Aulerio)

I set an aggressive running schedule for myself this year.  My goal continues to be multiple race personal records (PR) over the 5k, 10k, half marathon and marathon distances.

The 2023 Race for Recovery 5k allowed me to clock my fastest 5k since 2020 back in September.  Still not my fastest but less than one minute and twelve seconds off. Not bad for someone still nursing piriformis issues.  I’m still able to run fast but must stay careful with my training program and warmups prior to races.

The 2023 Game On Run Hutchinson Island Half Marathon provided me with a local race to help with my full marathon training program.  I ran this race last year and thought it would be a great way to get a long run in while competing with local Fort Pierce runners.  The 2022 race highlighted I needed additional work to get marathon ready and was an eye-opening experience with humidity and long runs.

The 2023 half marathon identified similar issues.  Northern races provide a great break from the Florida humidity, but they also provide a false sense of race preparation.  My 10-mile race in Virginia Beach allowed me to navigate the course at a 9:37 per minute pace.  This was accomplished in the first week in September and was done with a relaxed format for me.  Didn’t press too much during the race and was able to complete with a smile on my face.

I took this Virginia pace as a positive sign for my training program and my current marathon preparation.  This is still true, but the Florida humidity makes breathing a bit harder with the heavy air and slows me down.  I’m sure I’m not the only one but need to remember a September race in Virginia does nothing to identify how fast I will be during an October race in South Florida.  Lessons are lessons!

My marathon training called for a 15-mile long run so the 2023 Game On Run Hutchinson Island Half Marathon fit within my training needs.  My warm-up, cool down and actual half marathon allowed me to hit my mileage goals with plenty of miles to spare.

This half marathon is completed on Hutchinson Island with most of the course on the actual route I normally train on.  We cut through a few neighborhoods before heading south on Ocean Drive and then turnaround due north before heading back towards Causeway Cove.

Made sure I got to Causeway Cove with plenty of time to warmup, stretch and mentally prepare for the miles in front of me.  This is a smaller race with 111 runners in 2023.  Why does this matter?  Well, there are not as many runners available to pace with so most of the race strategy is to find a comfortable pace and then maintain it.

Toed the line towards the middle of the half marathon pack at the start line.  This gave me a few runners out front, so I did not have to worry about getting off the correct race route.  The start of the race winds through multiple neighborhoods and we start at 6:15 am so it’s dark for a majority of the race.  It’s easy to get off course so I like to hang back and follow as many runners as possible to get me through the neighborhood.  There are course markers out but again, we are running in the dark for the first 5 miles.

My race strategy was to go out with a comfortable pace through the neighborhoods and then increase my pace once we made it on Ocean Drive. This concept would provide me with a gauge of my fitness and help determine what areas I need to improve (pace, endurance, nutrition, etc.). 

Fast forward and the first phase of the race went by without any issues.  My pace was balanced, and I felt good through the first 4 miles.  I pressed the pace more in the second phase of the race to test my physical fitness to determine how much additional work I needed to put into my training program.  Felt good from miles 5 through 8 but it started to rain, and the roads got very slick during this portion of the race.  Slick roads, wet shoes and Florida humidity made the final portion of the race a battle to finish.  The race organizer has aid stations on the race course but not as plentiful as some of the larger races I participate in.  Water and Gatorade are needed to complete a half marathon and there could have been more available to runners.  I started to fade in the last portion of the race, but this was part of the learning process.  I signed up for this race to gauge my fitness—I still have work to do to prepare for the full marathon.

My prerace and race nutrition needs to improve for me to maximize my race day.  I’m still learning this portion of the race game and need to adapt to a Florida specific preparation program.  Extra hydration and carb loading prior to races to ensure I don’t deplete my reserves too early in a race.  Also, carry extra energy gels and take them more often than I would during a race in Nashville or Virginia Beach. 

I’m still learning and working towards maximizing my training to prepare for the 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon.  I will be ready! LOL.

What did you learn today?

Irie!

FYI—this may be my last Game On Half Marathon.  I entered the 2024 Chicago Marathon lottery and will find out if I’m in next week—fingers crossed! 😊