Day: August 3, 2024

I’ve done this race a few times, as a runner (best time was 1:37 in 1999) and as a walker in 2017 (2:52 on a much cooler day)

The day came up very, very humid and was up to 83 F with 70 percent humidity at the finish.

My mile splits tell the story:

25:36 (2)
13:52 (oops)
13:09 (loosened the knees here)

13:07 (1:05:46)
13:16
13:21
13:34 (1:45:58 at 8)
13:47
14:41 (faced reality) 2:14:27 (2:04 at 15k)
16:38
15:56
16:19
1:45 for the final 0.1 on the track
3:05:09 was the official time.
Basically, at mile 9, I realized that I was overheating and that I’d soon lose the ability to process water. So I decided to slow and keep the pace at “fast enough to get there, slow enough to keep drinking water), which I did. I took some electrolyte drink too.
The course was mostly unshaded but there were a few shady parts. I was kind of bummed when the 10K runners turned off; I had some in the distance to chase. I did catch some younger women at mile 12 but they sprinted away toward the end. I also got passed at mile 10.

So: way better than February 2022, when I could barely walk 1/4 of a mile without pain, but the reality is that I am no longer a fast walker.

BUT…going forward: my longest walk had been 11 miles, and I petered out at about 10. So, I probably need to do some longer walks (work up to it gradually) if I want to get back under 3 hours. These don’t have to be fast.

Other workout notes: Thursday: 5k at 14:40, then a 2 mile walk while my car was being serviced.
Friday (yesterday) 2 mile walk after weights: pull ups (several sets of 5, enough to get 50 reps), pull ups were hard. downstairs: bench: 10 x 134, 5 x 150, 5 x 150, 6 x 150, then 4 x 134 incline, 3 sets of light shoulder presses with dumbbells.

Note: links are all broken. Ignore them.

September 2003: 2:17 (Appleton Fox-Cities powerwalk division)
January 2008: Austin 30K 3:50:56 (about 2:40 for the half marathon split)
September 2008: 2:25:13 Quad Cities
September 2010: 2:39:13 Quad Cities (surgery that summer)
September 2011: 2:40:53 IVS
September 2011: 2:22 Quad Cities
January 2012: 2:34 First Light
June 2012: 2:30:18 Galesburg
September 2012: 2:24:46 IVS
April 2014: 2:25:26 Peoria Heights
May 2014: 2:19:15 Peoria
September 2014 2:35 (IVS)
September 2014 2:24:17 Quad Cities
September 2015 2:38:13 IVS
June 2017: 2:47:24 Galesburg
July 2017 2:42:19 Chicago RR
August 2017 Mahomet Half marathon 2:52:33
October 2018 Whisky Daddle Half Marathon 2:29:23

August 2024: Mahomet Half Marathon 3:05:09.