{"id":5620,"date":"2014-08-14T14:37:56","date_gmt":"2014-08-14T19:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/?p=5620"},"modified":"2014-08-14T14:37:56","modified_gmt":"2014-08-14T19:37:56","slug":"race-review-mn-half-marathon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teamcrossworld.com\/running\/2014\/race-review-mn-half-marathon\/","title":{"rendered":"Race Review: MN Half Marathon"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"9330_1406813551\"<\/a> This was probably one of my\u00a0best executed races that I’ve ever run. \u00a0Probably in large part because I wasn’t concerned about my time. \u00a0My training wasn’t consistent or really at any level where I could set expectations. \u00a0I decided I wanted to finish under 2 hours and run a negative split.<\/p>\n

The MN Half Marathon<\/a> was the official race for Team World Vision<\/a> this year. \u00a0I wasn’t 100% sure if I was going to race it, even though I’m our team captain, \u00a0as the date fell during the few weeks my wife had scheduled vacation. \u00a0We decided on a staycation and I signed up a few weeks before. \u00a0I had been training as if I was racing it so that wasn’t a big deal. \u00a0There were over 200 Team World Vision runners participating raising money for clean water in Africa. \u00a0The final stats have been released, but you can bet that a lot of people got will receive access to clean water thanks to the fundraising efforts. \u00a0You can donate to me here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The event was a good size, not huge but not super tiny. \u00a0Packet pickup went smoothly at Union Depot the night before. \u00a0I arrived in plenty of time to park, relax, get our team picture, take a dump and race! \u00a0This event had a roller blade race, duathlon (roller blade and running), and several running distances. \u00a0I’ve never participated in an event with roller bladers before and I’m pleased to say that I beat some!!<\/p>\n

The start was along Shepherd Road in St. Paul. \u00a0After taking my dump, I walked up and was at the very back of the pack. \u00a0I wanted to start out slow, but I didn’t want 11:30 pace slow and knew that it would be a lot of work to run through the crowd from the back. As I was walking, I saw one of my teammates and told him he needed to move up with me. \u00a0I wasn’t sure what he could for the half, but knew from the times we had trained together that he needed to start further up. \u00a0I did worry later that I might have ruined his race, but even at the end he was happy that I did that!!
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\nI started with the 9:30 pace group and we took off heading East. \u00a0It was flat for\u00a0most of this 3 mile leg, with one decent hill that you climbed two times maybe a mile or so apart. \u00a0As long as you didn’t blaze up it, there shouldn’t have been a problem. \u00a0This stretch was super sunny as there was not a single tree. \u00a0Running along the more “industrial” part of the river was interesting.<\/p>\n

By the time we passed the starting area I was already between the 9:15-9:00 pace groups. \u00a0I was feeling pretty good and happy with my race so far! \u00a0The second out and back portion of the race was a little more scenic and had 2 hills that we ran up on the way out and of course on the way back! \u00a0I passed the half way mark right around an hour and knew that I was either going to hit both goals or neither goal!<\/p>\n

By mile 8 I was starting to see Team World Vision runners that I knew from training and would wish them well as I passed. \u00a0Oh, I haven’t mentioned that the temp for the race start was in the 60’s but the humidity was pretty high and by the end of the race it was almost 80. \u00a0So it wasn’t a stellar day and many people were suffering from the heat. \u00a0There weren’t a ton of aid stations, but I think there was a good amount. \u00a0They had trouble keeping the supply of cups ready, but I was able to get water and Gatorade as I needed it. \u00a0I was also taking a shot blok every 3 miles. \u00a0We passed a runner down as we slipped under 35E and that’s where I ran into Scott and Erin.<\/p>\n

We exchanged pleasantries and luck and I continued on my way. \u00a0A few minutes later Erin caught up with me. \u00a0We ran together chit-chatting for the next few miles. \u00a0 I think having someone to chat with helped distract through some of the middle miles. \u00a0We were both trying to stay in the shade (what little was available) and finish strong. \u00a0I would say that we separated around mile 10, she really needed salt, but the aid stations nor medical stops had any salt. \u00a0Medical stops also didn’t have vaseline (I didn’t need it but a guy near me kept asking them for it).<\/p>\n

At one point in mile 11 as we were coming upon the hill, I realized that everyone was following the curve of the road to stay in the shade, but that created a much longer way to travel. \u00a0I knew it was a little bit of a gamble to choose the shorter course over the shade, but I took the chance. \u00a0I think I ended up doing that twice. \u00a0 I was still feeling pretty good and knew that if I kept pushing myself I’d finish well. \u00a0At a couple points I mentally checked myself so that I wouldn’t get over excited or ahead of myself before I actually finished. \u00a0In the last set of hills my glute and foot started hurting, but not in a way that impacted me too much.<\/p>\n

\"CAM05278\"<\/a>Most World Vision runners wore the bright orange jersey (t-shirt, a few of us wear the singlet). \u00a0During the picture time I had seen a guy wearing a t-shirt with the World Vision logo and pictures of kids on the back of his shirt. \u00a0I assumed the kids were kids he sponsored and thought it was great that he improvised a way to honor them in the race. At some point in these later miles I saw the pictures of the kids laying on the ground and scooped them up and handed them back to him as I ran past. \u00a0He was super amazed and appreciative. \u00a0I didn’t realize it but he was really struggling to finish and that really motivated him and helped him remember his purpose in running. \u00a0After the race this random guy comes up to me in the World Vision tent and said I want to give you a sweaty man hug. \u00a0Awkward! \u00a0Then I saw the pictures in his hand and realized who he was. \u00a0We talked a bit about the race, etc. \u00a0And he was wearing a crossfit shirt so we of course talked about that! We exchanged info and he e-mailed me a story that he hope his box will publish. \u00a0I couldn’t find it posted yet. \u00a0It is\u00a0a powerful story of an ex-runner, but someone engaged in fitness who felt compelled by the need for clean water to run again!<\/p>\n

In the last mile I knew that if nothing major happened I would be successful in my goals and kept pushing myself to finish strong. There was an ambulance near the finish line picking up a runner which was a little freaky and not something you want to see. \u00a0As I crossed the finish line I was relieved to see that the clock and my watch both read 1:5x:xx YES!! \u00a0I had done it. \u00a0I had executed the perfect race! \u00a0 My tweet post race summed up my feelings:<\/p>\n

Probably one of my best executed half marathon race plans, only if it was a few minutes per mile faster. #teamworldvision<\/a> #mnhalf<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Nick Cross (@crossn81) August 2, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n