Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon Recap: Pacing Meagan to the Finish Line

Arguably the best medal I've gotten to date.

After years of wanting to run this half marathon, I FINALLY ran Run the Bluegrass, making it half marathon No. 10 for me.

And as an added bonus, I had the pleasure of pacing a friend to her first half marathon finish. My friend Meagan had been wanting to do a half marathon for some time. After failing to find one for us to do in the fall, Meagan settled on Run the Bluegrass, and we began training for it back at the end of December.

We knew there were hills on this course, but we did not realize how many. This course is unrelenting.

It's one hill after another after another after another.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

This was an awesome experience, and this is without question the most beautiful, most scenic course I have run to date. Getting to pace a friend and enjoying some of the prettiest land in the state, great way to spend a Saturday morning.

Spinx Carolina Marathon Race Recap - AKA How To Regroup & Enjoy The Run

(Yes this recap has taken me five weeks to write. What can I say? Life happens. In any case, please enjoy.)

Happy to have Marathon No. 5 in the books!

This race did not turn out to be what I had hoped and planned for it to be.

At. All.

The Spinx Carolina Marathon was to be my flat (or at least flatter) marathon. I was supposed to PR. Not only was I supposed to PR, but I was to smash it as I aimed for a time between 4:30-4:35.

But alas, none of that was to be.

The Spinx Carolina Marathon was my worst marathon time-wise, so no PR by rather a PW by nearly 26 minutes. The course wasn't as flat as I led myself it to be.

Yet, in spite of it all, I made the most of it and enjoyed the run.

After all, how could I not? It was a GORGEOUS day for a run. The scenery along the course was beautiful. And I had the best support crew (a.k.a. my lovely bride Genople) waiting for me at the finish line.

There's Nothing Like A PR - 2013 Knoxville Marathon Recap

A beautiful morning for a race. Let's do 26.2!

P - FREAKING - R!

There! That's my recap!

Now, you know better than that. I love to talk, especially about running. So, sit back because I fear this could get very long.

I went into the 2013 Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon with several different goals I wanted to achieve, and I met all but one. And with a little extra work, I might be able to hit that goal next time if everything else comes together like it did for this year's first.

My goals were: 1. finish (check). 2. sub-5 hour time. (check). 3. PR (check). 4. hit 4:45 (not quite). And 5. have fun and enjoy the fun (double check).

In the end, I posted a time of 4:51:11 - 7:32 faster than last year's race (and my first marathon). While I feel I can improve on this, I know I gave it my all because after I crossed the finish line, collected my medal and running hat, I found my beautiful family in the front row of the stands and just collapsed against the padded wall, lying my head on top of the wall.

I had laid it all out on the course. I had nothing left to give. So no regrets on not getting my ultimate goal time for this race of 4:45.

5 Weeks Down, 11 More To Go - Training Update

I can't believe how fast time flies. Seems just like yesterday I started my training plan for the 2013 Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon. Yet, here I am with five weeks under my belt already.

Thus far, I am feeling good about things. My approach this time is more focused as I'm looking to find ways to improve my performance, and more importantly to me, my endurance.

Above everything, I want to be able to remain strong throughout the race. This takes place planning, focus and practice. Slowly but surely, I'm coming to understand it is OK to have a slower, consistent pace at the beginning of a run/race in order to have more in the tank at the end of the run/race.

This is not an easy concept for me to put into practice. Being a bit Type A, I want to go all out from the get go. And this approach wears me out, forcing me to take more and more walk breaks during the final stages of the run/race.

Me Speedy? Who Knew! - Calhoun's 10-Miler Recap

Daniel and I before the race.

You never really know what you're capable of until you put yourself to the test. Thing is, I wasn't looking to test myself per se. My goal was to get myself used to running some hills for my upcoming marathon.

Today (Saturday, Jan. 28), I ran the Calhoun's 10-Miler in Lenoir City, Tenn., with the sole intention to get used to running hills. The Knoxville Marathon is notoriously hilly and has earned the nickname the "KnoxHILLS" Marathon. Not having completed a full marathon before, I want to make sure I am as prepared as possible for my first. I'm not dead-set on a certain time (other than to finish under 5 hours), but my main goal is to finish and survive.

The Calhoun's 10-Miler is a nice out-and-back race with rolling hills along the way. Definitely a great test for me as I gear up for running 26.2 miles.