Catching up

I haven't posted in quite some time. This winter has been an interesting one with multiple snow/ice storms, bad weather days, etc. Though I took time off to recoup from the marathon I still wanted to keep up a base and also be ready for the NYC Half which I ran last Sunday. I found it really hard to stick to a consistent schedule. I did virtually no speed training but did a little hill work. I having been shooting for a 2:15 half since RnR Philly but it became pretty evident that wasn't going to happen with the NYC half. My first race this year was the Gridiron Class 4 Mile on Super Bowl Sunday. I didn't even try to beat my 4 mile PR of 38:20 so I was happy with my 41 and change finish. Though not as well prepared I was looking forward to the NYC Half. Initially the weather reports were looking good but as the time got closer the weather started to look very similar to last March during the Allstate 13.1. On race day it started out at 31 degrees and even dropped down to 29 before heading up again. My plan was to take it easy in the park because of the crowds and the hills. I did pretty well with that and even ran up Harlem Hill nice and steady. The course had a change from previous years. We started right on Cat Hill and continued up before exiting the park at 110 and Lenox before coming back into to head up Harlem Hill. Things were tight on the round about back into the park. My least favorite portion of Central Park is the rolling hills. My pace naturally slowed but before long I was headed out of the part to the most exciting part: Times Square. It was pretty awesome running downing the center of Broadway. We turned on 42 Street to head over to the West Side Highway and this is where trouble began for me. I was able to get into my origin corral so I was slightly back and located pretty close to the 2:30 pacer. Right while on 42 street I noticed the pacer pacing me which did not make sense because I knew I was running under that pace. I let doubt get the best of me and I speed up to 9:40 miles for 2 miles which brought me right to the point where I got smacked hard with head winds on the West Side Highway. I knew that the pacer was running under pace but still the competitive edge of me would let me stick to a good pace. The West Side Highway was tortuous. Windy and boring. I eventually picked up a little speed and before long I was headed to that tunnel near the Battery Park after you pack the WTC. I was thrown off my how dark the tunnel was (plus I was wearing my transitional lens glasses) and how long it seemed. I felt as if I ran a mile in the darkness. It was a bit scary because you could barely make out what was in front of you. After exiting the tunnel I had to pleasure to run up and a hill but fortunately just after that was the 800 meters to go sign. I crossed the finish in 2:26:24, nearly 5 minutes slower than my last half in September. I wasn't too disappointed considering how I felt, but really has me questioning ever doing another half marathon in the NYC area during March. Next up is the Philadelphia Love Run on March 30.