High Speeds

Haunted Half

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Location:

Provo,UT,USA

Member Since:

Mar 01, 2004

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

World Class

Running Accomplishments:

PRs 14:47 5 K (Portland Twilight), 1:06:33 (Utah Valley Half Marathon (aided)).

As a 14 year old in 2013: 4:31.58 1500. 9:35:32 3000m (Utah Youth boys state record). 17:01 5K (Draper Days). 1:15:21 half (Utah Valley (aided)).

 

Short-Term Running Goals:

Get the marathon under 2:20.

Long-Term Running Goals:

Make it to the Olympics in the marathon. Keep training throughout my life.

Personal:

 I have five brothers and five sisters,
all younger. I'm currently a PhD Student in the CSEM (computational science) program at UT Austin. Married, no kids (yet). I've been dealing with some issues in running the last few years, and am trying to get back into top shape.  

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Race: Haunted Half (13.109 Miles) 01:09:11, Place overall: 6, Place in age division: 1
Total Distance
14.00

Finally. Under 1:10. No more driver's license yak. Yay!

The first two miles were in 10:05. I kept close contact with the lead pack for the first two miles, then felt the pace was too fast and dropped back. I saw 15:26 at 3, then 20:34 at 4. Some of the splits may have been uneven, but I was happy to be on pace for the first four.

Then the road flattened out. I felt residual fatigue from the fast start, and was worried about what would happen over the remaining 9 miles. The first four miles of a half marathon can be decieving. Huntsville, TOU, Pheonix, Provo River.

I saw 5:22 for mile 5, so 25:56 overall. This was discouraging as I thought I was losing pace and because I started feeling more tired. The course became more downhill. I tried to focus on pushing and not on my fatigue or fears. I made the scripture "for my yoke is easy and my burden is light" my motto. I felt like I was floating for the next two miles, which were in 5:18 and 5:15. I was really glad I didn't have to do the uphill like in Provo River and in my training runs.

After 7 I became more tired. I no longer felt like I was floating, but I also wasn't completely miserable. I kept the 5:15 pace all the way through 9. At 9 I could feel my heart's fatigue. At that point I really started to belive the standard was within reach. I resolved to fight for each mile. Given my substantial lead, I knew that each mile on pace both shortened the amount of time I had to crash as well as the severity of the upcoming crash.

I was able to hold onto pace up to mile 11. Eleven to 12 was 5:31, and 12 to the finish was about 5:35. My total time was 1:09:11, and my place overall was 6th.

I'm very happy with my performance in this race. I feel like I did not have a psychological breakdown like in Utah Valley, TOU or Hunstville, where after a certain point I stopped fighting and just suffered to the finish. I felt worse after this half than any other. I threw up, and walked like a toddler.

 


 

Comments
From Ryan Hansen on Sun, Nov 01, 2015 at 05:11:31 from 128.103.221.32

CONGRATULATIONS!!! What a terrific performance. I hope you're feeling better today. Go get that driver's license!

From Dave Taylor on Sun, Nov 01, 2015 at 14:35:03 from 50.186.108.171

Freek dood you could take state. You gapped me be 7 minutes and I'm not slow :) What's your mile down to?

From Rob Murphy on Sun, Nov 01, 2015 at 15:32:01 from 24.10.247.181

You should run the Pre-Foot Locker 5k at American Fork High School next Saturday. Legit 5k course. Three 1 mile loops with lots of the top high school racers tuning up for post-season meets.

From allie on Tue, Nov 03, 2015 at 16:42:44 from 24.99.46.55

congratulations, benjamin. hooray for the DL!

From Jason D on Thu, Nov 05, 2015 at 20:05:37 from 68.80.27.222

Congratulations on sub-70, Benjamin. I always enjoy reading your posts because it's often hard to tell if it's you writing or your dad; you sound a lot like like him. I have no doubt that you will distinguish yourself by being faster than him.

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