The Crystal Coast Half Marathon may be my favorite race in my hometown. I've ran it every year with the first being in 2008. In the previous four years I placed 2nd, 4th, 2nd, and 4th overall in the half marathon. I love the half marathon distance and it may be my best distance. I ran my PR of 1:20:16 at this race in 2010 and I was only one second slower in 2011. The course is flat except for the Atlantic Beach high rise bridge but that isn't that bad to me because I train on it a lot. The course makes a 3 mile loop around the Morehead City waterfront before heading over the bridge and down Fort Macon Road and back. The only issue at the race is usually the wind.
The 2012 race was my first race of the year and came on week 11 of my 18 week training plan for the 116th Boston Marathon. This was a tuneup race and long tempo run as far as my training plan goes. My goal was to break 1:20 and I felt like I had a realistic shot at it with the way my training had been going leading up to the race. Another goal was to win since I have been close in the past.
I arrived at the race a little before 7:00am with my girlfriend Jamie, her dog Justus, and my Dad. Jamie was excited to try out her new Cannon T3 DSLR camera that she received as a gift for her photography of shelter dogs. It was chilly and very windy as I sat in the car eating a powerbar an hour before the start. The wind was going to be tough but not as bad as the first year. The first year we had to fight "near hurricane-force wind gusts, a steady, and at times torrential, downpour of rain, and thunder and lightening off in the distance" according to the Carteret County News-Times article about the race. The wind this year was steady around 20-25mph with gusts up to and over 40mph.
The 2012 race was my first race of the year and came on week 11 of my 18 week training plan for the 116th Boston Marathon. This was a tuneup race and long tempo run as far as my training plan goes. My goal was to break 1:20 and I felt like I had a realistic shot at it with the way my training had been going leading up to the race. Another goal was to win since I have been close in the past.
I arrived at the race a little before 7:00am with my girlfriend Jamie, her dog Justus, and my Dad. Jamie was excited to try out her new Cannon T3 DSLR camera that she received as a gift for her photography of shelter dogs. It was chilly and very windy as I sat in the car eating a powerbar an hour before the start. The wind was going to be tough but not as bad as the first year. The first year we had to fight "near hurricane-force wind gusts, a steady, and at times torrential, downpour of rain, and thunder and lightening off in the distance" according to the Carteret County News-Times article about the race. The wind this year was steady around 20-25mph with gusts up to and over 40mph.
Waiting for the start I started my warm-up routine around 7:20am. My dynamic stretching included reverse lunges, single-leg reaches, body weight Y squats, and hamstring kicks. After that I did a slow 2 mile warmup jog at 8:10 min/mile pace. I drank a G Series Pro 01 Prime about fifteen minutes before the start of the race. I decided to race in the Adidas Adizero Adios, that I received free from a friend. I've ran half marathons in the past in road flats, but not since 2009. I am considering running Boston in them so I figured the half would be a good test. The last two world record marathons were run in those shoes. After getting a good luck kiss from Jamie and taking off my warm-up clothes I made my way over to the starting line on the Morehead City waterfront.
I lined up at the front, just behind Paul Kelly. Paul Kelly was the only one competing in the wheelchair division this year. I was chilly waiting for the start in shorts, singlet, Zensah compression leg sleeves, and gloves in the 45 degree air temp with the wind chill under 40 due to the wind. However, I knew I would warm-up once the race started.
I lined up at the front, just behind Paul Kelly. Paul Kelly was the only one competing in the wheelchair division this year. I was chilly waiting for the start in shorts, singlet, Zensah compression leg sleeves, and gloves in the 45 degree air temp with the wind chill under 40 due to the wind. However, I knew I would warm-up once the race started.
Just before 3 miles The race started at 8:00am and I was out fast and leading with several guys tucked behind me as the first mile was into the wind. I felt good as I led the first mile in 6:10, just a little slower than goal pace. I picked it up as I turned onto Arendell St in Morehead City. I ran mile 2 in 6:01 but was passed shortly after it by a 16 year old kid from New Bern, McKinley Gray. McKinley is fast and had ran a 1:21 at a half marathon on February 4. I told him to enjoy the lead while he could because I would own him on the bridge. McKinley picked it up and pulled away a little bit but I still ran mile 3 in 5:47. I ran mile 4 in 6:06; it was into the wind but it wasn't too bad since the houses blocked a lot of it.
Me telling McKinley I would own him on the bridge must have fired him up because he took off at the bottom of the Atlantic Beach high rise bridge but I kept him within striking distance. I hit mile 5 on the bridge in 6:12. I came off the bridge, still in second place, and got some motivation from Dylan Ray, the local photographer for the News-Times. I picked it up and caught McKinley just before 6 miles. I ran mile 6 in 5:52. I sat behind him for a little bit but decided to make a strong move as I saw him take a gel or something from his Dad just after the 6 mile mark. I put down a fast surge, passed him, and tried to pull away. I felt strong and the tailwind was helping as I ran miles 7 and 8 in 5:53 and 6:01. I had opened up a 20-30 second lead when I made the turn around on Fort Macon Road after 8 miles. McKinley was barely holding onto second place when I met him headed to the turn around.
Me telling McKinley I would own him on the bridge must have fired him up because he took off at the bottom of the Atlantic Beach high rise bridge but I kept him within striking distance. I hit mile 5 on the bridge in 6:12. I came off the bridge, still in second place, and got some motivation from Dylan Ray, the local photographer for the News-Times. I picked it up and caught McKinley just before 6 miles. I ran mile 6 in 5:52. I sat behind him for a little bit but decided to make a strong move as I saw him take a gel or something from his Dad just after the 6 mile mark. I put down a fast surge, passed him, and tried to pull away. I felt strong and the tailwind was helping as I ran miles 7 and 8 in 5:53 and 6:01. I had opened up a 20-30 second lead when I made the turn around on Fort Macon Road after 8 miles. McKinley was barely holding onto second place when I met him headed to the turn around.
Running Against The Wind The wind was the toughest from miles 8-12. They were on Fort Macon Road and the Atlantic Beach causeway. I knew everyone else had to fight it too but I tried to widen my lead. The wind was brutal but I am used to it. I've ran on the bridge and Fort Macon Road in all kinds of weather, especially wind. I was confident I would handle it better than the others. The 9 mile marker got blew at least a quarter mile to half a mile down Fort Macon Road. I saw the race director, Butch Robertson, grab it and hold it out of the window of his SUV while he drove down the road to put it back in it's rightful place. These mile markers were big, with weighted bottoms, so that gives you a good idea of just how strong the wind was blowing. Miles 9, 10, and 11 were my slowest in 6:21, 6:35, and 6:39.
I felt like I had a comfortable lead but wasn't sure by how much as I came off the Atlantic Beach Bridge and made the right turn back onto Arendell St. I picked it up a lot with the wind at my back. I asked a cop at an intersection how far they were behind me and he replied that he didn't see anyone. That brought a smile to my face but I knew I still had to finish strong. I ran mile 12 in 6:14. I felt fast and the shoes were feeling great. I saw Jamie just before hitting the 13 mile mark. She cheered and told me I had it won. I kept running hard and ran mile 13 in 5:51. I ran the last 0.13 miles at 5:12 pace to finish with a kick. I finished 1st place overall with a time of 1:21:09! I won by 54 seconds. McKinley Gray ended up finishing 6th overall; he faded badly after going out so fast.
Heidi Wins Women's Race One of my running friends back home, Heidi Tucker, won the women's race in 1:29:15. It was her 3rd time winning the Crystal Coast Half marathon. She's a great runner and this was her longest race since having her baby last year. I think Paul Kelly had the toughest job of all of the participants. I couldn't hand crank my self up and over the bridge in that wind like he did and has in many races. Paul and his wife, Sally, are also great friends of mine and my family's. I love racing at home because we have a tight nit running community that is bigger than most larger cities. It's fun seeing so many friends at races.
I was thrilled with the win. I was disappointed in my time since I didn't get my goal but I'll take it in those windy conditions. I think I would have been under 1:20 if the wind wasn't blowing so hard in my face for 4 straight miles with no houses or anything to block it. The shoes felt great and they didn't give me any problems. They had more cushioning than I expected for a shoe that weighs under 8 ounces. I'm not sure if I will run the Boston in them but it is a good possibility. The compression calf sleeves worked, at least I'm a believer in them. That is the best my calves have felt during a half marathon. The compression leg sleeves have pin-point compression which promotes oxygen blood flow and reduces muscle fatigue and recovery time. I mostly wear them after long runs and tempos but they felt great during the race. Wearing them after long runs and tempos helps relieve soreness and tightness.
The 2012 Crystal Coast Half Marathon was a great tune-up race as I prepare for the Boston Marathon. The race set record numbers with a total of 628 runners; 396 finished the half marathon and 232 finished the 5K. The race is well organized and NC Races does a great job timing the event. I highly recommend doing this half, even if you have to battle some wind. The Crystal Coast is a beautiful area to run. Running on the Morehead City waterfront and Atlantic Beach is always an amazing adventure!
I was thrilled with the win. I was disappointed in my time since I didn't get my goal but I'll take it in those windy conditions. I think I would have been under 1:20 if the wind wasn't blowing so hard in my face for 4 straight miles with no houses or anything to block it. The shoes felt great and they didn't give me any problems. They had more cushioning than I expected for a shoe that weighs under 8 ounces. I'm not sure if I will run the Boston in them but it is a good possibility. The compression calf sleeves worked, at least I'm a believer in them. That is the best my calves have felt during a half marathon. The compression leg sleeves have pin-point compression which promotes oxygen blood flow and reduces muscle fatigue and recovery time. I mostly wear them after long runs and tempos but they felt great during the race. Wearing them after long runs and tempos helps relieve soreness and tightness.
The 2012 Crystal Coast Half Marathon was a great tune-up race as I prepare for the Boston Marathon. The race set record numbers with a total of 628 runners; 396 finished the half marathon and 232 finished the 5K. The race is well organized and NC Races does a great job timing the event. I highly recommend doing this half, even if you have to battle some wind. The Crystal Coast is a beautiful area to run. Running on the Morehead City waterfront and Atlantic Beach is always an amazing adventure!
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