This was the ninth year of the Crystal Coast Half Marathon and it had some changes including a new race director and management group. The courses were also changed. Instead of starting in front of The Sanitary Restaurant we started on 8th Street and had to make a hard left onto Evans where we ran until 21st Street where we turned left instead of going right and to Arendell Street like in the past. The course still did a 3 mile loop on the waterfront using Shepard and Shackleford Streets. After the loop on the Morehead Waterfront the course still went over the Atlantic Beach High Rise Bridge and left onto Fort Macon Road, did a loop on Bogue Sound Drive and then headed towards Fort Macon and returned the same way.
I wasn't sure what my goal was for this race because I wasn't in my usual half marathon PR shape. I'm still getting over an upper right hamstring/pirformis pain and tightness. I've been able to train more since my last race on January 1st. I've gotten my mileage into the upper 50s. I've been able to do some shorter tempos but nothing long and sustained at tempo pace yet. I did have a really good 15 miler with my training partner Jarrod with the final 10 at 6:33, 6:31, 6:30, 6:28, 6:26, 6:28, 6:31, 6:24, 6:22, 6:16 on January 31st. We followed that up with a good progression long run on February 7th where we did 4 easy at 7:14 pace, 4 at 6:29, 6:29, 6:26, 6:29, 1 easy, 3 at 6:16, 6:14, 6:15, 1 easy, 2 at 6:07, 5:56, and 1 easy. Those two long runs gave me some needed confidence.
I wanted to do this race because I've always done it. I've won it twice and ran my 1:19:33 PR there even in the wind. This race is known for its wind but this year the wind was the best it's ever been. It was still a headwind on the Morehead Waterfront and coming back from the Circle, over the bridge, and back to Morehead but it wasn't as bad as it typically is.
I wasn't sure what my goal was for this race because I wasn't in my usual half marathon PR shape. I'm still getting over an upper right hamstring/pirformis pain and tightness. I've been able to train more since my last race on January 1st. I've gotten my mileage into the upper 50s. I've been able to do some shorter tempos but nothing long and sustained at tempo pace yet. I did have a really good 15 miler with my training partner Jarrod with the final 10 at 6:33, 6:31, 6:30, 6:28, 6:26, 6:28, 6:31, 6:24, 6:22, 6:16 on January 31st. We followed that up with a good progression long run on February 7th where we did 4 easy at 7:14 pace, 4 at 6:29, 6:29, 6:26, 6:29, 1 easy, 3 at 6:16, 6:14, 6:15, 1 easy, 2 at 6:07, 5:56, and 1 easy. Those two long runs gave me some needed confidence.
I wanted to do this race because I've always done it. I've won it twice and ran my 1:19:33 PR there even in the wind. This race is known for its wind but this year the wind was the best it's ever been. It was still a headwind on the Morehead Waterfront and coming back from the Circle, over the bridge, and back to Morehead but it wasn't as bad as it typically is.
Shortly after the start I got to the race around 8am and talked with my friend Ronnie Davenport before meeting my Dad and Katherine. Katherine and I did a short 1.5 mile warm-up before making our way over to the start. The temperature was in the mid 40s and sunny. I opted to wear my Adidas Compression Short tights, Raleigh Running Outfitters Singlet I got from Jason Broll, my Adidas Adizero Boston 5 boost shoes, and my smartwool neon green socks. Smartwool socks are by far my favorite! Their merino wool blend is comfortable and dries far better than Balega and Feetures. They do not get too hot, that's a misconception about smartwool. They stray dryer longer and wick way better in the heat and humidity than the polyester socks of Balega and Feetures.
Just after 3 miles The race started I went out with the lead pack with David Meeker of Raleigh leading the way. I was in third as I ran the first three miles in 6:16, 6:15, and 6:13. The new loop wasn't bad. It kept us off Arendell Street which I'm sure the police department approved of. There was a little headwind running mile two back to the start/finish area.
I was starting to catch second place as we started up the Atlantic Beach Bridge shortly after mile four. I decided I was going to own the bridge and the island and run it like Sonny Hyman would have and would have wanted me to run it. I picked it up some going up the bridge, caught and passed 2nd place, and started focusing on running David down who was still leading the race. I ran mile four in 6:15 and mile five was coming down off the bridge and flat again in Atlantic Beach. I ran miles five and six in 6:07 and 6:16.
I wasn't gaining much on David but I was pulling away from the guy I passed for second place. After we did the loop on Bogue Sound Drive we ran down Fort Macon Road. It was a little headwind again. The turnaround was shortly after mile eight. I ran miles seven, eight, and nine in 6:15, 6:12, and 6:15. I saw Katherine after the turn around and she was running side by side with a guy and she was looking strong and smooth. I checked my watch and she was on PR pace.
I was starting to catch second place as we started up the Atlantic Beach Bridge shortly after mile four. I decided I was going to own the bridge and the island and run it like Sonny Hyman would have and would have wanted me to run it. I picked it up some going up the bridge, caught and passed 2nd place, and started focusing on running David down who was still leading the race. I ran mile four in 6:15 and mile five was coming down off the bridge and flat again in Atlantic Beach. I ran miles five and six in 6:07 and 6:16.
I wasn't gaining much on David but I was pulling away from the guy I passed for second place. After we did the loop on Bogue Sound Drive we ran down Fort Macon Road. It was a little headwind again. The turnaround was shortly after mile eight. I ran miles seven, eight, and nine in 6:15, 6:12, and 6:15. I saw Katherine after the turn around and she was running side by side with a guy and she was looking strong and smooth. I checked my watch and she was on PR pace.
Katherine just after 3 miles Another new course feature this year was having to do the Bouge Sound Drive loop again on the way back. In the past we only did it on the way out. Mile ten was through Bouge Sound Drive and then back out to Fort Macon Road and then a right turn back onto the causeway and then we headed to the bridge. I ran mile ten in 6:14.
I was staying consistent on my splits and I wasn't having any pain or tightness. I was feeling pretty good just without my usual half marathon speed. Mile eleven was tough as we ran directly into the wind down the causeway and up and over the Atlantic Beach Bridge. David was still staying the same distance ahead of me. I ran mile eleven in 6:34.
We came off the bridge, turned right onto Arendell, right onto 21st, and left onto Shepard. I did a quick look behind me and saw that Katherine and the guy she was running with were running me down. That 6:34 on the bridge did not help me and the bridge is usually my strongest point. I focused my attention back on David ahead of me. It took me a little while to realize David was starting to fade as we got closer to mile twelve. I kept telling myself I could catch, I could catch him.
I was staying consistent on my splits and I wasn't having any pain or tightness. I was feeling pretty good just without my usual half marathon speed. Mile eleven was tough as we ran directly into the wind down the causeway and up and over the Atlantic Beach Bridge. David was still staying the same distance ahead of me. I ran mile eleven in 6:34.
We came off the bridge, turned right onto Arendell, right onto 21st, and left onto Shepard. I did a quick look behind me and saw that Katherine and the guy she was running with were running me down. That 6:34 on the bridge did not help me and the bridge is usually my strongest point. I focused my attention back on David ahead of me. It took me a little while to realize David was starting to fade as we got closer to mile twelve. I kept telling myself I could catch, I could catch him.
Final Turn. Photo by Melissa I ran mile twelve in 6:09 and had made up ground on David. I knew I had to keep pushing it to hopefully catch David before a quarter mile or less to go. I wasn't confident in my kick because I've still been having some pulling and tightness when trying to sprint and do short intervals. I was running David down but wasn't catching him as fast as I wanted to. I ran mile thirteen in 6:00 and was just a couple seconds behind David. I heard my friend Melissa cheering hard for me as I neared the finish.
As we rounded the final turn, a right onto 8th Street I got passed by the guy Katherine had been running with. David held on and won the race in 1:20:58. David was just two seconds ahead of second and six seconds ahead of me for third. That's a close top three! Katherine was the next to finish 4th overall and 1st female in 1:21:16. Katherine smashed her previous PR by over four minutes!
As we rounded the final turn, a right onto 8th Street I got passed by the guy Katherine had been running with. David held on and won the race in 1:20:58. David was just two seconds ahead of second and six seconds ahead of me for third. That's a close top three! Katherine was the next to finish 4th overall and 1st female in 1:21:16. Katherine smashed her previous PR by over four minutes!
Josh and Heidi after 3 miles My cousin Josh Lyle ran his half PR today. He finished seventh overall and second in his age group in 1:24:22. I really think he could get a Boston Qualifier if he trained for it. Heidi Tucker was second place female and eight overall in 1:24:29. Heidi and Josh ran most of the race together. David's wife Kimberlie was the overall 10K winner in 38:27.
Me and Katherine It was a good race and better than I expected. Yes, I wanted to win badly. I always do. If I had more short speed and leg turnover I think I would have won. I still ran really well considering I'm not 100% yet. In the nine years of this race I haven't finished lower than fourth place and have an average finish of 2.3. I was so happy seeing Katherine smash her PR! She ran a great race. She's been training for her first Boston Marathon on a plan I made for her and she's been doing great. I have no doubt she's gonna PR the marathon too by minutes.
Now to analyze the new race management and new course. I didn't mind avoiding Arendell Street but I think the older course was easier to follow. I didn't like a hard left turn so soon after the start and I didn't like the hard right turn at 13.1 to finish. There were a lot of turns and signs but none of the signs specified if they were for the Half, 10K, or 5K. On the way back to the finish through the waterfront neighborhoods I heard several runners asking course monitors which way to go and the monitors didn't know either. The confusion on the course seemed to be mostly from the 5K and 10K. Hopefully next year they can remedy that and either change the courses or have specified signs for each distance. I thought there was plenty of water and gatorade on the course. The course was mostly well marked. There were no mile markers for miles four and eleven for the half or two and four for the 10K because they were on the bridge and wouldn't have stayed in place with the wind. The post race amenities were a step up. The post race food and beer were provided by Tight Lines Brewing Company. It was fun hanging out inside Tight Lines and outside on their patio for the awards. The awards were nice. I got a plaque for 3rd overall and a yoga mat or some kind of big mat you could have a picnic on. The medals were nice too. Overall, the new management did a good job but it can be improved on.
Now to analyze the new race management and new course. I didn't mind avoiding Arendell Street but I think the older course was easier to follow. I didn't like a hard left turn so soon after the start and I didn't like the hard right turn at 13.1 to finish. There were a lot of turns and signs but none of the signs specified if they were for the Half, 10K, or 5K. On the way back to the finish through the waterfront neighborhoods I heard several runners asking course monitors which way to go and the monitors didn't know either. The confusion on the course seemed to be mostly from the 5K and 10K. Hopefully next year they can remedy that and either change the courses or have specified signs for each distance. I thought there was plenty of water and gatorade on the course. The course was mostly well marked. There were no mile markers for miles four and eleven for the half or two and four for the 10K because they were on the bridge and wouldn't have stayed in place with the wind. The post race amenities were a step up. The post race food and beer were provided by Tight Lines Brewing Company. It was fun hanging out inside Tight Lines and outside on their patio for the awards. The awards were nice. I got a plaque for 3rd overall and a yoga mat or some kind of big mat you could have a picnic on. The medals were nice too. Overall, the new management did a good job but it can be improved on.
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