Havasu Half Race Report

I ran my second half marathon this past weekend in Lake Havasu, Arizona.
Here is my review:
Course: Nice views of the lake. You get to run over the famous London Bridge not once, but twice since the course is a down and back.
Entertainment: None except for the National Anthem before we started.
Weather: The forecast said clear with highs in the lower 70's. The winds were 10mph with gusts to 30. FUN!
Amenities: Water and Gatorade every 1.5-2 miles, Port a Pots I think I saw 5 along the way.
Expo: I was in and out in less than 5 minutes. Well organized, but very small.
Size: SMALL. I think there were 350 runners total for the half?
Good for out-of-towners?: Definitely!
Post-race entertainment: Not sure, I walked back to my hotel.
Post-race food: There was a lot of food and drinks. 3 kinds of Gatorade, plenty of water, bagels, bananas.
Chip timing: No, they used a timing company. The results almost matched my Garmin dead on!!
Medal: See below.
Race shirt: White cotton T-shirt.
Race Day: The night before, we were in bed by 10ish because we knew we had a busy day ahead of us. Roy was going to watch the start of the race and then meet up with Bobby(my brother in law) to fish. We had the alarm set for 5:30am so I could get ready and eat something before leaving the hotel for the short trip to the park for the 7:10 line up. Well, for some reason-the phone rang at 4:30AM and woke us up! I tried to go back to sleep, but some drunk people next door wouldn't shut up!! UGH!! Spring breakers. Don't you know I am running 13.1 miles in 2 hours??? Man I feel 0ld saying that!! I think I fell back to sleep for a short bit and before you knew it, the alarm went off. I got up, got ready and was off to have the free continental breakfast the Hampton Inn offered us. I ate a bowl of oatmeal and a blueberry muffin. I had 2 GU ready for later.

It took us all of about 10 minutes to get to the starting line from the hotel. It was cold outside though. Maybe around 50 degrees hence the picture with my hoodie on!

A few minutes later, I got myself ready: Garmin, ipod, water bottle, gum, GU.
me ready to run

Lined up. The marathon offered several pacers during the race. I thought 2:30 would be a little slow since I wanted to PR. So, I stood by the girl with the 2:15 pace sign. That would be about a 10:15 minute mile pace which would beat my 10:55 pace at Vegas!

Off we went.

First mistake of the day happened during the first 5k: I started out too fast, but I was feeling good.

Mile 1: 9:51 (WOW)

Mile 2: 9:56

Mile 3: 10:17

Mile 3 is when the wind really started to hit us head on. I was still with the 2:15 pacer at this point. Good job so far. Mile 4 was another story.

Mile 4: 10:44 I started to get tired of the wind and my legs were already feeling it. Maybe it was the lack of sleep? Maybe I wasn't ready for the race. The 2:15 pacer left me in the dust. Then, people started screaming by me, like I was running backwards. I looked behind me to see the 2:30 pacer right on my heals. OH NO!! I though. There goes my PR and hopes for finishing a somewhat decent time. I have 9 more miles of this or atleast until the 8.5 mile turn around. I decided to have a Gu then for a pick me up. I knew we were closing in on the London Bridge and I wanted to take that part of the race in.

Mile 5: 10:42. We ran over the bridge and started a very hill and long down and back portion of the race. We ran by our hotel-it took a lot for me not to bow out and go back to bed. But I know once I saw the hotel again, there would only be 1.5 miles left in the race.

Mile 6: 11:24 The wind was blowing me head on which didn't make the hills any easier. I was starting to lose it.
Mile 7: 11:27 I took a walking break to compose myself. Just then, I saw my first runner running towards me. AHHHH!! The turn around is coming. I could do this-only 1.5 miles until the wind is at my back.
Mile 8: 11:39 I reached the turn around and walked a bit again. I took some Gatorade and Gu/water to regain some energy I lost in battling the wind.
Mile 9: 12:01 The course was not marked with mile marker signs, only spray painted mile numbers on the ground. It was hard to determine where you were at on the course. I thought I was at mile 10 this part of the course until I read my Garmin. SHIT- this is only mile 9!! Second mistake.

Mile 10: 11:51 At this point, I wanted to finish under 2:30 so I picked up the pace a bit. This section was mostly downhill and nice.

Mile 11: 12:34 I could feel a rather large blister forming on my right foot's big toe and along the side. It was starting to really hurt.
Mile 12: 11:29 I passed our hotel and thought only 1.5ish to go. I picked up the pace again and sucked up my blister pain. I would be done in 20 minutes if I run this fast. What is 20 minutes after running for over 2 hours?? Ah, the London Bridge again...almost done!

Mile 13: 11:24 I saw the turn for the finish line. Yeah! I am going to do it under 2:30.

13.1: 2:25:19