Manchester Half Marathon race report

Saturday we drove up to Manchester for the Manchester City Half Marathon. I picked up my race pack on Saturday afternoon at the Radisson. Blah blah blah …..we then went to Uncle Phils house for dinner and a good night sleep before the race. Celina was nice enough to give me the single bed while she slept with teeth grinding and kicky Alec.

After a great night of sleep, I woke up around 6am to down a Kashi bar and banana and get ready. Hot shower, got dressed and started to hydrate myself. Phil’s house was a little over 2 miles from the start….so I decided to jog/run to the staring line as a warm-up. I got to the start around 7:30ish and I saw a few runners milling around – but no clear place where the start would be so I headed to Veteran’s park (where the finish was). It was 30 degrees out (before the wind) so I ended up running around just to stay warm.

We then got herded to the starting line. The wind was whipping down the street and we were all freezing. After some quick announcements and the National Anthem we were off. I positioned myself near the front, but off to the side, so I’d be up with the faster runners. I told myself let them all go their speed and don’t try to catch them. Even though I told myself to hold back and I didn’t chase any of the faster runners my first mile was 7:45 (I planned to go out at an 8:45 pace). I attempted to take the 2nd mile easier and did by going 8:18. Then we went up the hill on River Rd by Uncle Phil’s house which helped hold me back a bit. But by the third mile marker my split was 8:08. At this point I wasn’t feeling great – but I wasn’t miserable. I tried to scope out a runner to follow but at this point there still was a lot of passing going on and I couldn’t find anyone to latch on to – so I ran solo.

Then the hills came – miles three through five (as my splits show) suffered a bit due to the hills. Mile 5 I took my double latte gel at the water station. During the 5th mile we cut into Livingston Park and the course went cross country on us. The change in terrain helped break up the race a bit. Around mile 7 I found someone to latch onto. She was going about the pace I was so I stayed a few feet back and followed her. As we headed up on Reservoir Ave I passed my “pacer” and was alone up the hill there.

As I made the turn on Bridge St, I looked back over my shoulder and realized I had become the pacer. I found yet another runner to follow (and draft) for a bit but he was going just slow enough that I ended up having to pass him. I then turned on Broadway and saw that I was still being the pacer. My “pacee” then told me that she was following me and using me to pace – I told her that I was using her as well to pace. We then ran and chatted for the next few miles together. It was nice to have someone to run with (especially through the last cluster of hills). Somewhere around mile 12 I found myself alone again. The final mile I found myself with very few runners around. I wouldn’t say I kicked the last little bit – but I did push it a bit.

After the finish, I got my chip cut off, got my medal and my mylar blanket. Grandpa B came over to me and congratulated me, took a pic and told me Celina missed my finish as Alec had to go potty right before I finished.

Overall – it was a very good race and felt pretty good afterwards. I look forward to my next half marathon.

Oh and my new running friend Jessica from Exeter, NH finished 1:49:20 - Congrats Jessica!