Southern California 1/2 Marathon AKA My Last Race...

in the twenties. I have the Carlsbad 1/2 in a couple of weeks, but by then I'll have aged up and be in the 30-34 age bracket.

My plan was to run a good 10 miles, then run/walk the last 5K, depending on how I felt. I mean, I had to run 10 miles on the weekend anyway, why not do it on a course I knew was assisted. And if I had to plunk down a few bucks, why not?

So here we are. Flat course? Check. Fluid stations every 2 miles? Check. Wind gusts up to 45 miles an hour? Check, well maybe not 45, but probably 20.

I ran 10 miles in under 2 hours, about an 11:22 pace. Not too shabby for me. I ended up with a time of 2:30:32, giving me a 11:30 pace for the race. Only 2 seconds per mile slower than my first 1/2 marathon. I think I would have been faster if it had been a nice, calm day. Not one with gale force winds.

Somethings I learned during this race.

Even on race day those first 2 miles are a bitch. I tried to keep up with the sheriff's recruits, but they picked up the pace and I knew when to cut my losses and run my own race.

I don't think of my weight when I run, unless it's to wonder if the people I pass are berating themselves for letting someone like me pass them.

I wish I could bottle the feeling I had during mile 8. It was awesome. I felt like I could do anything. Of course by mile 9 all I really wanted was for the race to be over. I felt better at the end of 10 miles.

One thing is for sure, I needed new shoes. I stopped by Roadrunner Sports and picked up some new Hurricanes. I love those shoes.