Flower Fest Half Marathon Report 2023

Well, I ran the Flower Fest Half Marathon on March 18, 2023. It was a great experience. I wasn't able to reach my goal pace and finish with a 2:30 or faster time.

That being said, I completed the race with a time of 2:45 which was fast enough to win my age group. I was 30 minutes ahead of my nearest age group competitor.

My goal had been to run a 2:20, but I dropped that idea two weeks before the race when a pain developed in my right leg. I ran 20 very easy miles that week. Before each effort, I felt like the leg was getting better, but after the runs the leg pain returned.

Consequently, I decided to stay off my feet for the full week before the race. I did, however, run 3 easy miles the day before the race to test the legs. I felt okay, but still felt some minor twinges in my right calf muscle.

On race day, my condition was questionable. I was prepared to drop out of the race, if a persistent problem developed. I knew that I would be able to reach mile 5 or 6 without incident. I decided to go out at a moderate pace and see how things developed.

I was moving along very well until I reached the hills around mile 6. I started to feel some slight leg pain and decided to ease up on the pace and try to finish the race.

This turned out to be a good decision. By mile 9 things had begun to settle down and my calf wasn't hurting. I was able to do speed bursts until the end of the race. Despite this, I remained cautious about my condition and kept to an overall more moderate pace.

After the race, I was expecting my leg to bother me, but it didn't and I had a comfortable 2 hour ride home.

I hope to try this race again, perhaps next year. Now that I know the course, I should be able to improve my time. This year's run was held on an unusually cold and windy day. Hopefully next year's event will have more moderate temperatures.

Overall, the scenery is beautiful. Most of the run takes you along roads and paths bounded by lakes and the Golf course. Miles 10 and 11 were the exception as we ran through a residential area on the Gardens property. It felt strange after running through 9 miles of spectacular scenery. My mind kept trying to tell me that I was trapped in a maze. As I exited the neighborhood, I was approaching mile 11 and nearing the end of the race.

At that point, my legs began to run on automatic. They were running faster than expected at the end of a long race. Despite that, I remained cautious and kept my overall pace reigned in because I didn't want to overexert my right calf muscle.

My next half marathon is planned for November in Macon, Georgia. I hope to break 2:30 in that run if my legs are feeling it.

Before that race I have three 10k efforts planned. I'll keep you filled in as they happen.

My next race is the Cheerios Challenge 10K in Covington, Georgia. I plan to finish and come as close to an hour as I can. I should be able to do that because I've been training consistently since the Flower Fest Half and my legs are feeling strong and pain free.

Happy running everyone!

Flowerfest Half Marathon Training 2023

After 16 weeks of hard training, I am finally ready to run another half marathon. This one will be held at Callaway Gardens.

Callaway Gardens is a beautiful place located near Pine Mountain, Georgia. Most of the run will be around their lake. I have been preparing to run along rolling hills and gorgeous scenery.

Consistency in training should help me this time around. I have been following Jeff Galloway's plan as provided through Garmin. It includes Long runs spaced at two week intervals alternating with speed repeats.

The long runs are meant to build stamina, while the speed repeats are meant to build speed and stamina. My three longest runs were 15, 17, and 19 miles. Those runs were all about spending time on my feet. The premise is that If I can cover distances longer than the half marathon, the actual race will feel easier and less threatening because I know I can cover the distance.

Speed repeats are 800 meters each. I started with 4 and then increased incrementally. I finally completed 12,14, and 16. Upon completion of the 16 repeats, I found that I had practically run the distance with that particular workout. It brought my confidence level up.

In addition, I completed a weekly set of goal pace repeats. six repeats of 800 meters was the norm. After the speed repeats and long runs, my comfort level was high.

Finally, to build strength in the legs, I completed hill repeats every other week. These alternated with the Magic Mile which is meant to be a useful tool for predicting race outcome.

I'm feeling positive about this half marathon. The training has been completed and the weather should be almost perfect. Now all I need to do is trust the process and show up for the race.

I will be happy with a time of 2:30, but I hope to break 2:20. Of course, just finishing and still being able to run another day is all I really need.