Justin Zehnder

Race Notes: Great race overall. Good start, hung on well until about 2.5 faded on the hill but still finished with my best time in 11 years.

Race Notes: My first half marathon was a memorable experience. Just five months ago, I was unable to do any strenuous physical activity because of adrenal fatigue. I slowly built up starting from a walk/jog program to 20 miles per week leading up to race day. I had completed 1 training run of 12 miles and 2 10 milers, my best one being 85:33. Goals: A: sub-1:55 B: sub-9 pace(1:58) C: sub-2 hour D: just finish Felt strong early. If not for the GPS, I would have gone out at sub-8 pace and not realized it. I managed to back off to 8:20s for the first few miles. Wisely, I knew to slow down but it was too late. I knew I was in trouble by the 5th mile and couldn't see myself going another 8. I managed to hold an 8:45-9:00 pace until mile 10, which I passed in 87 and change. Then, I ran out of energy and walk/jogged the final 5K. I had to push it a bit in the last .1 to make sure that I would finish under 2:00. I considered it a victory.

Race Notes: I was in great shape coming in from averaging 48 miles/wk over the past month. I expected to break 1:40 and hoped to average a 7:30 pace (1:38) I lined up a bit too far back and had to fight through some traffic to maintain that pace. I was on target through the first 5 miles but the pace actually felt too easy. I slowed just a tad on the coming uphills and gained several positions. When the downhill came, I let it loose and averaged a sub-7 pace in the final 5K and finished with a 6 minute PR. By far, this has been the best race of this running life.

Race Notes: Hot and sunny day. Felt just a little off form. Not a debacle but was not pleased with my time.

Race Notes: I was down a bit for this race due to a nasty respiratory infection 3 weeks earlier. The race was run in humid conditons as well so I knew that a PR was doubtful. Still, I gave it my best shot and still managed a respectable performance. Pace per mile was 7:03 or less than 10 seconds/mile from a PR. I was hurting badly in the second half and based on how I felt, I am pleased that I held on as well as I did.

Race Notes: PR by 6 minutes. Splits were 1:48/1:55. Pace was a steady 8:15 up through mile 20. Faded badly in the last 3 miles but was not disappointed with the PR.

Race Notes: 2008 was a great running year for me and my last race proved to be my best. I went out a hair under 7:00, then picked it up a tad in mile 2, maintained a solid but even effort on an uphill 3rd mile. When the downhill came, I quickly made up the lost time and never faded when it leveled off in mile 6. 6:54-6:49-7:12-6:46-6:29-6:45-1:45(last .3 on Garmin). Time was a PR by 32 seconds.

Race Notes: I was in great shape at the time and had recently run a sub-1:44 time trial. I fully expected to beat it on race day and was actually shooting for a mid-1:41. My plan was the same as Memphis. Go out a few seconds slow then run a negative split and rely on my strong kick to meet my goal. I felt good early but began to feel the effort by mile 5. Pace was pretty steady at just over 7:45 through the first half, which I passed around 51:15. I turned in a 7:30-something in mile 8 but could not sustain that pace and slowly faded. Only 11 and 12 were over 8:00 and I still managed to finish pretty strong. A new PR and probably the most even splits I have ever run in a race. P.S. The race was run in a steady rain.