Team headstrong will enter 2014 under 2 new teams, Greenville Velo (out of Greenville, SC) and Maddog83 (out of Tucson, Az).. It has been a great 4 years of racing, companionship, and community. We have accomplished some great things, but like all things, time moves on and so will we. See below for more details......

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Key West Half Marathon


This week I went down to the Keys to thaw out and race my "hometown" marquis running event, the Key West Half Marathon. This race was once ranked in Runner's World's top Half Marathons and attracted a few thousand runners, however with competition from the Tropical 5k and Half Marathon now held the same weekend up in Miami, the Key West race has dropped to about a thousand runners, but still attracts a competitive field. Coincident with the race this year was the Key West Food and Wine festival, which somehow I managed to conjure up the discipline to avoid.The weather started off calm, overcast, warm (74 degrees), and humid (88%). By the second half of the race, a squall came in from the southwest, and the temps dropped to the mid 60's with a 20knot wind blowing in from the starboard beam, though the rain passed us to the north. I executed my race plan (which was based on heart rate) well, but missed my goal of a sub 1:45, ending up with a 1:47:51 and 8th place in my age group. The post race festivities were great with a sumptuous spread of tropical fruits, yogurt, bagels and pastries (including fresh chocolate brioche) provided by Dante's restaurant and music by my buddy Gary Hempsey's band. If you're looking for a great half marathon to run next Jan, or an excuse for a road trip out of the winter, definitely consider this race.

4 comments:

Big Dog said...

P mean 1:47:51 as opposed to 2:47:51. Good job, P. Come on back home. We need ya!

Debbie said...

Wow, 74 degrees. Could you bring some of that our way? Oh yeah, good job!!

Perry said...

oops...1:47:51...

Giselle said...

Good run, Perry! I'm guessing you were feeling much better than the week prior...that's particularly good news!