Race Report - 12/15/2013 - Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon

Location: Scottsdale, AZ - Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza

Race Type: Run
Participants: 1051
Overall Place: 89th
Age Group Place: 12th
Time: 1:37:07

Pace: 7:25/mile

This was my first half marathon in a race environment and I was excited to do this distance. 

I was a little late getting to the event so felt a bit rushed for parking. I found a decent spot and headed to registration packet pickup. The area was well organized, I received my bib, grabbed my shirt from a different booth, and hopped in line for the bathroom. The lines were long due to an overall lack of porta johns but that gave me time to strip my warm clothes, put on my bib, and drop off my checked bag while one of my fellow racers held my spot. 

I made the start line with two minutes to spare and headed to the 1:40 pace group. My goal time was 1:38 but I would have been happy with 1:40. The horn sounded and we were off. I maintained a 7:30 average pace for the first 6 miles and bumped up to a 7:25 for the next 4. I was feeling good and stepped it up again to a 7:00 pace for the last 3 miles. It was tough to maintain but I was happy to be able to pull off a reverse split. 

I ran into the chute with the knowledge that there would be a video of my finish so I gave the obligatory raised arms and was happy that I finished at 1:37:17 clock time.

I had to head to work so I didn't stay for the post race fun. Maybe next year...

I'll do this race again. It was well managed, had a nice long sleeve running shirt, and a high quality finishers medal.

                                            5K, 10K, and Finish Line Video (I'm on the right)