1:52:57

2009 Half Marathon Experience--

Lessons learned:

• Following a plan is good. It keeps me honest about how much I am and am not doing and it gets me to vary my workout.
• Arriving late is bad, especially when you're talking about a race with close to ten thousand runners. I was there an hour before the gun, which was enough time to get my number and find the start, but not enough to warm up.
• Good position in the beginning is even more important in big races (see arriving late above).

Overall I have no complaints. I missed my goal by eight minutes, but on a course that was much hillier than my usual runs. My ten-week plan was a success. I feel faster and leaner than I have in years. I have a 5k coming up in February and another in April. Running will continue to be part of the weekly rotation, but I really want to get back to my bike more this coming year—there may even be a mountaintop century in the works.