14 Minute PR (Gettysburg Blue Gray Half Marathon)

We could not have asked for better weather as we toed the starting line at 9:00am for the 2nd Gettysburg Blue Gray Half Marathon.  I believe it was about 50 degrees or so.  It was a good day for a half marathon race.  The day before was a great day of relaxing and getting ready for the race.  I actually went out and did some strides though to remind my body of what lay ahead and to warm up a bit.  When my wife and I went to pick up the race packet, there was a guy there from a local running store selling stuff.  I picked up GU Roctane gels for just $1 each.  Nice.  I didn't empty out his stock but I ended up with a good supply.  I believe those usually sell for about $2.50 or so at Dick's?  So race day is here.  Before the start, I met some fellow runners from a local running club.  I had not done any group runs with them yet, so this counted as the first.  They are really nice down to earth people and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting them.  So the Rifle goes off (yeah, they used an actual rifle, and a reenactment Civil War Soldier) very nice.  About a quarter of a mile and I am into my race pace, the pace I knew that I would be able to finish the race in.  The course itself is very beautiful.  It consists of smooth rolling hills out in the country passing barns, etc..  Not too much of a crowd other than at the start and finish.   I was very pleased with my time given the training that went into this.  I PR'd by over 14 minutes from last year and it was my 2nd best time for the half marathon distance.  Of course, I thank my very supporting wife for being there and cheering my on also during my training.  She would ask every day if I did my workout. I am happily recovering right now and planning my Spring marathon Campaign.  I am thinking about doing the 30 week Hal Higdon thing with 12 weeks of speed training.  Oh, the picture on the top right of this blog under the Oh Yeah, that is the same race last year, see the difference?  lol