USA Half Marathon Championships review

With more than 2 weeks after the race, I have finally got some time to write a little bit about my 1:05:38 performance.  I guess I don't have a whole lot to say about this, as I didn't achieve my goal of a sub 1:05:00. The coincidence of this race, was that I ran the same exact time I did back at this championship in 2009.  Looking at that, it's kind of nice to know I can still fade to the same result.  Ideally, I would like to be faster and stronger, so perhaps I am stronger as most of my training has been geared towards the marathon.

Here's a few quick thoughts of my race; I went out a little more conservative than in 2009, meaning I was on pace for the majority of the race.  When I got caught by a group of guys running the pace (4:57/mile), I decided to stick with them and run in the back of the pack, as opposed to race the leader of the group.  This seemed to help me, and I stuck to the pace better than I have in the past.  When I finally faded off pace, I just kept hammering away and trying to stay focus - not that I didn't do this in the past.  At this race, there was always someone around in front of me, so that I could gauge where I should be.  In the past, most races I've run don't have that motivation, which can be hard.

So, all and all, it was a good effort and a pretty good indicator as to where I am at for Boston.  Running a 65 min half with about 10 weeks before a marathon is a good sign.  I'll be ready to roll in Beantown.  And compared to 2009, where I was 24th place; I was way down the list at 39th place.  American distance running is truly improving.

Finishing hard.
photo by Stephanie Ward

Half Marathon Results:

Place	Athlete Name	5k	10k	15k	20k	Finish

1	Meb Keflezighi San Diego, CA	14:39	29:10	43:34	58:12	1:01:23
2	Aaron Braun Englewood, CO	14:38	29:10	43:38	58:25	1:01:38
3	Josphat Boit Mammoth Lakes, CA	14:39	29:10	43:37	58:25	1:01:41
4	Tyler Pennel Blowing Rock, NC	14:39	29:10	43:37	58:31	1:01:44
5	Matthew Llano Flagstaff, AZ	14:40	29:11	43:40	58:33	1:01:47
6	Luke Puskedra Beaverton, OR	14:39	29:11	43:39	58:33	1:01:48
7	Shadrack Biwott Folsom, CA	14:39	29:10	43:38	58:36	1:01:56
8	Fernando Cabada Boulder, CO	14:39	29:10	43:38	58:46	1:02:00
9	Tim Ritchie Brighton, MA	14:38	29:10	43:41	58:46	1:02:00
10	Gabriel Proctor Mammoth Lakes, CA	14:40	29:11	43:43	59:04	1:02:22
11	Sean Quigley Lafayette, CO	14:39	29:13	44:18	59:35	1:02:46
12	Jonathan Grey Minneapolis, MN	14:39	29:11	44:03	59:29	1:02:51
13	Ben Bruce Flagstaff, AZ	14:43	29:37	44:33	59:44	1:02:53
14	Scott Macpherson Columbia, MO	14:47	29:37	44:29	59:39	1:02:56
15	Ahmed Osman Flagstaff, AZ	14:40	29:10	44:07	59:40	1:03:02
16	Elliot Krause Madison, WI	15:00	30:05	45:04	1:00:06	1:03:15
17	Tyler Mccandless Boulder, CO	14:47	29:55	45:04	1:00:10	1:03:25
18	Craig Curley Tucson, AZ	14:41	29:49	45:04	1:00:15	1:03:27
19	Joe Moore Manhattan, KS	15:00	30:05	45:04	1:00:15	1:03:33
20	Joseph Gray Colorado Springs, CO	15:01	30:07	45:04	1:00:23	1:03:42
21	Jeremy Freed Longmont, CO	15:00	30:06	45:04	1:00:30	1:03:51
22	Enoch Nadler Richardson, TX	15:01	30:06	45:04	1:00:31	1:03:55
23	Sergio Reyes Palmdale, CA	14:56	30:06	45:04	1:00:40	1:04:06
24	Brandon Birdsong Manitou Springs, CO	15:00	30:05	45:04	1:00:58	1:04:21
25	Dan Kremske Woodstock, IL	15:04	30:18	45:32	1:01:06	1:04:27
26	Daniel Tapia Castroville, CA	15:00	30:06	45:32	1:01:16	1:04:32
27	Craig Leon Eugene, OR	15:00	30:06	45:25	1:01:11	1:04:34
28	Anthony Solis Sacramento, CA	15:00	30:06	45:30	1:01:18	1:04:35
29	Cole Atkins Blowing Rock, NC	15:14	30:16	45:31	1:01:11	1:04:37
30	Thomas Dialynas Denver, CO	15:21	30:47	46:09	1:01:34	1:04:49
31	Benjamin Sathre Chaska, MN	15:00	30:18	46:02	1:01:34	1:04:51
32	Michael Reneau Minneapolis, MN	15:09	30:42	46:09	1:01:42	1:04:59
33	Eric Ashe Boston, MA	15:21	30:47	46:09	1:01:44	1:05:01
34	Gregory Leak Steilacoom, WA	15:27	30:49	46:09	1:01:43	1:05:02
35	Ryan Kienzle Canton, OH	15:27	30:50	46:09	1:01:43	1:05:02
36	Matthew Williams San Antonio, TX	15:21	30:47	46:09	1:01:47	1:05:06
37	Sean Brown Aurora, CO	15:27	30:50	46:22	1:02:00	1:05:22
38	Connor Kamm Nashville, TN	15:27	30:49	46:09	1:01:46	1:05:29
39	Jesse Armijo Albuquerque, NM	15:09	30:44	46:15	1:02:18	1:05:38
40	Josh Whitehead Madison, AL	15:17	30:47	46:22	1:02:14	1:05:42
41	Jonathan Mott Babson Park, FL	15:37	31:15	46:48	1:02:25	1:05:47
42	Jeremy Criscione Gainesville, FL	15:02	30:38	46:21	1:02:27	1:05:49
43	Kieran O'Connor Arlington, VA	15:27	31:00	46:39	1:02:36	1:05:59
44	Dan Greeno Minneapolis, MN	15:27	31:00	46:52	1:03:02	1:06:26
45	Rory Tunningley Austin, TX	15:21	30:48	46:45	1:03:06	1:06:29
46	David Fuentes Austin, TX	15:27	31:00	46:52	1:03:21	1:06:50
47	John Dewitt Oshkosh, WI	15:29	31:24	47:20	1:03:30	1:06:54
48	Jason Holt Kaysville, UT	15:30	31:21	47:21	1:03:36	1:07:01
49	Jared Carson Austin, TX	15:40	31:35	47:23	1:03:36	1:07:07
50	Brandon Dworak Memphis, TN	15:48	31:45	47:43	1:03:52	1:07:15
51	Daniel Kerr Winston-Salem, NC	15:40	31:35	47:28	1:03:53	1:07:21
52	Logan Sherman Plano, TX	15:48	31:44	47:43	1:03:57	1:07:24
53	Rio Reina Austin, TX	15:38	31:19	47:29	1:03:56	1:07:25
54	Jake Marotz Saint Paul, MN	15:48	31:44	47:44	1:03:59	1:07:25
55	Jake Krong Salt Lake City, UT	16:01	31:56	47:54	1:04:02	1:07:26
56	Christopher Sloane Gaithersburg, MD	15:48	31:44	47:43	1:04:01	1:07:29
57	Matt Barrett Madison, WI	15:35	31:44	47:45	1:04:03	1:07:30
58	Luka Thor Gretna, NE	15:29	31:29	47:29	1:04:08	1:07:42
59	Tibor Vegh Raleigh, NC	15:28	31:19	47:20	1:04:16	1:07:58
60	Jose Munoz San Antonio, TX	15:28	31:25	47:22	1:04:29	1:08:04
61	Riley Cook South Weber, UT	15:29	31:38	48:11	1:05:09	1:08:42
62	Chass Armstrong Greenville, SC	15:38	31:52	48:24	1:05:16	1:08:45
63	Ryan Cosens Costa Mesa, CA	15:31	32:15	48:36	1:05:16	1:08:50
64	Aaron Davidson Lenexa, KS	15:50	32:19	48:53	1:05:35	1:09:08
65	Brian Finnel Madison, WI	16:06	32:27	48:53	1:05:37	1:09:13
66	Matthew Grey Minneapolis, MN	16:01	32:24	49:01	1:05:59	1:09:35
67	Brent Martin Gambier, OH	15:43	32:07	49:28	1:06:26	1:10:02
68	John Coyle Logan, UT	16:01	32:28	50:02	1:06:55	1:10:30
69	Tim Jeffreys Brooklyn, NY	16:12	32:51	49:56	1:07:07	1:10:44
70	Daniel Kahn Houston, TX	16:41	34:11	51:54	1:10:14	1:14:09