Race #471 - Run for Green Half Marathon - Davidson, NC - 09/14/19


My 115th -- and possibly my last -- half marathon. There's a chance it's not the last, and as I write this a few days after the race I feel great. I didn't get injured and my time of 1:53:26 wasn't terrible, and it actually extended my streak of sub 2-hour half marathons to 114 in a row, possibly my biggest running achievement. For the record, my first half marathon back in 2008 was 2:01:05, and all of my half marathons since then have been under 2 hours. I do feel though, at age 67, running 13 miles in a race is getting to be a little too much. I didn't exactly struggle to finish as I did a few times last year, but I definitely felt uncomfortable the last few miles of the race. I think for me that dropping back to the 5k and 10k distances would make life a little easier and more enjoyable, and it might also prevent me from an injury that might be more likely as I age.

The Run for Green Half Marathon is one I've run several times over the years. It's fairly challenging, with over 500 feet of elevation gain, but it's a nice course through upscale neighborhoods and along the greenway and I've always enjoyed it. Quite a bit of the uphill is in the last couple miles of the race and that adds to the difficulty.

Every year they have chocolate milk at the finish line along with chicken strips and the usual fruit and bagels. There's also beer but since I don't drink I'm always in for about 3 trips back to the chocolate milk table.

I like the size of this race -- about 800 runners total for the half marathon, 10k, and 5k combined.

Race Name: Run for Green Half Marathon, 10k, and 5k

Location:  Davidson, North Carolina

Date: September 14, 2019

Race Rating:  96

Top 10 (Half Marathon):



Top 10 (10k):



Top 10 (5k):



Course:


Elevation by Mile:

Weather at Start:


Click Here for Race Results

 Click Here for Race Photos from Marathon-Photos


My Stats:

Time:  1:53:26
Pace:  8:40
Age Group:  1 of 3
Overall:  66 of 241
Average Heart Rate:  154
Maximum Heart Rate:  164
Age Grade Percentage:  69.04%

With friends -- Sonny Ali, Wayne Eckert, and Phillip Cooley


***************
* RACE RATING *
***************

RACE COURSE 
0 - Chip & Gun Timing: (3 points if yes)
5 - Water Stops: (0)none  (2)normal  (5)extras [Gu, sports drink, etc.]
1 - Course Marking:  (0)bad  (1)good
4 - Course Scenery:  (0-5) 1=bad  and 5=fantastic
1 - Mile Markers: (0)poor or none  (1)normal  (2)with clocks or time called out
2 - Volunteers:  (0)too few  (2)good
7 - Finish line: (0-9)   0=bad  and 9=spectacular!
2 - Certified Course: (0)no  (2) yes
2 - Correct Distance: (0)no  (2)yes
1 - Partly or fully on unpaved roads:  (0)yes  (1)no

REGISTRATION 
2 - Cost:  (0)expensive  (2)reasonable  (5)cheap!
3 - Race Day Registration:  (0)no  (3)yes

RESULTS
2 - Posted online within 24 hours:  (0)no  (2)yes
1 - Easy to find results:  (0)no  (1)yes

AGE GROUPS
2 - 3 deep awards: (2)yes (0 for anything less)
5 - 5-year age groups (5 points) (0 for anything less)
1 - 14 and under group (1)
1 - 65+ group (1)
1 - 70+ group (1)
2 - Top Overall M/F:  (0)none; (1) first only; (2)top 3 or better
2 - Masters Category(40+): (0)no  (2)yes
0 - Grand Masters Category (50+):  (0)no  (3)yes
0 - Senior Grand Masters Category: (0)no  (5)yes

AWARDS
2 - Overall Winner Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
2 - Age Group Awards: (0)none  (2)yes  (5)excellent
0 - Door Prizes or Drawing: (0-9)
5 - Finisher Medals for All Finishers: (0)no  (3)yes  (5)really cool medals

POST RACE 
7 - Food for Race Participants: (0-10 with 5 being average)
8 - Entertainment:  (0)no  (1-9)yes
2 - Finisher times posted after race:  (0)no  (2)yes

REST ROOMS 
2 - Porta Potties:  (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful
0 - Indoor Restrooms: (0)no  (1)limited, long lines  (2)plentiful

T-SHIRTS
2 - T-Shirts: (0)no  (2)yes
3 - Design: (1-5)
2 - Material Quality: (1-3)
0 - Discount for no-shirt option:  (0)no (2)yes

PHOTOGRAPHY 
5 - Professional Photography: (0)no  (5)yes
1 - Prices: (1)expensive  (3)reasonable  (5)cheap
0 - Free Photographs (newspaper, etc.):  (0)no  (1-10)yes 

PARKING 
2 - Close to Start:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 - Close to Finish:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 - Plenty of spaces:  (2)yes  (0)no
2 - Free Parking:  (2)yes  (0)no

OTHER
0 - Shelter from Inclement Weather (needed or not): (0)no  (2)yes
0 - Swag (free socks, water bottles, etc.): (0)no  (2)yes, some  (5)excellent
0 - Part of race series or Grand Prix:  (0)no  (2)yes
0 - Kids Fun Run: (0)no   (2)yes
0 - Miscellaneous not covered above: (-10 to +10)

TOTAL:  96

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