Dallas Rock 'n' Roll 1/2

Dallas Rock n Roll 1/2
Originally uploaded by cmiked

2010 is in its third month and I have completed three half marathons. Each one I have set a PR. Each one the recovery time has been less. I've lost 20 pounds since the first of the year. I seem to have hit a plateau right now but I didn't gain anything over vacation.

The race: This was my first from the Rock 'n' Roll series. They do a wave start, each corral has a separate start. I don't know why, it meant that my clock time was some 20 - 25 minutes off my actual time which means I have to keep up with my splits. There were Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders at the starting line and it was a pretty big party. I started out way too hard. I was running a little over a 10-minute mile. I tend to average a little under 14-minutes per mile.

We ran down through Dealey plaza and past the "Grassy Knoll" which is now clearly identified as such by a large yellow sign. Looped aroiund and headed back into downtown toward Turtle Creek.

Turtle Creek was a nice run, lots of huge houses in a park like setting. I recall hearing a girl say that she was from Dallas and had no idea that place existed. Turtle Creek led to Highland Park and the SMU area before turning on Mockingbird and crossing over Central Expressway. We came down Skillman through the "M" streets where my sister used to live. Then down to Swiss Ave.

Swiss Avenue was lined with more gorgeous houses, for those that don't know the Dallas area. Just shy of mile 10, a lady, Jenny was her name, heard my watch beeping and asked what I was running. Her watch was not functioning properly. I said a 1:1 and she asked if she could pace with me the rest of the race, so then we were 2.

Around mile 11, we caught a friend of Jenny's and became 3 for the final 2 miles. About mile 12 we were talking about how we were almost there when a third lady said she hoped it was ok if she joined us, that she was running out of gas. So the four of us came into Fair Park together. Low on gas. HOT! It had gotten up to the mid-70's.

Amy, who had finished som 30 minutes earlier, had found my mom, sister and the kids and they were hanging just about the 13 -mile mark and their cheers gave me the boost I needed to finish strong.

I sprinted the finish line and waited for the ladies to finish. We congratulated each other then went our separate ways. Kelly came in a short while later. She was not DAL as she feared. There were plenty behind her.

My time was 3:02:48, about 4 minutes faster than Austin. The Dallas course was MUCH flatter than either of the other courses. Very few hills and what there was were gradual inclines. It was a good race.

Next up, Bearathon (another half) in Waco this Saturday. Then we're done for a while.