First BF Half Marathon

Freerunner

Barefooters
May 8, 2010
30
0
6
After advice from my fellow barefoot runners on here I decided to go full BF for this half marathon. Before I did this race I wasn't sure if I should go barefoot as I wasn't sure about the course. If I'm not familiar with a route I'll wear my huaraches. I was really planning on PRing for this half but did not know how my feet would deal with the distance and unknowns. But I decided to just go for it BF and not worry about a PR and just enjoy my first big race in a long time.

The start felt good I was pacing a friend who was going a little faster than I was wanting to start but after two miles I told him to go ahead and kept my pace at around 9 to sub 9. People were genuinely very encouraging about me running BF but there was this one runner who was making snide remarks like get a tetanus shot after but I had already passed him so just kept on my way. Or I heard runners ask what happens if you step on glass? Which I would reply well with I don't try to step on it. Then around mile 7 we entered memorial park and the road was harsh on my feet. I manned up for a bit but I was thinking of saving my feet for the finish so I ran on the grass even though it meant it might add a bit to my distance. The only thing I had to watch for on the grass was various roots and pine cones, which felt like I was running on a trail for those parts.

With a 5k to go I started to pick up my pace and went sub 9's hoping to keep that way to the finish. Then after mile 12 I started cramping up. I should have took two gu's but I opted for just one gu for the entire race. So I started slowing down a bit. Then this other runner started talking to me to not let up and he said at this pace we should have a sub 2 hour finish. That really picked up my spirits and I started running harder. Crossed the line and I looked at my time and I had gotten a sub 2 hour half marathon time. My previous best was 2:07. I'm not sure if its because i'm barefoot but I feel like a stronger runner and my feet held up well. My splits were 8:58, 9:15, 9:14, 9:12, 9:13, 8:58, 8:48, 8:49, 9:00, and 7:35. I'll post pics of the race and my feet later.
 
Love the splits.  Very

Love the splits. Very telling. Congrats on kickin' ass and takin' names!

I would have told the smart mouth to get some odor eaters!
 
That's a great photo.  You

That's a great photo. You should frame it for your desk.
 
Nice pic and superior

Nice pic and superior performance! Do you ever hear anything about the Greater Houston Track Club? I ran with them and enjoyed their company greatly when I lived there in the early 80's.

Also, do they still run the Marathon there in the late winter? My favorite Marathon was back in '84, and was called "the Houston Tenneco Marathon.?
 
Joseph I think your referring

Joseph I think your referring to the Chevron Houston Marathon. Thats the big marathon of the year they hold every year in Houston. This is going to be my first year running it officialy after they made it a lottery system. It's a really good marathon to do with a lot of crowd support.
 
Congrats on a great run and a

Congrats on a great run and a great time. Keep it up.
 

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