Terminator

We both know you've got a better race in you. I'm very curious how you might have felt with some hydration earlier. The cold weather probably made it easier to feel like the liquid wasn't necessary, but based on your description of the race, some early hydration might have been just what the Dr. ordered. We'll hit another 1/2 marathon in the next two months to test out some changes. Just another opportunity to learn and another 1/2 marathon notch on the belt. It'll just get better from here on out.

Of course better days will come. I think the nutrition question depends on what you drank and ate before the race. 11 miles without hydration wouldn't be too bad unless you weren't hydrated well before the race. For calories in a half I always carry 2 Gus and always take one at around mile 7 or 8. If needed I suck on the other one for the last 3 miles. Like you said though the nutrition probably doesn't explain why you didn't feel good from the start. Maybe St. George beds are terrible? :) You will have this all figured out soon enough.

Thanks guys. Looking back, I think I was dehydrated before the race began. Hardly drank anything after waking up (always nervous about needing to go to the bathroom right before the race). I definitely need to work on nutrition both before and during the 1/2. Excellent advice. Thank you.

The off days happen...you have a good attitude about it. you know your training is solid and you are on a great track to Boston. Chalk it up to a great workout and learning experience :)

Jake and I usually drink a lot of some type of electrolyte drink the day before the race so we don't have to worry about drinking much the day of the race. I take one Gu at 7 miles of a half, I feel like it gives me a little boost for the rest of the race. But I'm also out there racing for several minutes longer than you.

1:13 off steady running with the odd tempo thrown in is good going. It's a platform to build on.

I've never raced a half marathon and the wise words of others on Gus may make more sense than what I have to say.

If I remember correctly, Jake doesn't do the whole Gu thing in a half. I think all he drinks is his spit:) This would be my approach too.

If you are stocked up on carbs and water before the race, you shouldn't need to take anything in a half. When I say that, I don't mean others are wrong to take on carbs and water, but if you're stocked up properly on carbs you should be able to go for 1:20 - 1:30 at race pace without any problems. Again, if Fritz takes on a Gu at 7/8, then maybe there's something in it.

If you felt flat from the off, then maybe your body is fighting off a cold or something.

Before you went into the race, I thought you would run about 1:12. Maybe 1:11. With a few more miles and some more tempo runs and the odd speed session, you'll be going well under 1:10, with or without Gus:)

Very perceptive advice Bam and Andrea. Much appreciated. I'm familiar with the physiology also Bam, and that's why I thought I wouldn't need any nutrition or liquid during the race (knowing that I would be running for well under 90 min). Next time I'll probably take some nutrition though, just in case it helps (it's not going to hurt as long as I've practiced doing so during training, which I have).

Bam, your thought about being sick is a good one. I've not been 100% healthy for about 1.5 months, and I'm not exactly sure why. The past few days I have felt worse. Perhaps that affected my performance. I didn't mention it because it hasn't seemed to make a huge difference with my training thus far. I've had antibiotics and a short course of oral steroids. I do have asthma, and so when I get sick it always goes to my lungs. But I don't recall ever being sick for this long. Very annoying. Maybe I need a different antibiotic or combination of inhalers.

Thanks again. I really appreciate it. Please keep the feedback coming. I have a lot to learn.

Matt I'm not an expert or as fast so take it for what it's worth :) but i take a 24-30 ounce electrolyte bottle and have it finished with an hour to race time. This gives my body time to expel before the race starts and keeps me hydrated. I carry a gu and take it if needed around mile 8. Most of the time i don't need it but it's nice to have when i do.

You've definitely got a much faster one in you right now but by the time you race again, and if healthy, I'm sure you'll be even better. You're set for a big year!

Nice race Matt. These types of races where we feel we underperformed can be some of the best motivation we can get. Use this to fuel your future training and efforts and go out and get a great time on the next one.

As for fuel during a half, I think everyone has to find what works for them. And you'll get that figured out. I don't drink or take gu during a half. I never have taken a gu and I've only taken water once. But I know I always have stomach issues and so I avoid anything that may make that worse. Other runners really like drinking and taking a gu. I think what works for you in training will work for you in a race, so go with that.

Great advice, Riley and Brandon. All good points. And thanks for the encouragement!

Sorry about the disappointing race Matt. You're definitely in better shape (I should know; I've watched you leave me in the dust every workout the past 2 months)!

It will come.

Still a good race all things considered. Races like this where we fight the entire time make us stronger and we all now you are capable of better. Use this race to motivate you moving forward and keep on keeping on.

Fueling- I am no expert and everyone is SO different but I've finished enough races in the medical tent to figure out its important. Figure out your sweat ratio and experiment in training. Proper Hydration can be critical in my opinion.

A few weeks ago I'm pretty sure you could have knocked off a 1:10 if we kept that tempo run going for another 15 minutes, so while I know you're a bit disappointed, you also know that you've got a lot more in the tank. You haven't raced a ton, so you're going have a few that aren't up to your expectations... But we also all know that when you catch fire, it's going to be something special.

Regarding your food/drink question, I like to chug 32 oz of an electrolyte drink before going to bed and have a drink handy during the night for when I wake up to expel that original 32 oz. when I wake up, I'll drink another ~16 oz 1.5-2 hrs before the race with a powerbar and then I'm done drinking / eating... Other than a couple small sips after I warmup. Obviously everyone's physiology is a bit different but this works for me... I've never had GI issues during a race. During a HM, I would choke to death if I tried to even drink anything. Like bam said, if you load up well the day before, you should have plenty of stored calories to get you through the race... And then hit the wall about 3 miles into your cool down like I always do :-)

SLC Winter Series now... Come set some post-residency PRs at every distance!

Thanks Mike, Rachelle, and Jake. I really appreciate your support.

Excellent specific examples of ways to hydrate, Jake. Something I definitely need to work on. Like I've said before, it's been a long time -- I'm a bit rusty with these kinds of things. It will come. Yeah, when we finished that 10-mile tempo a couple weeks ago, I really felt good, and I feel could have kept that pace for another 3 miles. So yes, I know I've got a lot more in the tank. Frustrating that I didn't prove it yesterday, but I've got to be patient and let it happen next time. Thanks again.

SLC Winter Series -- sounds fun!