Ran the Publix Half this morning. 10,909 runners ran the Half Marathon. Hooked up with the 1:30 pace group. I had been training Evan for 11 weeks to get him ready for his first Half. The last thing he told me as the gun went off was that he was going to stick with the pace group. Within a quarter mile he was no where to be seen (in front of the pace group). Evan took off way too fast. The course was technical and hilly. Hung with the pace group, felt good and confident. I figured by mile 10 I would start to surge ahead from the group to make it under 1:30. By mile 11 I saw Evan. He was struggling. I went by him and told him to latch on and we can finish this together. He moaned and tried to hold but fell off within a quarter mile. I told him that the 1:30 pace group is about a minute or so behind, gather yourself and latch on to the group. When I finished Evan came in about 1 minute later and broke the 1:30 time he was shooting for. Good race, good pace group and Publix did this race up right. A lot better than ING ever did. | 