Westfield Half Marathon

2014 Westfield Half Marathon T-Shirt

Today was the Westfield Half Marathon (formerly known as the Oleksak Half Marathon).  I've run this race the last three years, and love it.  This year, they decided to change the course.  The change was mostly to keep it in the Westfield city limits, and I for one like the change.  It starts off near downtown Westfield, heads out through some rural roads (aka hilly), and finishes with a five mile stretch that's mostly flat with a slight downhill.  This flat portion runs past Westfield State University, Stanley Park, and into the downtown area.

While the course was great, the weather left a little to be desired.  It was 41 degrees (with a 12 mph wind) at the start with a mist.  The mist never let up, and the temp only rose by about two degrees.  Fortunately it stayed a mist, and never developed back into rain.

Finishing the 2014 Westfield Half Marathon

As this was still a training run for Boston, we planned on a 9:45 to 9:55 pace (about a 2:09:30 for the half).  While this was a good plan, most races are usually faster than planned, and today was one of those days.  The first three miles were at a 9:15 pace, but everything felt good.  A 9:46 for the next mile (uphill), followed by a downhill portion at 8:44.  Kyle & I both kept the pace ad a brisk run in which we could still keep a conversation.  The last two miles of the half we were able to run at 9:05 & 9:03.  When the race was over I had 2:03:12 as an unofficial time (official "gun" time was 2:03:26).  Six minutes ahead of my projected time.


I can only hope that I'm ready for Boston, but today does give me a bit more confidence.

Today's totals  -  13.1 miles  /  316.96 total for the year