It's all about the small stuff

Definitions of persistence on the web:

* continuity: the property of a continuous and connected period of time
* doggedness: persistent determination
* perseverance: the act of persisting or persevering; continuing or repeating behavior; "his perseveration continued to the point where it was no longer appropriate"

Today I smashed through the 90-minute mark on a half marathon, an effort that dates back more than a decade but for which I've kept records for the last seven years.

To be honest, crossing the finish line was a bit anti-climatic. Though I ran as hard as I could the last two miles.

I knew that I had to run at least 6.52 minute miles from start to finish on the course, the First Half 1/2 marathon in Vancouver. And while I decided ahead of the race to try to focus more on how I felt and my running cadence, I glanced at my watch for my mile splits - most of the way.

Unlike last month's 10km splits, which had me running super slow and then super fast, I was a beacon of consistency today.

6.48 - 6.51 - 6.43 - 6.45 - 6.40 - 6.49 - 6.47 - 6.59 - 6.52 - 6.53 - 7.02 - 6.50 - 6.33 and then 29 more seconds for 1.29.06

No, I haven't become a threat to anyone in particular. For me though the race was a huge step forward. It also represents a more than one minute PB on the distance. I am very happy with the effort and the result.

I did as my K-oach instructed, starting out moderate and accelerating to a hard effort, with a particular focus on my cadence. Exactly as we have been working on in training.

As past posts have noted, I've been engaged a treadmill to help increase my run cadence and I believe that I'm making great strides. Ha!

That said, I do need to work on my focus. As my times indicate, my mind wandered during the 7th and 8th miles and my cadence drifted too.

Six seconds from a sub 89 performance ... Margreet's household standard was never in any danger.

Each day brings a new challenge and each success needs to be acknowledged. I've worked hard and am working hard. It's a great way to start the week. In my case, it is all about the small stuff.

** I was 18th in my age group. To have broken the top 10, I would have had to have run 1.24.23. To have broken the top five, 1.16.08. And to have won: 1.11.51.

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2002 Lake Macquarie 1:31:21 4:21/km

2003 Sydney (Homebush) 1:31:17 4:20.9/km

2005 Sydney ½ marathon 1:32:48 4:25.2/km

2005 Sydney (Opera House) 1:32:57 4:25.7/km

2006 Sydney (Sep 1:30:15 4:17.9/km

2006 Sydney 1:33:19 4:26.7/km

2006 Lake Mac 1:30.25 4:18.4/km

2007 Sydney (May) 1:31:39 4:21.9/km

2008 Gibsons (April) 1.31.06

2008 Vancouver (June) 1.30.17

2009 Vancouver First Half 1.29.06