Guess my Finish Time at the Verrazano Half Marathon (Oct 22nd)

Oct16

Did I tell  you I am doing the NYCRUNS Verrazano Festival of Races Half Marathon? I probably did!!! Less than a week to go!!!!

So, one week to go, one more race, one more contest!

Rules: pick a time and write in the comments below. Whoever gets closer, wins, If there’s two identical times, the first poster wins! Make sure if you include seconds in there too, and post before Friday, October 21st, 8 pm et. I can bet money someone will hit in the head, as usual!
Prizes... you can pick from:
  • Koss Fitbuds (purple) KEB32p, limited edition
  • Koss Fitclips (orange) KSC32C, limited edition
  • milestone pod, teal or black
  • clip-on running metronome
  • brooks flat vapur water bottle
  • pack of travel bodyglide
  • TCS NYC Marathon Shopping Bag
  • Clif Bar Branded Gear Package (aluminum water bottle, jumping rope, women’s triathlete tee medium black and silver, towel)
  • FitSok, pack of 3 (white, gray, black), CF-2 Shadow Yarn Athletic Sock, size M (mens 6-8, womens 7-9)
  • B2R Split Toe Performance Running Sock, CoolMax, EcoMode, Size M (mens 5-7, womens 6-8), white
  • Powerbar branded crossbody backpack, black
  • NYC Marathon rain (knee-length, orange and white) poncho
  • North Face arm warmers, black with red NF logo, small/med
  • Lock Laces, one size fits all, white
  • Travel Roller 4.3
the DATA…
  • Last HALFS

Newport Half Marathon, September, 2016, 1:37:49
NJ Half Marathon, May, 2016: 1:36:28
Brooklyn Half Marathon, May 2016 1:39:02
NYC Half, March, 2016: 1:36:03  PR
Staten Island Half: October, 2015: 1:37:38
Airbnb Brooklyn Half: May, 2015: 1:39:10
United Airlines NYC Half, March 2015: 1:39:26

  • Last Races

August 2016, Percy Sutton 5K, 21:18, 6:52 pace.
June 2016, Achilles Hope & Possibility (4M), 28:43, 7:11 pace
May 2016, Airbnb Brooklyn Half Marathon, 1:39:02, 7:34 pace
April 2016, City Parks Foundation Run for the Parks (4M), 28:12, 7:03 pace
March 2016, United Airlines NYC Half, 1:36:03, 7:20 pace

My guess: I have no clue…. I’d love a PR and I’ve been close all year, but 1, I’m still sick with the cold (2 weeks now!) and it seems that I don’t PR unless it’s the NYC Half. So, as much as I’d love and try to get to the 1:36:04 PR, I predict I’ll be close but not PR!
GO ON! Place your bets below!!! (I will probably not look until after, and no need to be nice!)

Prizes shipped only within the US, but you can pick it up when you’re in NYC if you are abroad! Or have me send to someone in the US.  / Guesses will only count if done before Friday, October 21st, 8 pm, ET.  on the original post / Other comments anywhere else (Runners World, facebook, twitter, etc.) won’t count / If there are two guesses with the exact same time, the first one wins.

31 thoughts on “Guess my Finish Time at the Verrazano Half Marathon (Oct 22nd)”

  23. I hope it is OK to leave a question about the New York City Marathon in this space. GOOD LUCK on your run on Sat!!

    I am running my first NYC Marathon in a couple weeks and just got my Confirmation Form. When I registered, I told them I could run a 4:45 based on a London Marathon 2015 time of 4:42 (I’m 65). I have been placed in Blue Wave 4, Corral F (last one out). I would like some advice on a strategy – should I wait/lay back till most of the runners have left – let the crowds thin some before trying to weave my way through the slower runners. My training has gone well and I did a 23 miler a week ago in 4:04 – makes me think a 4:45 is very realistic. Should I assume that the other runners in my corral have a similar pace?

    This will be my 15th full marathon – first was in 2008 on my 57th birthday (April 26th). I have done several other big races including Berlin (2011), Boston (09, 10, 11, 12), Chicago (two weeks after Berlin 2011) and London (2015 on my 64th birthday), so I’m not scared by the crowded running field. However, in London my left IT band gave me fits starting at about 13.1 (London Tower Bridge) – I assume it was from the weaving (lateral movement) and putting on the brakes (tip toes) so I didn’t run over other runners. My 13.1 split was 2:09 and the finish was 4:42 (I know, I went out fast from the race excitement – need to do better in NYC).

    In closing, I would be very interested in your thoughts about a race strategy – I’m not out for a qualifying time or anything like that – I want to enjoy the crowds/bands, etc., so I don’t want to be the last runner on the course. I was fortunate enough to get a lottery bib and will complete my #SixStars in Tokyo on 2/26/17. New York City was the race that I had to get into to complete the circuit.

    THANK YOU for any thoughts/advice you might have.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Randy, yes everyone in your wave has the exact same goal as you. W4 Blue F is exactly 4:45 so you won’t be slowed down. Also, you’ll be starting slower than that so if it’s crowded at the start, take that as a good luck charm, as it’ll help you slow down in the mile you need to go the easiest. DO NOT WEAVE!!!! save your energy, people will move out of the way if you wait a second or two and you won’t run 29 miles instead of 26.2. Good luck.

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  29. Pingback: Verrazano Half: a tale of two halves | runningandthecity

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