Cover image: By Sebleouf – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82942182 (not one of the races in this article).
As 2020 got underway, I was at 190 Half Marathons tracking to achieve my 200th by April. Running a few in early 2020, I got to 196 by Mid-March. We all know what happened next. Covid shut things down for the rest of 2020 and into 2021.
Once in-person events resumed in the Spring of 2021, it was only a matter of time before I hit 200 after a 15-month delay. The annual Foot Traffic Flat Half is held each year on Independence Day, and it was the race that I earmarked as my 200th half marathon!
The race director and timer both were gracious enough to allow me have bib #200 for the race. Before I started the day, one of my friends suggested that I try to run 2:00 for the race. As a pacer that usually paces the 2:00 group, I accepted the challenge. My wave for the race started at 6:35 and 2:00:01 later, according to my Garmin, I crossed the line. The official time was 2:00:03 which is as close as could be expected.
Having run my first half in 2007, it wasn’t until 2014 that I reached 50, and then picking up the pace, I hit 100 in 2016 before my 150th in 2018. This one was a bit slower due to covid. Time will only tell what lies ahead although you can be assured, I’ll be out running.