Simulated Half Marathon Race

Last week, I added two races to my schedule:
11/25/10 - Turkey Trot 10K, Beaumont TX - Goal: New PR, <54:28 (8:47 pace)

12/11/10 - Swamp Stomp Half Marathon, Lake Charles LA - Goal: <2hrs (9:09 pace).

Although I've run the marathon race, I've never raced the half-marathon.  I'd trained all around the distance many times, but didn't have a good feel for race potential.  Since I've added a December 11 half marathon to my schedule, with a goal of sub-2 hrs, I wanted to get a good assessment of how I can currently do a "near best-effort" run at this distance. Sunday morning, I went through a trial run, trying to run it fairly hard, just like I'd run a race.

I know that 9:09 is the "magic number" for two-hour half-marathon pace. I started out way slower than 9:09 on the first mile and knew I had to make it up, but my first mile is always slower. I just found a good rhythm in the upper eights and cruised. Hitting 6.5 miles in just over 58 minutes, I knew I could back off into the low nines and be OK, but I thought I'd see if I could finish out in the upper eights. Running stayed pretty comfortable through ten.  The last 3+ were a strain, but by then, I knew I had enough in the tank to make it. Mile splits were:  9:46, 8:57, 8:56, 8:46, 8:53, 8:44, 8:59, 8:46, 8:53, 8:47, 8:59, 8:42, 8:28, 1:01 (0.1). Result: 13.1 miles, 1:56:43, 8:54 pace.  An unofficial PR for me at this distance. Perfect cool clear morning for running, 53 degrees at 6 AM. This run felt great!