Inescapable consistency
September 7, 2009I’m not the most consistent ultramarathoner in the world, but shorter races seem to suck the variability right out of me. I’ve written before about the dull uniformity of my 1500-meter peformances; an even better example may be my half marathon times. Here are all seven of the road halves I’ve ever run:
* March 22, 1998: Mercer Island (WA) — 1:09:59 (3rd place)
* May 3, 1998: Vancouver (BC) — 1:09:42 (1st place)
* September 7, 1998: Super Jock ‘n Jill (Woodinville, WA) — 1:09:40 (11th place)
* September 3, 2001: Super Jock ‘n Jill (Woodinville, WA) — 1:10:43 (9th place)
* March 26, 2006: Mercer Island (WA) — 1:09:02 (1st place)
* September 4, 2006: Super Jock ‘n Jill (Woodinville, WA) — 1:09:29 (3rd place)
* September 7, 2009: Super Jock ‘n Jill (Woodinville, WA) — 1:10:32 (8th place)
Super Jock ‘n Jill tried to shake things up a few years ago by rerouting its course through downtown Bothell, but, as you can see, my times haven’t budged that much.
I guess I shouldn’t complain. If I can hold steady for a couple more decades I’ll be virtually unbeatable among 55-and-over runners.
My Track Record 
On the other hand, if your performances weren't consistent, that would mean that some of them were bad. It sounds to me like you're running half-marathons about as fast as you can run them, and that you've been able to maintain peak performance for over a decade. That's impressive! (to a mere mortal like me, anyway)
Your crack about 50-55 hits close to home!My three half marathons…1984- age 27 – 1:07:551999- age 41 – 1:16:31yesterday- age 52 – 1:24:57I'm consistant, just not in the way I'd prefer.