Race: Lake Sammamish Half Marathon
Runner: Coach Matthew Bigman
Race Date: 03/05/2022
Location: Redmond, Washington
Results: 1:13:10 – 6th overall
Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/6778090358
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
- Meeting Team Run Run people!
- The course was very flat and fast for the most part
- It was easily accessible to park near, and shuttles were plentiful and quick to get back to the start.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
- This race was cupless. On one hand I do think it’s fantastic to reduce waste. However, it’s very difficult to justify spending precious time stopping at an aid station to fill up your reusable cup. I didn’t drink anything, which wasn’t really a problem.
- Two other things stood out. One, I almost got run over by a car when finishing the race!! That was wild. Second, I think I got goose or dog poop on my Nike Vaporflys! Come on!!
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
The last .25 or so of the race was incredibly janky. It had many turns on a narrow paved trail with mud over it. There was also a 90-degree turn into the finishing chute.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I raced very smartly and executed my plan well! Although my coach had a more conservative goal in mind, I’m quite intuitive with my races. I started off at what I believed to be conservative, maintained this for a few miles, than very gradually increased the pace when it made sense. I also stuck about 15-20 seconds behind the main group and passed people as they slowed. I didn’t get passed once! I’m really proud of how I kept myself calm, used positive self talk, and raced really hard.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
This is definitely a race to simulate that faster and flatter marathon you’re doing. Start off just a bit slower than goal pace, then work your way into it and fight to maintain your pace like a tempo run! Just a very, very, long tempo run.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
A pre-race gel might be something I try next time just to avoid some mental fog towards the end!
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
There is a decent hill after mile 7, but if you stay strong up the hill, you will recover quickly and get a fast split for the next mile which is mostly steep downhill! Then is flat and fast to the finish.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Yeah! It runs by Lake Sammamish so it was quite pretty. To be honest, I wasn’t really taking in the sights!
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
No besides the janky finish and the hill (which is worth it for the downhill in my opinion).
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Yes, it was well run enough for a race of its size. It only started a couple minutes late and I noticed no issues. The bus shuttling back was very efficient.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Yes! I wasn’t completely alone at any point of the race. I always had people to target and chase.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
I registered 3 months ahead of time. It’s very accessible to Seattle, and was not difficult to get to. Additional parking was available too.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
There was nuun at the aid stations, which is not ideal in my opinion since it’s very low in calories! If you’re out there for 90 minutes – 2 hours, you’ll need some calories.
Weather and typical race conditions
The weather was perfect!! We couldn’t have asked for a better race day. It was overcast and in the 40s. Just how I like it.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
Some light gloves may be warranted, especially at the start.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
If your friend has a car, then yes! The trail seemed accessible at multiple points from the road. I saw Dionne a handful of times!! (Thanks for the support!)
How’s the Swag?
I love the shirt actually. It’s a tri-blend, cool graphic on the front, but no cheesy sponsorships or even year to be seen! Looks like a graphic tee from Gap or Banana Republic.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
4/5 stars!! I definitely recommend this race. My thoughts are that it was 95% amazing and 5% terrible.
Matthew Bigman is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about him or to work with Coach Matthew, check out his coaching page.
