Mercer Island

Race: Mercer Island Half

Runner: Brian S

Race Date: 03/24/2019

Location: Mercer Island, WA

Results: 1:34:26 (CR for me)

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/2237995507

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

1. Size of the race, not too big make a pain, but enough folks to have plenty of folks to run down. About 1000 this year, typically closer to 1500.
2. Having an indoor space to stay warm pre-race.
3. The course. Lots of unique sections to keep engaged. It’s challenging but not over the top. Full disclosure, it’s my home course so I’m very familiar and think it’s a great place to run.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

The long hill near the end, for me it’s a tough mental challenge to hit it late in the race and see it looming ahead of you.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

A good weird- post race grilled cheese from a food truck.

Not much weird in race – in fact it could use some weird things to spice it up.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

Kept the starting miles in check and was able to slowly increase the pace. I enjoyed the varied groups of spectators along the route.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

It has several small hills along the way and never really feels too flat. And keep some in the tank for the final ~3 miles as you’ll find the longer hills in this section.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Be ready to work and connect with someone in the final 3 miles help you keep on pace.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

It’s twisty and has enough hills to keep you working most of the course.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

You get a few lake views along the way and have plenty of twisty tree lined streets.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Overall, it’s not too difficult, but the layout seems to load the stress in the last half. See the image for my take on the stages of the course.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

It felt well organized. The start has pace/corral markers but it seems that many jump in the front and makes the first mile pretty thick. It’s also a plus as you get a mental bonus from passing lots of people for the first few miles.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Plenty of competition at my level to keep in the mix with plenty of other runners through the full course.

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.

Nothing special. It’s a bit of later start time and makes it a casual morning vs. rushing to make to the line on time. The P&R closes at 7:45 AM, but plenty of nearby parking is available in “downtown” area just an extra block away after 7:45.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Standard fare – not sure you need a water station at mile 1. Plenty of water stations and gel at mile 8.

Weather and typical race conditions

I’ve run this for the past 5 years, so far it’s been warmish and hasn’t been a washout. This year had temps in the upper 40’s to low 50’s. Felt like pretty ideal conditions.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

Nothing special.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Spectators can hop around fairly easily using Island Crest Way.

How’s the Swag?

Pretty standard tech shirt. Some decent swag at the race expo.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

I’d give it a 4/5. It provides a good challenge, it’s well run, has enough spectators and scenery to keep it form being boring, and has a building to stay warm pre-race. Only negative is that it’s kinda pricey and they ran out of grilled cheese this year.

Race: Mercer Island Half Marathon

Runner: Andrew K

Date: 3/18/2018

Location: Mercer Island (Seattle, WA)

Results: 1:24:59 PR (2nd in Div)

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/1459696451

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

1. Facilities at Start/End. Really superb Community Center. Parking was 2 blocks away and really easy in/out.
2. Well Organized including public service announcements for race starts. Plenty of booths and good spacing on course of water etc.
3. The course! Sneaky challenging with rolling hills throughout and some longer down/ups that really push you to hold your effort throughout.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

I’d be making something up just to complain. 🙂 Really nothing that I can think of. The course was challenging so I could see how for some it might not be their cup of tea but per above I liked that challenge.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

Nothing to odd here.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

Course pushed me on the up’s and especially last 2 miles with long sustained uphill into downs then back up to the finish.

Lessons Learned – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner or yourself on the next time around

Park about 7:45am for 9am start. Plenty of space in the community center to warm up, chill, stretch pre-race. Respect the course profile it’s a quad then all hamstrings yo-yo.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

First 9 are twisty and undulating. Last 4 are a lot more up and down. So staying locked in for 9, then just know the last 4 hurt a bit more as the stress shifts for more dramatic hills.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Really well run. Top notch for size of event including police throughout course for intersections, fluid stations and occasional kids with signs in their front yard yelling ‘go…go…go’

Logistics – Anything special regarding getting to/from the race, hotels around the course, registration…?

I came from the east side on I90, got there about 7:45am and parking was very easy 2 blocks away. After the 8am time I could guess it’s tad farther from the start.

Weather and typical race conditions

Overcast and 45 degrees.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Yes, very friendly for almost anywhere if they know the course ahead.

How’s the swag?

Pretty good long sleeve T. They had a deal where you could also buy 2 previous race T’s for 10 bucks.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

Timing and stress of this course is great for Boston Bound folks. I highly recommend it and give it a 4 out of 5. Since I registered late, I paid $90 which is steep so do it early. So for that $ I’d want a Patagonia high end shirt, etc.

Race: Mercer Island Half Marathon

Runner: Dave S

Date: 3/20/2016

Results – 1:21:53, 8th overall, 3rd Masters

3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most

Weather – This was my third time running the race and it’s been in the low 50’s each time

Community Center – I love being able to wait inside ahead of the race start

Views – The run around Mercer Island has some beautiful views running through winding streets in the trees and views of Lake Washington.

Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

It’s hillier than you would expect, and there is a hill at the finish that is a killer. Overall about 600ft of gain. My time was a lot slower than I was shooting for, but with international travel leading up to the day before the race I didn’t have my hopes too high for a PR.

Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about this race

The island is shaped like a foot without toes, which is what they use as their logo (with toes added)

Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular

I was happy to pass 1 person over the course of the race, and no one was able to pass me. It was a good fight with the person I passed, and I ended up holding him off with an all out kick at the end.

Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Respect the hills and don’t go out too fast. The race starts with a downhill and I think it’s easy to get in a rhythm early that is beyond you.

Aesthetics – is it a pretty course

Absolutely! One of the prettiest half marathons I’ve done!

Difficulty – is it a tough course

The hills make it tough.

Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

It is well organized and well run. Plenty of aid stations and an organized packet pickup.

Competition – is there a strong field?

Typically it’s a pretty strong field.

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.

Nothing special here. You may have to search for parking, but as long as you show up 90 minutes before the start you should be good, and with a nice 9am start it isn’t tough to do that.

Aid Stations

More than enough.

Weather and typical race conditions –

Typically overcast and low 50’s, sometimes some light rain.

Gear – did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

Nope

Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends

It’s a smaller race as far as spectators go, but there are some that seem to come out from their houses along the course.

Awards –

Medals 3 deep in each age group and overall. You pick them up from a tent and I didn’t notice any event to hand them out to the overall winners.

The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it

I’d give Mercer Island 4 out of 5 stars. The hills make it a tough race.

Race: Mercer Island Half Marathon – http://mercerislandhalf.com/

Runner: Matt U

Date: 3/20/2016

Results: 4th overall, 1:15.09

3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most

The course was pretty.

There were a good amount of fast runners in the race.

It prepped me well for the hills in Boston and for the marathon in general.

Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

I also want to say the hills! My watch only says there was 600ft of gain in the 13.1 miles. However, it felt like more and it felt like I was grinding it out way more than I was enjoying the downhill sections. Made for a tough race.

Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular

I had a good mental game, even though I didn’t execute a great race strategy. I wanted to run with people for this race. I made the decision in mile 1 to go with the two front guys. We went through mile 1 in 5:18 and I quickly determined that I was in above my head. I slowed down more than normal knowing that 4th wasn’t too far back. I stuck with him for another mile but was working too hard to stick with him. I was then on my own and feeling pretty tired, and it was only 3 miles into the race! Yikes.

I reassessed my goals for the race based on the situation and decided that my new goal was to stay in control of my race and have my legs left for the final 3-4 miles of the race. By mile 7 I could hear someone getting closer to me. I slowed and let him catch me and then stuck to him. He pulled me through the next few miles and I actually regained some energy by tailing him. I would pull ahead on the downhills and then he’d reel me in again. Over the final two miles I was able to seal up 4th place and come in strong. My quads were burning on the climb during mile 12 like I haven’t felt in a long while! I also worked the downs pretty hard. I won’t be surprised if I’m sore over the next few days.

My pacing was atrocious and I went out way too fast. However, I recovered well, kept my head in the game, regrouped, and finished strong. Good outcome, especially given the first two big errors.

Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

I can’t get over the hills! Be ready for them. I felt like I was going up way more than down. I knew ahead of time that it was a rolling course, but it was tougher than I expected. Be read for that and keep your legs under you for the final 5k.

Aesthetics – is it a pretty course

Definitely. In my efforts to try and regain my focus and control over my race, I actually looked up from the road to see the water and all the pretty trees. I thought, “it feels like I’m running a pretty country road, but I’m not out in the country!”

Difficulty – is it a tough course

It was for me! If I weren’t trying to run fast then it’s a different story, but for trying to crank out 5:30 miles, the hills altered my game plan significantly.

Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Well run. The community center where we picked up our race packets was fantastic. There were ample bathrooms, the packet pickup was quick and smooth, and Julie even had a comfy chair to feed Paavo while waiting for the race to start.

Competition – is there a strong field?

Times weren’t amazing, and the field wasn’t overly deep, but there were definitely some fast guys in the race.

Weather and typical race conditions

Low 50’s and overcast. The rains held off! ????

Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends

With Julie carrying Paavo around now, she’s not moving around the course looking for me anymore (I’m super happy that they’re both simply able to be at these races!), so I don’t really know. That said, a friend of ours was at three different spots along the course so it’s apparently not too tough to get around.

The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it

I’m pleased with this run. It’s a well run event with lots of runners of all abilities. It’s a more challenging course than Lake Sammamish HM, but there are positives that come with this. I give it a 5 out of 5.