Half Marathon Recap.

I went into the Whitefish Half Marathon with a clear goal: finish under 1 hour and 45 minutes. That meant holding an average pace of under 8 minutes per mile — something I’ve been chasing for a while. I crossed the finish line at 1:46:26. That’s an average of 8:08 per mile. Just 8 seconds per mile too slow. Close, but not close enough.

I won’t lie — it stings. I trained hard, stayed consistent, and felt ready. But if this race showed me anything, it’s that I still have a lot to learn in the endurance world. My nutrition was way off. I had a tiny breakfast and didn’t take in a single calorie during the 13.1 miles — just grabbed a couple of water cups along the way. That might work for some runners, but not for me. Especially not at 6’3” and 225 pounds. Let’s be real — you don’t see too many runners built like me lining up at the starting line, so it’s hard to ask around for advice that actually applies to my body type. But that’s part of the challenge I’m embracing. I just need to get better at fueling if I want to perform at a high level.

That said, I think half marathons might be my sweet spot for a while. They’re still incredibly tough. They force you to show up and push yourself mentally and physically. But they don’t completely destroy your body. I still played a round of golf on Friday, ran the race Saturday, and played in — and won — a basketball championship on Sunday. My legs were tight, but I pulled it off. That kind of weekend is a perfect example of the balance I want to build: being a hybrid athlete. Strong, fast, and capable of competing in different arenas without falling apart.

What really sticks with me, though, is the people you meet at these races. The energy is incredible. Everyone is there to better themselves. No egos. No judgment. Just a bunch of people showing up to grow — and in the process, lifting each other up. Those are my kind of people. The ones with a growth mindset who don’t settle.

Normally, after a race like this, I’d take a few weeks off. Let the body recover, reset mentally, and ease back in. But not this time. I don’t want to lose the momentum I’ve built. I want to lean into this distance, get faster, become more efficient, and figure out how to run smarter — not just harder.

So if you’ve been down this road, I’d love to hear from you. What’s your recovery look like after a half? How do you fuel before and during your runs? What helped you get faster? I’m here to grow, and I’m not afraid to ask for help from others who are doing the same.

Let’s keep pushing. The goal is still alive — and I’m just getting started.