### Race information
* **What?** Tewkesbury Half Marathon
* **When?** May 12, 2019
* **How far?** 13.1 miles
* **Where?** Tewkesbury, UK
* **Finish time:** 2:17
### Goals
| Goal | Description | Completed? |
|------|-------------|------------|
| A | New PR | *Yes* |
| B | No walking | *Yes* |
### Splits
| Mile | Time |
|------|------|
| 1 | 9:53 |
| 2 | 10:00 |
| 3 | 10:28 |
| 4 | 10:31 |
| 5 | 10:28 |
| 6 | 10:34 |
| 7 | 10:36 |
| 8 | 10:57 |
| 9 | 10:27 |
| 10 | 10:22 |
| 11 | 10:36 |
| 12 | 11:10 |
| 13 | 10:08 |
| 14 | 7:20 |
### Training
I started the HM3 program by Hal Higdon back in Feb but added in an extra run per week. I managed to stick to it for a few weeks before getting bored and deciding to do a running streak that lasted 29 days. So my training has not been structured but I've managed to do 20-30 miles per week leading up to this race. I also started 5K a day in May for charity and was feeling a bit tired from that in the past week.
### Pre-race
Up at 7am for a shower and my usual pre-race breakfast from McDonalds (breakfast wrap and coffee), then a lovely drive to the race HQ. I had 90 minutes to kill before the start so I sat in my car drinking water and scrolling reddit until it was time for the 10 minute walk to the start line. I realised then that I had forgotten my sunscreen and would likely burn as the weather was warm and sunny.
### Race
Miles 1-5
I started off strong but not too fast and fell into a comfortable pace for the first few miles. At mile 3 I was overtaken by a man in a crocodile suit so I chose him as my target to stick with and eventually overtake. The 3rd and 4th mile were when I realised I had been matching someone else's pace and going a little slower than intended so I decided to check my pace against my watch. The pace felt good and I thought I would have something left in the tank for later on. As long as I kept under 10:30 a mile, I calculated that I could possibly beat my previous best of 2:22. I was not running this race to beat my time though, I was just looking to come close and see where I can improve in coming months.
Miles 6-10
The 8th mile was when I started to struggle mentally and my pace reflects that. The route was mainly on country roads which is not my ideal place to be so I turned my music up and told myself "David Goggins would never quit so why should I". The heat was starting to get to me but I made sure I kept si
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"Where are the reinforcemints"
It was against all odds
That someone being >!Carlos!<.
The scene is the two of them in the graveyard after Dresden has buried Murphy.
This isn't a full-fledged fanfic, just one conversation that I wish had gone differently. I wish that Dresden hadn't treated Carlos as An Authority Figure, but as a good man trying his best to navigate an impossible situation. Here goes:
Point of departure:
> ‘“The Council has spoken,” he said, just as tiredly, and turned to go.'
“Wait, Carlos,” I said. He turned his head slightly.
“Look,” I said. “I get it. You’re playing Council politics now. And of course, they made you come and deliver the news. Maybe they hoped I’d start a fight and you could bury me right here. But I’m not going to bite. Not today. I'm too tired, man.” I shook my head.
“You’re right, I’ve gotten mixed up with some dangerous people. If I hadn’t, maybe we wouldn't have survived. And yeah, I’m not telling you everything. Maybe that's for the best. When people get close to me...” My eyes traveled to the open grave.
“I miss Murph, Carlos. She was my best friend. And the thing about Karrin was, she’d always give it to you straight. If I was really going all dark side, she’d slap some sense in me. It hurts losing a friend like that.” I looked at him. “Two friends, I guess.” I sighed.
“You already know I’m going to keep doing my thing here. I’ve got obligations, and I’ve got people who need me. And if the Council has something to say about that, they know where to find me. And, if it comes to it, I think you have a sense of who will be standing by me,” I said, gesturing at Michael. Carlos shifted uncomfortably.
“But forget all that for a minute. At the end of the day, you’ve been a better friend to me than I have to you. I’m sorry man. You deserved better, and I owe you for that. I know you don’t trust Harry Dresden the man. So that’s why I’m saying this as the Winter Knight: there’s an imbalance between us. And Winter pays its debts.” That got his attention. I took a bean out of my pocket.
“You’ve put your chips down on the Council. I can respect that. But you know full well that Peabody wasn’t the only person working to bring it down from the inside. So to you, to make things square between us, I offer exactly the same thing I offered Donald Morgan when he called: shelter, if things go sideways. If you need a haven, come find me, and I promise to hear you out. And if you just want to talk to someone about it, someone who’s not in the thick of it, the
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