I ran this race as a jump start into Marine Corp marathon training. I had taken a week off the week prior to hiking in California for my big 3-0. I also got engaged, so it was a good week off.

My race strategy for this half marathon was just purely to test my fitness and to finish since this is the final race in the Lynchburg Road Runners Summer Race Series. I had been racing short distances all summer, so I had the speed but I did not have the endurance to finish the race as strong as I would have liked.
This half marathon is not the easiest course, but it is also not the hardest. Do not expect a PR on this course, unless you are a master of hills. If you are the Yoda of hills- then this is your course.

It starts on Percival's Island and its a nice easy, flat running trail until the fun begins. After you turn around at the 3 mile mark you run back towards a hill you passed. A hill you probably thought to yourself- "Oh good, we are passing that hill and I will not have to conquer that today."

Fertilizer hill is this gradual climb of fun on a gravel hill. It takes you to a loop that you will run twice of rolling hills. Once you have finished most of the race you get to run down this hill and then its a flat race to the finish.

If you are a strategic runner- I recommend planning to run fast in the flat areas and don't waste your energy on the hills.

I ran out fast in the first mile and held on for a third place female overall finish. It was nowhere close to a PR, but I did what I wanted to do. The weather wasn't too bad this year and the swag was on point. T-shirts and race medals both had the Percival's Island LOVE sign on them. Overall a great conclusion to a fun race series.