A Checkpoint, Not a Goal
The Pisa Half Marathon was not a race chosen to chase a personal best.
It was a checkpoint.
At that stage of the season, the goal was to assess fitness, pacing control, and execution under race conditions. The half marathon distance is long enough to expose weaknesses, but short enough to allow controlled effort and recovery.
Preparation focused on consistency rather than intensity.
Training was built around aerobic efficiency, pace awareness, and the ability to hold a steady effort without drifting into unsustainable zones.
On race day, the focus was execution.
Staying within the planned effort mattered more than reacting to other runners or pushing early. The race provided clear feedback on what was working and what still needed adjustment.
The Pisa Half Marathon confirmed an important principle:
progress is not measured by a single result, but by how predictable and repeatable performance becomes.
As part of a longer-term plan, this race served its purpose.
Not as a highlight, but as a reliable reference point on the path toward longer distances.
A good race doesn’t always mean a fast race.
Sometimes it simply means a useful one.