Alan Yoho Runs 69:56 at The Houston Half

That's the headline this weekend, but there is a story behind it and a full season ahead. We caught up with the drippiest Ex-D1-Ivy-League-Runner-Turned-Google-Software-Engineer-Sub-Elite man there ever was, Mr. Alan Yoho. Tap in below. 

Give us the pre race headspace. What’s going through Alan Yoho’s head as he touches down in Houston, Texas?

I like to spend a significant amount of time visualizing races well before I line up. Usually, this exercise helps calm my nerves and prep me for the big day... In this case, the exact opposite happened. Despite four months of consistent training, I was extremely nervous. It wasn’t until the pre-race dinner, in which I met up with some seriously fast friends from my more competitive days, did the situation work itself out. We ordered heaping bowls of pasta, and I pestered them for sage advice on how to perform. They said pretty much what you’d expect…”don’t go out too fast”...”make sure you fuel properly”...the usual, reasonable advice you hear time and time again. Unfortunately, these words had little to no effect on my nerves. Then, I watched in horror as both of them scarfed down ice cream sundae specials -  a race day crime in my eyes. Immediately, my nerves dissipated. I realized that they flew out to Houston to have fun, compete, and see what kind of performance their training manifests. Why should I be any different? They both ended up finishing in 62 minutes. Safe to say I’ll be having an ice cream sundae next time around…

How did you feel overall about the performance? What does it tell you about the year to come?
I’m beyond stoked. My coach said that I should shoot for a sub 70 performance, 69:56 fits the bill! Nailing the time goal tells me that I’m on the same page as my coach, and that my body is responding to the training he’s prescribing. 2026 is looking quick!! 

5k in, how are you feeling? 

I’ve never completed a half before, so despite putting my estimated finish time at 69 minutes, the race organizers placed me in corral B. I spent the first 5k weaving through people. Lots of jostling, but by the end of the first 5k, the crowd was starting to thin out and I caught up to the main sub-70 contingent from corral A. Feeling: light, smooth, big smiles

10k in, how are you feeling? 

Between 5 and 10k I became friends with a runner named Xavier. We talked quite a bit, starting out with (of course) what time are you trying to run? We had the same goal of sub 70. My guy let out a huge “VAMOS” and we ran together for most of the rest of the race, occasionally exchanging words of encouragement in English and Spanish. Feeling: focused, big smiles, actually enjoying myself a fair amount

15k in, how are you feeling? 

Pain has crept in. A touch of lactic in the calves, I’m really focusing on my form, the talking has mostly ceased. Xavier pulls up next to me and makes a move - I slow down slightly and he gaps me. I lock in directly behind a stranger, but don’t have time or energy to get to know them. It’s a bit of a faux pas to be directly behind someone so I spit out “I’m sorry but I gotta draft off you for a mile.” The dude turns and offers me his half-consumed Maurten gel. Legend. Feeling: pain

20k in, last kilometer, how are you feeling? Did you know it was going to be so close? 

The whole race, I made a concerted effort to refrain from looking at my watch. I wanted to run off and enjoy the process, not be a slave to a pace or my heart rate. But this time immediately after passing the “800m to go” pylon I took a long look, eyeing both pace and elapsed time. To my surprise, I realized that I could break 70 but I had to pick it up…so I beat an invisible drum all the way to the finish. Feeling: ready to be done

Overall, why are you traveling to these races? What are you hoping to accomplish / what goals do you have this year in running? 

I'm chasing times, not races. So if the course is fast I’m happy to hop on a plane to line up. If the course is slow…well I’ll be missing that one. The long term goal is to run a fast marathon, but I want to master the half before doubling the distance. 

Why keep going? 

I’ve run for various reasons throughout my life and the “why” is constantly changing. Nowadays living in Brooklyn, it’s to be a part of a community and to spend more time outside with the people I love. Lately, Bandit is the fam. I’ve met so many amazing people to train and hang with through their community. Feeling: grateful 

Whats next? 

I have some shorter races planned for indoor track season, but my next half is Project 13.1 in late March! So I’m back to the lab!! Maybe sub 69?