Begin race recap:
I woke up at about 5:30am. The race didn't start until 8:15,
but I wanted to make sure I had plenty of time to use the bathroom, and digest
my food. I arrived at the race at around 7:45. I met up with a friend who was
there to cheer me on. She was great at keeping me positive and reminding me how
hard I’ve worked. I wasn't really sure if I should warm up before the race
because my plan, if executed correctly, was to run slow in the first half and
gradually increase during the last half of the race. I decided on a quick
little jaunt down the road, it was probably only a .25mi jog, but it helped my
nerves a little. Two minutes before the start of the race I lined up near the
backish. The national anthem was sung and we were off, right on time! My race
plan was to keep the first few miles at about a 9:30/mi pace. The first mile
came and went incredibly quickly, I checked my watch 8:57. Dang, I have got to
slow it down! The next 3 miles went by equally as quickly and without any
problems.
Miles 1-4: 8:57 /
9:22 / 9:27 / 9:27
The next couple miles were a little confusing. This was an
out and back course along the Truckee River path, and near the turnaround point
we were supposed to come to a fork and go to the right and exit the river path
and run on the road by Patagonia, and then loop around into a park and back
onto the river path, this was all according to the course map posted online.
However, when I approached the fork, runners who had already completed the loop
and running back towards me were coming in from the right. So the group of
runners I was running with all veered the left and entered the park first.
There were no signs or volunteers in the area to direct us which way to go. I
told my husband he could wait for me in the park to cheer me on, I told him the
time I expected to be in the park, but because we ran through the park first,
he was not there. Suddenly I felt kinda sad, I was counting on him to help lift
my spirits and keep me going strong. We looped around onto the road and right
as I passed Patagonia, there he was with Casper cheering me on (he apparently
didn’t feel like going into the park and had only arrived along the street 3
minutes before I approached, perfect timing). His presence worked and I felt
refreshed again. During mile 7 there were 2 women who were running right behind
me. One of the women must have been really tired because the other woman was
coaching her, telling her to imagine the eyes of her favorite person, and think
of every detail. She also suggested saying the alphabet backwards. I’ll have to
remember some of those “get your mind of the pain and tiredness” tricks.
Miles 5-9: 9:27 /
9:27 / 9:16 / 9:09
During the next few miles, things were starting to go
downhill for me (unfortunately the race course was not). Every incline, big or
small, felt like a giant mountain. My legs started to feel as if they didn't
want to support my weight anymore. It was weird; they didn't hurt or feel that
tired, they just felt wobbly. This part of the half marathon is where the real
race is supposed to begin, according to some articles I read. Those who started
out too fast will start to fade and because I started out slow, I was supposed
to fly by them. Hmm, yeah, that didn't happen. I didn't necessarily get passed
by that many people, but I think I only passed 3 people total (one was
walking). I actually thought about walking during the last two miles, I was
mentally and physically done with the race and on an incline, but I knew I
would be embarrassed later to tell everyone that I walked, so my pride kept me
going. Around this time I checked my Garmin and was trying to do the math to
figure out if a sub 2hr race was still possible. I would have to run the next 2
miles in under 9:30 to make it. It was going to be a close one. During this
part of the race I was supposed to be steadily increasing my pace until the
end. I honestly felt that I was slowing each mile. I rounded the corner to home
stretch of the race and I glanced at my watch. It read 1:59:10 already, and I
still had the .1 mile to go. In my head, I knew I wouldn't make it. But, there
was a runner a little bit ahead of me, so I thought since I wouldn't make my
goal, at least I could beat this guy. I took off at a full sprint and passed
him, I honestly was going to slow back down, but I thought, eh, what the hey,
finish hard. I crossed the finish line feeling like I wanted to pass out. I
made sure to stop my watch right as I crossed. Looked down at my time and felt
elated. My watch said 1:59:47!!!! I did it! A sub 2 hour half marathon! I am so
glad that there was a guy that I really wanted to pass in the end, otherwise I
would not have made it.
Miles 10-13: 9:09
/ 9:02 / 9:11 / 8:56 / 6:20 (last .1mi)
 |
| Rounding the corner to the finish |
Looking back at me splits, I apparently was not slowing down
when I thought I was in last couple miles. After the race, I collected my medal
and met back with Amy and some other runners from the running group I run with.
Amy decided to be a race bandit and run the 5k, and Luis placed 3rd
overall in the 5k. I have to admit, during those last 2 awful miles, I was
thinking I would never do a half marathon again, only 5k’s for me, but now, I
am excited to do my next one.
 |
| Amy and I |
 |
| I was excited to see this one because it looks like I actually land mid foot! |
Official Final results:
Time: 1:59:48
13th out of 40 in AG; 213th overall
out of 488
Great job!! What an awesome race. Congrats on getting your sub 2 hour half!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks!!!
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