So I've got another race this Saturday, the Get Dirty Fall Trail 15k race at Angel Mounds which is where I run normally. Bad news is they won't have t-shirts, just gloves for the registrants :( BUT the good news is they will have awards to the top 3 males and females. If, and only if I don't get lost on the trail - I have a good chance at placing in the top 3 in the 15k race. I am not sure how many (women) will be running the 15k this Saturday but I am hoping like hell that my training on those trails will serve me well and I am going to kick hard booty if I can. I will also have to make sure not to go out with the fastest of the pack, knowing my luck they won't know where they are going and I'll get lost with them. But I am going to have to make sure that I don't start off too far in the back or middle so that I have to fight to make up for lost time, I guess I am going to have to ask a few people if they are 100% sure of the course and what their planned pace is. I talked to the Race Directors and they've already got course marked and someone apparently has a used a leaf blower so that the trail isn't so covered with leaves that we've got land mines of roots trying to kill us.
It's a little nerve-racking, I want to win an award because that would be awesome but also because I would like better proof of my hard work at this race than a pair of gloves. It's easy to get lost on trails though, but I think if I stare at the course map picture they have on their FB page I should be able to run the course no problem. I think I might be able to run most of the course tomorrow morning (if I can get out there). Of course I'll be running before daylight so that will definitely be a challenge.
Monday, November 11, 2013
I am about to Mentally Explode (Warning: Rant)
So I didn't get up this morning and go for my run, I just felt blah and crap..... figured I could text my mom and ask her if she'd be willing to watch Dorian in the afternoon 3 so I could go for my run with Rocky. She said she would be watching my sister's kids until said sister gets home around 3:30 or 3:45, so I say okay can you watch him at 4 or after you leave there. She says probably, so I get happy and have been stoked all day as I've been feeling better and more ready for my run. I get dressed at the office around 3:30, expecting her to be here around 4 or just before so I try to make sure Dorian is happy and as content as he can be with his sinuses and teething. Instead I get a call from my mom asking if I want to go to Denny's with her and my sister and her kids (one of whom is sick) and then go run, I say no because it is going to be dark soon and I didn't bring my headlamp. Then acting as if I am being the unreasonable one (through her sighs), she asked why not skip the run and just go eat (mouth drops open). First off there is no explaining to a person who doesn't run or make running, or make exercising a part of their life.... you just can't make them understand. I tried, telling her I had been looking forward to this all day, that I've been cooped up in an office ALL day with my sanity being tested by Dorian's sinuses or teething and I was really looking forward to my run. Another sigh as if I am being unreasonable, and a "missing one day is going to kill you", blah blah blah - I didn't just smash my goal PR at the Indianapolis Monumental Half by making excuses and skipping runs (unless I seriously wasn't feeling well), it is beyond frustrating to try and explain to someone what my goals are, why it is difficult to skip my runs when I feeling perfectly healthy and fine.
I just want to scream at everyone right now, nobody understands and even worse some think it's funny how I am feeling. Tomorrow morning could be snowing, which isn't bad but if it isn't cold enough then it will be rain and I can never know how Dorian will be feeling in the mornings. I can honestly think I am going to be able to run tomorrow morning, and I am just about ready to say screw it on asking my mom to watch him anymore. I need to go home and take a few shots of Red Stag.
I just want to scream at everyone right now, nobody understands and even worse some think it's funny how I am feeling. Tomorrow morning could be snowing, which isn't bad but if it isn't cold enough then it will be rain and I can never know how Dorian will be feeling in the mornings. I can honestly think I am going to be able to run tomorrow morning, and I am just about ready to say screw it on asking my mom to watch him anymore. I need to go home and take a few shots of Red Stag.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Our 9 Mile Trail Long Run
So far, 9 miles is the furthest Rocky has gone (and we aren't stopping there). He is so awesome, and I can't wait to post about our first 15 miler which might be before this year ends (who knows though :) ), we'll just have to see how things go.
We got to the trailhead just a bit after dawn, I figure the weekend is my only chance to run the trails in daylight so I must take advantage of it. My Tahoe's thermostat read 39 but my garmin says the average 45 degrees, not bad and around 2.7 I stopped by the Tahoe and dropped my hoodie off. My sunglasses were useless, every time I tried to put them on they would fog up and I wouldn't be able to see any roots so I had to suffer the sun at some points.
The first 3 miles were a little blah, thanks to my sinus congestion but around mile 5 things got better. I managed to only hit a few roots this time, so it was better than the last couple of runs. We covered 9 miles in 1:36:36 with an average pace of 10:44 min/mile, elevation gain of 177 feet and a loss of 173 feet so not bad. I expect the elevation changes will be much greater on the weekends I run at Hoosier National Forest or John James Audubon State park. I expect some walking on those runs, but I have a 15k trail race next Saturday so I might run 8 miles at Hoosier National Forest the following weekend, I want to take Rocky with me but we'll just have to see.
Laps/Splits
Mile 1 - 10:57
Mile 2 - 10:57
Mile 3 - 10:43
Mile 4 - 10:46
Mile 5 - 11:10
Mile 6 - 10:50
Mile 7 - 10:37
Mile 8 - 10:36
Mile 9 - 9:58
We got to the trailhead just a bit after dawn, I figure the weekend is my only chance to run the trails in daylight so I must take advantage of it. My Tahoe's thermostat read 39 but my garmin says the average 45 degrees, not bad and around 2.7 I stopped by the Tahoe and dropped my hoodie off. My sunglasses were useless, every time I tried to put them on they would fog up and I wouldn't be able to see any roots so I had to suffer the sun at some points.
The first 3 miles were a little blah, thanks to my sinus congestion but around mile 5 things got better. I managed to only hit a few roots this time, so it was better than the last couple of runs. We covered 9 miles in 1:36:36 with an average pace of 10:44 min/mile, elevation gain of 177 feet and a loss of 173 feet so not bad. I expect the elevation changes will be much greater on the weekends I run at Hoosier National Forest or John James Audubon State park. I expect some walking on those runs, but I have a 15k trail race next Saturday so I might run 8 miles at Hoosier National Forest the following weekend, I want to take Rocky with me but we'll just have to see.
Laps/Splits
Mile 1 - 10:57
Mile 2 - 10:57
Mile 3 - 10:43
Mile 4 - 10:46
Mile 5 - 11:10
Mile 6 - 10:50
Mile 7 - 10:37
Mile 8 - 10:36
Mile 9 - 9:58
Friday, November 8, 2013
A Foggy and Chilly 6 Miler with Rocky
I almost didn't get up this morning, my sinuses are clogging up my head and I feel really lethargic. Yesterday I had an abscess that was on my pelvis "drained", it wasn't bad and they gave me another option which would have been antibiotics for 2 weeks and see if it goes down but I thought screw it.... I wanted it gone. I'm still not feeling any soreness so that good, but I am so glad it is gone as Dorian likes to bounce up and down on me right on my pelvis area and it was hurting like hell.
Anyways, Rocky and I took out of the house around 5:15 and the windows were frosted but I fixed that. After a few minutes of running, I thought maybe I should just do a 30-40 minute run rather than aim for 6 miles, my legs were feeling beaten from all the roots trying to kill me Wednesday morning, so I just told myself to run between 35-40 minutes and I can head back home. Well, 25 minutes goes by and I am starting to feel much better so I tell myself "eh, try for 50 minutes and see how you feel". Rocky of course was feeling great, around 3.6 we stopped at the Tahoe to drop off my headlamp and Indy Monumental Marathon sock hat as daylight was here and my head was feeling hot. I grabbed Rocky E-Collar as I was a little annoyed with him constantly stopping and then racing after me, I don't have to use any of the shock buttons (1 is powerful in itself) as the vibrate button does the trick to get him back to me. I only have to use 1 or 2 when he sees another person or dog and won't listen to the vibrate, he's a friendly bastard but the way he runs up to say hi could give the wrong person or dog either a heart attack or reason to hit him. Once he's upon someone, he's doing this wiggle-jiggle dance with his whole body, (he has never met a stranger) but it is those seconds before his wiggle dance that worries me. Strangers don't know that it is just his nature and game to run up fast on them, don't ask me why he does it, but the E-Collar helps IF there are others out on the trail.
Anyways, when I reached 50 minutes I said screw it lets shoot for an hour and see where we're at. I later ended it at 6 miles in 1:01:16, I know trail runners don't care about the distance or miles as much as they do about time, but I am still obsessive as a new trail convert. And I just have to have an even number if I can help it dang it.
As the sun had began to really rise, fog rolled in from the river looking like a scene from the movie "The Mist". It was 32 degrees, I wore my capris and some florescent yellow long sleeve shirt with a spaghetti strap underneath and my gloves. After 25-30 minutes I no longer felt cold so I am really glad I didn't wear any extra layers.
Splits/laps were:
Mile 1 - 11:25
Mile 2 - 10:58
Mile 3 - 9:43
Mile 4 - 10:07
Mile 5 - 9:56
Mile 6 - 9:05
Anyways, Rocky and I took out of the house around 5:15 and the windows were frosted but I fixed that. After a few minutes of running, I thought maybe I should just do a 30-40 minute run rather than aim for 6 miles, my legs were feeling beaten from all the roots trying to kill me Wednesday morning, so I just told myself to run between 35-40 minutes and I can head back home. Well, 25 minutes goes by and I am starting to feel much better so I tell myself "eh, try for 50 minutes and see how you feel". Rocky of course was feeling great, around 3.6 we stopped at the Tahoe to drop off my headlamp and Indy Monumental Marathon sock hat as daylight was here and my head was feeling hot. I grabbed Rocky E-Collar as I was a little annoyed with him constantly stopping and then racing after me, I don't have to use any of the shock buttons (1 is powerful in itself) as the vibrate button does the trick to get him back to me. I only have to use 1 or 2 when he sees another person or dog and won't listen to the vibrate, he's a friendly bastard but the way he runs up to say hi could give the wrong person or dog either a heart attack or reason to hit him. Once he's upon someone, he's doing this wiggle-jiggle dance with his whole body, (he has never met a stranger) but it is those seconds before his wiggle dance that worries me. Strangers don't know that it is just his nature and game to run up fast on them, don't ask me why he does it, but the E-Collar helps IF there are others out on the trail.
Anyways, when I reached 50 minutes I said screw it lets shoot for an hour and see where we're at. I later ended it at 6 miles in 1:01:16, I know trail runners don't care about the distance or miles as much as they do about time, but I am still obsessive as a new trail convert. And I just have to have an even number if I can help it dang it.
As the sun had began to really rise, fog rolled in from the river looking like a scene from the movie "The Mist". It was 32 degrees, I wore my capris and some florescent yellow long sleeve shirt with a spaghetti strap underneath and my gloves. After 25-30 minutes I no longer felt cold so I am really glad I didn't wear any extra layers.
Splits/laps were:
Mile 1 - 11:25
Mile 2 - 10:58
Mile 3 - 9:43
Mile 4 - 10:07
Mile 5 - 9:56
Mile 6 - 9:05
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
A 7 Mile Trail Run with Rocky
I almost didn't take Rocky with me this morning, last night he had a seizure due to something he got into while outside. No more free roaming for him from now, but he was doing great this morning so I decided to take him with me and just keep an eye on him. I think we stopped at every mile, giving him a moment (he didn't need it) and to make sure he wasn't having any problems. He was doing great, I thought I was doing great too until around mile 2-3 when I started tripping over just about every freaking root.
It was 57 degrees, so I wore shorts and a t-shirt, it felt great not to be covered and hopefully I can do the same during next weekend's trail race. It wasn't quite an easy run, I am definitely feeling soreness in my legs now, in areas that hardly ever feel any soreness. We ran the 7 miles in 1:13:47 with an average pace of 10:32 min/mile, elevation gain of 132 feet and a loss of 122 feet.
Laps/splits were:
Mile 1 - 11:01
Mile 2 - 11:36
Mile 3 - 10:29
Mile 4 - 10:23
Mile 5 - 10:23
Mile 6 - 10:09
Mile 7 - 9:43
The fallen leaves makes seeing the roots very difficult, even with a headlamp. Around mile 4 the sun started to rise and soon after I didn't need the headlamp but it was still difficult to see the roots due to all of the leaves.
After our run, we walked over to the riverbank to see the sun rising and let Rocky maybe get into the river. He got in alright, misjudging how slippery the bank was he fell in. I tried to coax him to a spot 5 feet away that he could climb out of easily but he wouldn't listen. In a few seconds I realized he wasn't going to get out of the water by himself, I knew then that if I didn't hurry he was going to go under. I ended up reaching down and grabbing him by the scruff of his neck and collar and dragging him out, I think he's around 52-54 lbs now........ luckily he wasn't too shaken up, and we headed home. Tonight I'm going to use some leave-in shampoo and conditioner spray to get rid of the wet dog smell he now has. I will definitely be more careful from now on, he doesn't have the depth perception (and smarts) that Molly had when it came to water, every time he goes near water he ends up in it.
It was 57 degrees, so I wore shorts and a t-shirt, it felt great not to be covered and hopefully I can do the same during next weekend's trail race. It wasn't quite an easy run, I am definitely feeling soreness in my legs now, in areas that hardly ever feel any soreness. We ran the 7 miles in 1:13:47 with an average pace of 10:32 min/mile, elevation gain of 132 feet and a loss of 122 feet.
Laps/splits were:
Mile 1 - 11:01
Mile 2 - 11:36
Mile 3 - 10:29
Mile 4 - 10:23
Mile 5 - 10:23
Mile 6 - 10:09
Mile 7 - 9:43
The fallen leaves makes seeing the roots very difficult, even with a headlamp. Around mile 4 the sun started to rise and soon after I didn't need the headlamp but it was still difficult to see the roots due to all of the leaves.
After our run, we walked over to the riverbank to see the sun rising and let Rocky maybe get into the river. He got in alright, misjudging how slippery the bank was he fell in. I tried to coax him to a spot 5 feet away that he could climb out of easily but he wouldn't listen. In a few seconds I realized he wasn't going to get out of the water by himself, I knew then that if I didn't hurry he was going to go under. I ended up reaching down and grabbing him by the scruff of his neck and collar and dragging him out, I think he's around 52-54 lbs now........ luckily he wasn't too shaken up, and we headed home. Tonight I'm going to use some leave-in shampoo and conditioner spray to get rid of the wet dog smell he now has. I will definitely be more careful from now on, he doesn't have the depth perception (and smarts) that Molly had when it came to water, every time he goes near water he ends up in it.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Our 5 Mile Trail Run
This morning Rocky and I went for a run on the trails, I almost decided to just run the roads with him but then I said screw it because I didn't want to hold on to a leash and be pushed into a pace faster than I wanted.
We got to the trails about 5:15, I had to wear a pair of capris that were too loose but hopefully I can take them back and get a smaller pair. I had to hold my cell phone instead of carrying it in the back pocket of my capris because it was too heavy and pulling them down faster.
Rocky enjoyed the run, I was a bit clumsy and slow, tired and sore but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It was a pleasant run, 2 days after the half marathon where I crushed my October PR and surpassed my goal time, I am still feeling the high from that race. It was an awesome race, I pushed myself past my comfort zone, to the point of wishing it to be over, feeling happy just to see the finish line but feeling so amazing afterwards knowing that all of my training and effort had paid off.
Anyways, this morning the temperature was 43 degrees, chilly and dark. The sun started to come up around 6 am and for the last 10-15 minutes I didn't need my headlamp. We ran 5 miles in 58:35, that is probably the slowest 5 miles I've ran in a long time. I did have to walk around a couple of fallen trees, I hope somebody will be notified soon about the trees as we've got a race on that course November 16, less than 2 weeks away. If I can't notify someone, I might take my husband's chainsaw and go cut them.... if I can figure how to turn it on, I've never used one before.
Laps/splits were:
Mile 1 - 12:24
Mile 2 - 11:48
Mile 3 - 11:19
Mile 4 - 11:44
Mile 5 - 11:18
Not bad, it was definitely a slow run though, hopefully I will have a chance to stretch and stuff this week.
We got to the trails about 5:15, I had to wear a pair of capris that were too loose but hopefully I can take them back and get a smaller pair. I had to hold my cell phone instead of carrying it in the back pocket of my capris because it was too heavy and pulling them down faster.
Rocky enjoyed the run, I was a bit clumsy and slow, tired and sore but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It was a pleasant run, 2 days after the half marathon where I crushed my October PR and surpassed my goal time, I am still feeling the high from that race. It was an awesome race, I pushed myself past my comfort zone, to the point of wishing it to be over, feeling happy just to see the finish line but feeling so amazing afterwards knowing that all of my training and effort had paid off.
Anyways, this morning the temperature was 43 degrees, chilly and dark. The sun started to come up around 6 am and for the last 10-15 minutes I didn't need my headlamp. We ran 5 miles in 58:35, that is probably the slowest 5 miles I've ran in a long time. I did have to walk around a couple of fallen trees, I hope somebody will be notified soon about the trees as we've got a race on that course November 16, less than 2 weeks away. If I can't notify someone, I might take my husband's chainsaw and go cut them.... if I can figure how to turn it on, I've never used one before.
Laps/splits were:
Mile 1 - 12:24
Mile 2 - 11:48
Mile 3 - 11:19
Mile 4 - 11:44
Mile 5 - 11:18
Not bad, it was definitely a slow run though, hopefully I will have a chance to stretch and stuff this week.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
The Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon
After a stressful drive and getting to the hotel, I was hoping and praying for a great race. We are on a floor with a bunch of youth group kids, no sleep at all as they ran up and down the hallways from midnight to 4 or 5 in the morning, and Dorian waking up as neither of us are used to no fan in our room and the pillows suck. But, strangely enough I felt awake when my alarm went off and I took a shower just because and it helped me get my hair up. I tried to eat a cliff bar, but I couldn't scarf it down and I probably drank too much water before the start (big mistake). At 7:30 we headed down to the start, I was nervous but hopeful an ready. Temperature was 43 degrees with a feels like 39 degrees, 6 mph W winds and humidity of 87%. I was starving.
I had no idea what corral to go into, they only had pacers for the full marathon so I just guessed and went in with the 3:30 pacer, figuring I was not going to get stuck behind slower people. I had already decided I was going to go out a lot faster than usual, afraid I'd probably have to stop somewhere around mile 11 to use the bathroom or have my knees and hips act up so I was going to make up for it now and suffer later.
We were off, and I had to pee..... really bad..... I hated the fact that I had kept drinking until 7:30 and I had to stop just after mile 1, probably peed half a gallon of water. Along with the assumption I would be stopping again for the bathroom, I already figured I wasn't going to get a sub 2 hour, but somehow I couldn't slow down. I was being passed by quite a few people, a lot were passing me and most were the marathoners. I just tried to steady my pace.
I kept my eyes off my garmin except when it would signal a new mile, then I would glance at it. It was .1 off from the race course, as usual, and I was under a 9 min/mile pace..... I was going to pay for this. After mile 3 I was still going, just chugging along.
Mile 1 - 8:32
Mile 2 - 9:06
Mile 3 - 8:42
I took a sip of gatorade around mile 5, surprisingly didn't choke on it (I am getting better). I was still pushing along, still feeling good at the pace I was going with no plan of slowing down as long as I could. My legs were feeling good, there were spectators EVERYWHERE, I don't think St. Louis even had this many out along the course.
Mile 4 - 8:54
Mile 5 - 8:38
Mile 6 - 8:40
My 10k time was 55:49 so I was feeling pretty good, I was staying pretty close on target time though I was really hoping I had been doing a lot better in case I had to slow down at some point. I think just before mile 7 was the split from the marathoners, I was pretty much half way done and still going strong. I was surprised that my pace was still under a 9 min/mile pace, and still figuring that I would pay for it sooner or later. I think I had a gu thingy and some gatorade around mile 8 or 9, I wanted water to chase down the stuff but I had already passed it so oh well.
Mile 7 - 8:40
Mile 8 - 8:47
Mile 9 - 8:59
Mile 10 - 8:43
Amazingly, I was still going..... no pain or any issues and I didn't have to stop at a port-a-potty. We saw the monument thing and I felt hope that I would finish good, didn't care if I only had a few second under 2 hours only as long as I got under 2 hours. I think at this point the marathoners met back up with us, but I can't really remember. I passed some pancake house and thought "hey, after the race we can go there and eat". Strangely I was under a 9 min/mile pace, which was amazing to me.
I told myself I could hold this just a little longer, I told myself only half an hour more (or less) and I would be done. Around mile 12, I thought I'd have to hit a port-a-potty....... none were on the course anymore but luckily it was a false alarm. Just after mile 12, my right knee started hurting, I had to shorten my stride just a bit but this was a good thing.... normally it has been both knees and around mile 10 an then my hips would start to hurt. So things are improving, but I didn't speed up, I had about a half mile left but wasn't sure where the finish was...... I was looking for the giant blown up thing we ran through at the start, no wonder I couldn't see the finish. I was begging my body to give me just a little more, for my birthday (tomorrow)
Mile 11 - 8:44
Mile 12 - 8:44
Mile 13 - 8:55
.1 - - 7:43
When I saw the finish line, I felt a new surge of energy, not much but it was something and I took advantage of it. I've always wondered why so many throw their hands up at the finish, I guess part of me still figured it was an elite thing... until this time. I felt I deserved it and I finally understood why runners and walkers finishing so much slower than the elite throw their arms up at the finish. I didn't care what my garmin or the clock said, I knew I had finished under 2 hours, I stopped my garmin and wanted to puke. I wanted to fall over and die, but I kept moving along and hoping I don't die. I got the medal, and I truly felt I had given it my all and all I could give..... I had earned that medal, I actually stopped and let them take a picture of me and my medal.
My sane and "not wanting any disappointments" goal was 2:05:00, my "insane, against most odds" goal was 1:58:59.
My garmin had said: 1:55:57
Chip time: 1:56:38
Average pace: 8:55 min/mile
Overall: 1758
Division: 131/632
Gender: 614/3,575
I had kicked ass, and the race had kicked my ass in return. I can proudly say I am a sub 2 hour half marathoner now, I surpassed my goal and can happily look forward to new goals next year. I shall have photos once they are up :)
I had no idea what corral to go into, they only had pacers for the full marathon so I just guessed and went in with the 3:30 pacer, figuring I was not going to get stuck behind slower people. I had already decided I was going to go out a lot faster than usual, afraid I'd probably have to stop somewhere around mile 11 to use the bathroom or have my knees and hips act up so I was going to make up for it now and suffer later.
We were off, and I had to pee..... really bad..... I hated the fact that I had kept drinking until 7:30 and I had to stop just after mile 1, probably peed half a gallon of water. Along with the assumption I would be stopping again for the bathroom, I already figured I wasn't going to get a sub 2 hour, but somehow I couldn't slow down. I was being passed by quite a few people, a lot were passing me and most were the marathoners. I just tried to steady my pace.
I kept my eyes off my garmin except when it would signal a new mile, then I would glance at it. It was .1 off from the race course, as usual, and I was under a 9 min/mile pace..... I was going to pay for this. After mile 3 I was still going, just chugging along.
Mile 1 - 8:32
Mile 2 - 9:06
Mile 3 - 8:42
I took a sip of gatorade around mile 5, surprisingly didn't choke on it (I am getting better). I was still pushing along, still feeling good at the pace I was going with no plan of slowing down as long as I could. My legs were feeling good, there were spectators EVERYWHERE, I don't think St. Louis even had this many out along the course.
Mile 4 - 8:54
Mile 5 - 8:38
Mile 6 - 8:40
My 10k time was 55:49 so I was feeling pretty good, I was staying pretty close on target time though I was really hoping I had been doing a lot better in case I had to slow down at some point. I think just before mile 7 was the split from the marathoners, I was pretty much half way done and still going strong. I was surprised that my pace was still under a 9 min/mile pace, and still figuring that I would pay for it sooner or later. I think I had a gu thingy and some gatorade around mile 8 or 9, I wanted water to chase down the stuff but I had already passed it so oh well.
Mile 7 - 8:40
Mile 8 - 8:47
Mile 9 - 8:59
Mile 10 - 8:43
Amazingly, I was still going..... no pain or any issues and I didn't have to stop at a port-a-potty. We saw the monument thing and I felt hope that I would finish good, didn't care if I only had a few second under 2 hours only as long as I got under 2 hours. I think at this point the marathoners met back up with us, but I can't really remember. I passed some pancake house and thought "hey, after the race we can go there and eat". Strangely I was under a 9 min/mile pace, which was amazing to me.
I told myself I could hold this just a little longer, I told myself only half an hour more (or less) and I would be done. Around mile 12, I thought I'd have to hit a port-a-potty....... none were on the course anymore but luckily it was a false alarm. Just after mile 12, my right knee started hurting, I had to shorten my stride just a bit but this was a good thing.... normally it has been both knees and around mile 10 an then my hips would start to hurt. So things are improving, but I didn't speed up, I had about a half mile left but wasn't sure where the finish was...... I was looking for the giant blown up thing we ran through at the start, no wonder I couldn't see the finish. I was begging my body to give me just a little more, for my birthday (tomorrow)
Mile 11 - 8:44
Mile 12 - 8:44
Mile 13 - 8:55
.1 - - 7:43
When I saw the finish line, I felt a new surge of energy, not much but it was something and I took advantage of it. I've always wondered why so many throw their hands up at the finish, I guess part of me still figured it was an elite thing... until this time. I felt I deserved it and I finally understood why runners and walkers finishing so much slower than the elite throw their arms up at the finish. I didn't care what my garmin or the clock said, I knew I had finished under 2 hours, I stopped my garmin and wanted to puke. I wanted to fall over and die, but I kept moving along and hoping I don't die. I got the medal, and I truly felt I had given it my all and all I could give..... I had earned that medal, I actually stopped and let them take a picture of me and my medal.
My sane and "not wanting any disappointments" goal was 2:05:00, my "insane, against most odds" goal was 1:58:59.
My garmin had said: 1:55:57
Chip time: 1:56:38
Average pace: 8:55 min/mile
Overall: 1758
Division: 131/632
Gender: 614/3,575
I had kicked ass, and the race had kicked my ass in return. I can proudly say I am a sub 2 hour half marathoner now, I surpassed my goal and can happily look forward to new goals next year. I shall have photos once they are up :)
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