Race day was so awesome! I wanted to take a few minutes to write about my day and reflect a bit on this whole experience. I will say that if you are reading this and you have ever thought of doing something insane like this.....DO IT! Such a ton of hard work, lots of time commitment, but I'm so glad I did this.
Since I started logging my miles, I have ran 266.81 miles total, burning 100,073 calories! Whoa. That was since around mid June. Looking back at that really makes me proud!
So, ok, race day.
I was a complete basketcase....
-Didn't know what to expect.
-Don't start out too fast and die at the end.
-Shorts or tights?
-Should I wear the cute new spibelt I just bought, but haven't run with yet, or will that end up bothering me?
-Had to watch my diet VERY closely the days leading because I was afraid of tummy upset during the run.
-Drink tons of water 2 days before.
-Had a killer blister on my toe and was worried that would hurt during the run.
-Had a goal of 2:30, will feel like a loser if I don't make it.
-How the #*$& do you work this #)$& time chip?
-Had a horrible stress headache...or maybe that was the cold that had been trying to get me the last few days.
-Worried about leaving my family.
-Worried about getting up to be at an 8:00am meeting Monday morning after traveling home Sunday afternoon.
AHHHHHHHHHHH!
It was alot.
I slept like #*$%& Friday night, got up early Saturday to go in a scramble to get everything ready because I had a Girl Scout party Friday night....so that meant I was NOT ready to go when I went to bed Friday night.
BUT. All that worrying for nothing.
We left in plenty of time, checked in our hotel and had a huge suite at the host hotel right next to the start line. Awesome! Picked up our packets and our first 1/2 marathon shirts, then went to find some dinner.
After dinner we went back to the hotel to get settled in for rest. I had a terrible head cold setting in and my nose was running all night....I slept from about 9:30-3:00 and then couldn't get back to sleep. My mind was just racing.
Up before the sun and getting ready to run! I was really nervous, couldn't eat, but I knew I had to....so I forced myself to have a bagel, banana and a breakfast cookie.
We headed down to the start and I wanted to run with the 2:20 pacer group. But we missed getting in with them--it was super crowded. So we were back a little, but I thought I could go ahead and keep my own pace to finish between 2:20-2:30.
The entertainment along the course was really fun. A dude in an afro singing Johnny Cash around mile 7. People in full furry costumes dancing to Funky Cold Medina. People cheering us along the way--so many nice people cheering when they don't even know you! That was cool. I will always remember the old dude at mile 12 that yelled at me that I was in the home stretch....and I had a CHOICE....what was my choice going to be? I think he must have been a retired marine or something! Or at least a coach. I thought that dude was super cool.
Right after I saw that dude, I caught the 2:20 pacer. I don't even remember passing the 2:30 pacer, but I must have somewhere! I was so excited because there he was, walking. I asked him "If I stay with you are we coming in at 2:20?" He said, yes, and that he was actually ahead of pace 2 minutes. Sweet! So he kept walking, I ran on past. Yay! I figured as long as I could stay with him or in front I would smoke my 2:30 goal. We only had about 2 miles to go at that point, so I knew I could totally do it! Woot!
I will never forget the awesome feeling of turning that last corner and seeing the finish line. A girl I was running next to goes "I see it. Let's go get it!" So we did! She beat me, but that was just fine with me!
I crossed the finish at 2:19. But I didn't remember that I actually started behind the front of the group, and that was when the clock started....so my official time was 2:14.
I got my super cool metal, got my pic taken and then went through the food line for a little snack. Food is the last thing you feel like doing at that point, but I know it is so important to fuel back up after running. Looking back at this day, I honestly did not have a single minute where I was even tired, or wishing I hadn't done this, nothing like that at all! Honestly I don't even remember the first 8 miles!
2:14. WOW! My time was way better than I had hoped for. I was shocked, happy, relieved, exhausted....so many things. But as I was getting into a much needed shower, my only thought was.....
WHEN CAN I DO THAT AGAIN!?!?!!?
