What to say. Well, I didn't know what the day would bring. I wanted to go out strong and to try to hit 11 miles in two hours. Deep down I wanted to have my ave pace been under 11 minute miles but didn't know if I could do that.

So my plan was to run the first hour with my HR around 150-155 and shoot for 10:30-10:45 miles. Then to try to do the same for the second hour for 11 miles in two hours. If I could do that (and I was very confident that I could) all I had to do was hang on for dear life (12-13mpm) for the last 2.1 and I'd make my goal if finishing 2:25-2:30

Once I started running I felt pretty good. Warmed up quick and was ignoring how much water was dripping off my eyelashes and that my hair was soaked. Pretty uneventful for the first 4 miles. Close to the 5 mile mark we made a turn and next thing you know we're running uphill into the wind. I hit the mile 5 marker at 52:45 my fast 5 miles ever, I'm still feeling strong,I decide to eat a gel. However I'm worried about the end of the run if the wind is going to be like this but I push those thoughts away and keep going.

By the time I hit the mile 6 marker I was feeling good, Im out of the wind for now and still on track with my time target. Hit the mile 7 marker and started to feel kinda rough around the edges, calves and hips getting a wee bit sore the and cold and wet is really starting to get to me. My HR finally leaves the 150s and it heading into the low 160s, I know I can only maintain that for an hourish and I need to be start slowing down a bit, I cannot keep up this pace. I attempt to do some math and think about what I need to do to stay on target but decide to wait until I hit the mile 8 marker. That leaves me with 5.1 miles left and that is easier math for me to do while running.

So hit mile 8 watch says 1:25 (have no seconds displayed) ok, 5.1 miles in one hour. I can do that I KNOW I can, thats just under a 12:00 pace. It's going to hurt but it's going to get done. I decide to keep running strong, try to keep the HR under 160 and not look at my garmin until the mile 10 marker and would revisit pacing/goals at that point hoping to still run 11 miles in two hours. Hit mile ten at 1:48 and I feel good knowing that I am going to hit 11 miles in 2 hours or get pretty damn close. Ok, head back down, keep running. Hit mile 11 marker and I look down and see my watch roll over to 2 hours. I am not feeling so good but I am positive in spirits. I will run these last 2.1 miles in under 25 minutes if IT KILLS ME. I want 2:25 so bad, I am so close and I am not going to let it get away from me. The wind and rain have decided that I am going to have to work for it. Mile 11 was my longest mile at 11:45 and it was by far the most difficult. I think there was a hill in there? I have no idea it's all a blur to me now. I now set my watch to look at lap time and lap distance and lap pace. I am focused on making these last two miles sub 12. That is my only goal. Just run faster than a 12mpm pace, stop trying to project a finish time. I am going to break 2:25 if I just FOCUS and RUN.

I started hitting the lap button almost every 1/4 mile to help break it down to smaller bits and not make it feel so long. Never has 2 miles felt so freakin' long in my LIFE. Not even the first time I ran two miles did it feel so long. I know this because it was less than a year ago, I remember it well. Those two miles took me more 26 minutes but didn't hurt like this did. Somehow I missed the mile 12 marker. I went back to toal distance display and saw I was over 12! Yipee! Not even 15 minutes left!!!! I was in a lot of pain by this point but I just kept going knowing it would be over soon. Hit mile 13 mark and started to sprint with all I had, I could see the finish line I was soooo happy. I crossed it and saw I was at 2:24xx and OMG I don't think I can continue to stand any longer. I HURT.

Nothing. For my first 1/2 mary and training level Im pretty pleased over all. Yes, there is tons of room for improvement but all things considered I think I had a great race for me.

Walked around, got chip removed and realized just how awful I felt. I needed food and to get somewhere warm. I was SOAKED! I had water dripping off my ponytail and eyelashes and was starting to shiver. I don't know how long it took to get inside to food but it felt like I was on the verge of death. I ate a uncrustables and an apple and started to recover pretty quick.


fitness, not the best body composition. Running less than a year over all. The wind and rain also sucked big time. I have to say, I dont think I could have run that any faster even in better conditions.


I think they had a good post race event. I just got the heck back to my car so I could be dry and warm.