Dismal Swamp Stomp Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

I started off with the 2:30 pace group, slow and conservative. Caught up around mile 2 with a group of pink zebra ladies who happened to be from Richmond too. We hung together for about 3 miles, they stopped at a portapotty around mile 5 and I caught up to the 2:15 pace group when they dropped off. I hung with that pace group for about 4 miles so I was with them past the turn around and feeling pretty good. Somewhere around mile 9 the pace leader turned on his speed and I was feeling comfortable where I was so I lost sight of him. I kept cruising along hitting a glop of Gu and a sip of water every mile or so. That worked real well for me, the Gu didn't upset my stomach and I didn't feel over bloated from the water. My pink zebra lady friends caught up with me around mile 10 or 11 so we finished together.

Next time I do a half I'll have to be more aggressive to hold with the pace crew but this was my first half so my goal was to run the entire thing and feel good all the way.

Walked around, grabbed a half sandwich, banana and lots of cold water from the volunteers. I was starting to stretch when my right calf just cramped up. I couldn't put my foot down for what seemed like a lomg time, barely able to put weight on it for several minutes. Once we got back to the hotel I walked around the pool for a few minutes and sat in the hot tub to stretch before our drive back to Richmond.


Nothing, I ran according to my plan and enjoyed my first half marathon.


I was told that at least 5 runners went out by EMS because of the heat. I saw one lady hooked up to the AED but don't know if she was shocked or it was a precaution. It was pretty warm but the weather here has been all over the map for temperature lately so no one has really accomodated to the warmer weather yet. There were water/gatorade stops at miles 2, 4, 6, and 8 with Accel gel handed out at mile 6 so I think a lot of people weren't hydrated enough for the heat and my Gu/water plan kept me humming along. I'll have to thank my friend at the gym who suggested that to me. She does marathons that way all the time without any problem. Works for me too :)