Run to Remember - RunHalf Marathon

I wasn't sure how I'd feel racing with being sick. Pace goal based on HR starting mid 150's and up it 5 beats every 4 miles. Gel on 30' & 60' with shot bloks on 15' and 45'.

I started with the 10 m/m group. It took awhile to get to the starting line. It is a great venue and since the race moved from March lots more racers. I had taped over HRM so I could still see HR but nothing else and Garmin was taped over so I could run as much as I could judgement free. They had mile marker with time so that was sort of futile.

First mile was about 11' which I figured was pretty fast given how long it took for me to cross the start line.

Felt pretty good and was staying even with most of the folks running by me. Once I went over the Longfellow bridge I thought back to when I did this last year when the leaders were coming the other way then. I didn't see them until much later on the course. Spotted Emily and Kevin close to the turn around but not going the other way..wondered where I would see them next.

The crowd I was running in thinned out and I could tell by my splits I was slowing down a bit. Had some negative thoughts here with why am I so slow and I probably train more than most of these folks who are going easy. I was working hard and breathing heavy for me. I was able to change my focus and just run after thinking about positive things like how I was kicking butt compared to last time I ran this course. I saw the folks that probably were running at a pace I was last time on the out and back and thought about the progress I have made.

Once I got to the Longfellow bridge, most folks were walking up it, I ran and was passing lots of folks. Down the other side and I knew I was 3 miles from the finish and here I was trying to pick up the pace. Around the corner I see Emily and Kevin again cheering me on. Strangest thing here I just started passing so many folks where before I was moving along same pace as the pack around me..here I was passing. I've been running and racing 5 years and this was a first for me..I enjoyed it. I felt here my Ironman training paying off as so many were fading and I was able to pick it up. I figured I was pretty close to sub 10 m/m 1/2 Mary so no stopping for drinks or bathroom break and keep pushing.

Two women I was running same pace from probably mile 2 on, I caught one just after the bridge and another just about mile 11..that was sweet for me.

It was great to as we were running in the shade of the buildings in Boston. In looking at my times I only dropped my times a little but it was with more effort.

Getting closer to finish and passed the 12 mile mark and maybe 30-40 feet beyond my HRM beeped which I figured was my 2 hour mark...so close to being sup 10...push more. I get to the corner near Federal Reserve and surprised to see Kevin and Emily, so I threw Em my water bottle and just pushed as hard as I could. I get to the last bridge and my breathing was in the asthma point where I'm wheezing so much runners turn and look at me. I'm passing lots; two women seemed to laugh at me and my breathing...hey I just wanted to do my best. I push on know it is about .5 mile to finish. Get closer and closer..get into finishing chute and the music is blaring, I pick it up one more notch move to the side to pass the many folks going slower. The music was to loud, my breathing was so hard, I felt horrible but knew the finish was just ahead...had some unexpected gut issues...I honestly felt I was going to pass out or something...never got to this point ever running before. I can say I gave it 100% at the end..last mile 9:19 and last .24 mile 8:43 m/m pace. I was so glad to be finished.

By my Garmin I beat my time on this course just under 25 minutes...PBed my 1/2 Mary time..course was long 13.24 miles.

mile 1 9:56
mile 2 8:57
mile 3 9:55
mile 4 9:59
mile 5 10:15
mile 6 10:28
mile 7 10:32
mile 8 10:22
mile 9 10:37
mile 10 10:23
mile 11 10:18
mile 12 10:02
mile 13 9:19
last .24 8:43

3 gels & 4 or 5 shot bloks
Filled my water at about miles 4, 6, 8...I'm guessing I had about ~70 oz of nuuns water.

I need to nip in the bud my negative thinking sooner that I had in the 7-9 mile range. I am a women and 46 so I can expect to be average? Not really.. When I changed my focus from I'm slow, to how much I have changed from a couch potato Mom weighing over 250 pounds and even considering that last time I ran this I was 2:37....this was a victory for me.

I could have eased up my pace sooner given how I felt later.

Perhaps not push so hard to the finish as I felt pretty awful, but glad I was able to push myself to go faster and kept pushing and picked up more as I got closer to finish.

Eat better dinner night before race.

Push harder so I could be 28-40 seconds faster to make it in the 9's...9:59 m/m pace would have been cool.

I felt so uncomfortable at the finish. I wanted water, quiet and need to get to the restroom pronto. I started coughing like crazy. It weird that my asthma makes me cough once I stop running hard.

PBs are sweet as is passing folks running...it is not something I do often but I enjoyed the last 3.5 miles where I was passing lots and lots of folks and felt strong running.


Being sick this week; running 19 miles Tuesday; not tapering; but given what my goals are for this year I was pleased.

I had thought I could do a little better today compared to my hilly 1/2 Mary early April this was flat and should be faster. I run better when it is in the 50's not 75 and I think cold effected me.

This was supposed to be a rest week but when we switched from 2/1 to 10 day cycles that got messes up.


Beautiful course that is crowded. Race is expensive for the crappy t-shirt and stuff you get.I liked the race better when it was in March.