Gasparilla Half-Marathon - Run

Once the race finally started, I began running with Lane, but it wasn't long before we were running sub-10 minute miles, which was WAY too fast for me, so I said good-bye to Lane, and began running by myself.

About ½-mile in, my knee started bugging me, compliments of the 5K the day before.

I did my best to stick to the 8/2 intervals for the first part of the race, and made a potty stop around mile 2. My knee was really beginning to bother me, and I walked most of the next interval, trying to decide what I was going to do.

I started running again, and shortly after that, I saw Rick and Trixie coming back the other way. Rick shouted at me that Mike (G8RLA94) was just ahead. That gave me some incentive to try to catch him, and I knew I could use the company, as I was starting to get discouraged. While I was trying to catch up to Mike, I slightly modified my gait, and that, (along with a brace thingy from Sue--thanks Sue), meant I was able to run without too much pain.

It took me a while to catch up with Mike, but I felt great when I finally caught him (even though he was just ahead of me, it took FORVER to catch him). Once I met up with Mike, I dropped the precise interval thing, and we pretty much just ran some, then walked some, as the mood hit one or the other of us.

At some point (I'm soo precise ;) ) they were handing out gels, and I grabbed one, because it had caffeine in it, and I had the beginnings of a headache starting. It tasted like $^!#, but it got the job done.

Just before the final turn-around, we saw Sue. It was great to have a spectator at that point in the race, and was definitely a spirit-lifter.

Even though the weather kind of sucked, it really wasn't that bad, until we turned into the wind. Man, that wind sucked! But we were so close to the finish at that point, that I found it wasn't difficult to just block it out of my mind.

Finally we could see the finish, and I negotiated with Mike about where we were going to start to kick ;) Finally it was over!

Hmmm, where to begin?

a) train
b) run
c) not run a 5K the day before ;)
d) eat better in the day or two before
e) find the person I'm going to run with at the beginning, instead of 4 miles in ;)

Walked and got some food, then headed back to the BT crowd. Had a quick chat with JeepFleeb, and tried to get warm under my garbage bag. Had a cookie, then headed back to the hotel to try and get showered before the last of the BT-ers finished up their races.


Considering how little I trained for this, the fact that I ran 3 miles the day before, and all my niggling knee issues, this was a great run. My only goal was to finish the race, and not trash my knees and ruin my tri season, and I think I managed that. It was great to be able to be there as Chris and Renee finished their first marathons!

Other than the late start, I think this race was well-run, and one I would consider doing again.