Long Branch Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

So the plan was to go out right around the 4 hr. marathon pace group and hang w. them. The beginning was insanely crowded - 10,000 runners lined up on a boardwalk does not make for the easiest of starts. Anyhow, I started not feeling great before mile 1. First mile was about 9:45, then next 2 were a bit faster but should have still been comfortable. It wasn't. I was getting dizzy and nauseus already and started thinking it was gonna be a long day. Aid stations were @ 1.5 miles apart and I was done w/ 2 out of 4 bottles on my race belt by mile 3. A bit after mile 3 I told Noel to go, I wasn't feeling well - reluctantly she did and finished 2:03! :) It was not my day to run fast. Wound up walking aid stations, feeling nauseus for a lot of the race and so, so, so wanted to quit. I was almost envious of the racers awaiting medical support laying down in the shade. I went into IM mode of jogging slowly aid station to aid station, knowing I'd get there eventually. I did see one of my former kdgn. students cheering - she's in 9th now and haven't seen her in 7 yrs! And then around mile 10 or so found someone I graduated HS with doing her first HM. We're FB friends but weren't friends in HS and I knew she was runnning. We ran in together and probly chatted more in the last 20 mins. or so than all of HS. Nice to finish that way. One thing that sucked - the HM and M split off near the end and there was a banner flying overhead waving in the breeze - half marathon finish (left side) marathon loop (right side). A bunch of people were putting their hands in the air under the banner only to realize that the breeze was blowing the banner and it really said half marathon finish ahead - like .25 mile ahead. 2 people were down and needed medical help within that .25 miles - felt so badly.

Hydrate more before hand? Get acclimated to the heat? Suck it up?

found Noel, searched for water, changed and spent an hour in the hot sunshine waiting for the shuttles back to our cars. Best part of the race was buying a big ol box of popsicles while waiting for the shuttle and passing them around to everyone frying in the sun. :)


heat.


Great course, flat, fast and scenic...Usually early May doesn't see 90 degrees. I'd race this again for sure - although the food/drinks post race were subpar - rinky dink granola bar and a mushy banana. They should also have more aid stations. Felt bad for the marathoners - lots of aid was gone by their second loop. Many folks along the course had hoses, water, pretzels, etc. Great crowd support.