2006 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

I was so focused that I would stick it out at the 10:15-10:30 pace the whole way. Janelle and Steph did their best to motivate me. But very quickly my HR was going up and I couldn't get it down. The only problem was going slower hurt my legs too much and going faster I couldn't breath. I sweated like a pig but drank water, drank the yucky amino they had and took my gel at 1 hour. Somewhere in between mile 9 and 10 I told the girls to go without me. I pushed until the 10 miler timing chip mat then stopped and walked a slow butt pace to whip out my ipod I had tucked away. Looking back that was dumb. I wanted good music for the last few miles and wasted time getting it on, finding my playlist and so forth...only to realize as I turned the corner for the boardwalk, the crowd too loud and I couldn't even hear the music. I hit my goal time of 2:15 right at mile 12 and got very sad. Couldn't believe it. I kept running though. Except for my dumb 2-3 min walk to get the ipod out, I ran the whole way. The concrete was murder on my ankle though. Ugh! Honestly though my legs never hurt until after the race. But I kept thinking...crap! how am I going to go 13 more for MCM?

The last 2 miles lasted forever. I heard: 1/2 mile left, then a few hundred yards later: 3/4 mile left, then later: less than a mile...WTF? was I running backwards? Damn spectators...if you don't know, don't shout out BS.

Oh the crowds in some areas were really cool and some of them had set up 'rain showers' to run thru of misting sprinklers!! it felt sooooo good!!



Push through the breathing issues since my legs felt good. Not fiddled iwth my ipod for a lousy 3 miles. Not walk so much the day before and not walk 2 miles to race start. Train more track work at home I guess.

I plan on really getting my long runs in...trying it at a slower pace. I would rather have a slower start and run the whole marathon in October than start too fast and walk too soon. Boy Max you have your work cut out for you to get me over the finish in 5 hrs at MCM!!!

The finish line area and area to pick up stuff was a mess and took forever!!!!!! Very disorganized. Thank goodness I memorized the digits on the UPS truck or we never would have found out which one was ours. phew. Got my spenco shoes...wait until you see pics...my kid size 2 shoes filled out 1/2 the shoe!! I had my cell phone though so Steph called and I missed her only by a few minutes and then we found out that janelle felt bad for leaving us so waited at mile 10 or so for us but we didn't see her and ran right past her and the sweetheart finished 2 minutes after me..probably losing over 5 minutes waiting around. Janelle you rock!! I was probably looking down playing with my ipod and walked right passed you!

After the ending mess, hit the beach, went to B for BT at the reunion place and met up with all the other BTers including Katiefrog15, her husband and sister and flyingtiger, artemis and her husband, capt tony, and PTinVA. Janelle and I used the porta potties to change into swim suits and we all hung out on beach for a few hours listening to the bands play. Very cool. Went to eat then with the crew and Steph and I walked the 2 miles back to our hotel...

so really....Steph and I did a 17 miler that day! :)


I am sure the waking up at 2 am played some part in my fatigue and the 14 hour drive over there on friday and the 5 mile walk the day before didn't help but I don't want to fall on that for excuses. Just need to keep training :).

Results for my very short running career:
10k splits:
Nashville 2005: 1:15, NYC2005 1:24, Nashville 2006 1:08, RNR 2006 1:07

1/2 mary:
Nashville 2005: 2:53, NYC2005 2:47, Nashville 2006 2:34, RNR 2006 2:28

so in general showing steady improvements. But not much from April. And I thought since this time I was only doing a half it would mean I would have more to burn and I was hoping to hit 2:15. I definitely feel like my running speed took a backstep this summer and my ability for long runs as I beefed up the swim and bike this summer. I guess doing 6 triathlons cut into my running time, especially long runs. I can't undo it. I am glad I got in as much tri training/racing I did. It will be what motivates me to push in the winter months. And well this race was just the kick in the butt I needed to get focused for MCM!!!

I have to say when you are not used to a flat course, it can hurt more after! The front of my legs and shins are pretty sore. Nothing hurts on my booty or hamstrings or calves..so I guess the downside when you are used to hills is that in a flast course you are using one set of muscles more??


I just think that the UPS trucks leaving was crazy before the race. There were not enough shuttle buses, many buses were late. There were not enough water stations (sometimes went 2 miles before a stop), no gels and waterstop empty at one of my stops towards the end. The bottlenecking at end is crazy and the crowd should not be in the area you pick up your food,gear, and shoes and medic...crazy!!! I have been to NYC with 38,000 participants and got thru faster.

I know they had it rough rebuilding stages and stuff after the tropical storm but these problems were not related and from what I heard this is always like this.