Kiawah Island Marathon-Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

My goals for this race:
1. Run the race comfortably and without major injury that would hinder my IMAZ prep.
2. Enjoy myself while running. I enjoyed my accomplishment last year, but it was a fairly agonizing race. I wanted to make sure that I watched the scenery and enjoyed being able to run and be healthy.
3. Finish in 2:30 or less because I had to play the Ocean Course at Kiawah. This is one of the 10 best golf courses in America. My best friend John was along for the trip and I had to finish in time to make our tee time. For some reason, we couldn't play on Sunday. I'll put more info on this great experience in the warm-don segment.

So, I started off alone and forgot to start my watch. I started the watch about 5 minutes into the race, so it was off the official pace by a bunch. I also got trapped at the rear of the pack with super slow runners and walkers so it took a while for the pack to split up so I could go my pace.
Once I hit mile 1, I realized I was doing 12min miles. For some reasonI have latched onto this as my IMAZ pace, and this was supposed to be my LSR for the week. I was worried that if I pushed to hard my cold would kick in and I wouldn't be able to finish. I found a couple of people to pace on and just went with the flow.
Last year the miles seemed to take forever, but my better overall conditioning and perception of how far is FAR made the race seem much shorter. When I reached mile 4 last year I was dying, but this year I felt great and I didn't need to walk at all. I saw some friends from Augusta and chatted for a sec while I walked through the mile 4 aide station. I drank a half gatorade at every aide station but no more as last year I got waterlogged. This worked much better. I also ditched the fuel belt as well and just used the aide stations.
At mile 5 I started to see people coming back the other way. I stopped concentrating on running and just people watched all the folks who were faster than I am. I had a strange cornucopia of thought. I was mad at the girl with the Yankees cap who was faster (I'm a RedSox fan) I was mad/happy when I saw old folks who were faster. I was mad when I saw a guy in a Gorilla suit who was much faster. I checked out some of the chicks who were hot as well (sorry, I am a man).
Suddenly I looked up and I realized I was passing folks. I looked at my watch and I was running a much faster pace. So after 48 minutes of 12min/mile I was running at 10min/mile pace and I felt fine. I started mouthing the words to my I-pod songs for some inspiration. I even contemplated pouring it on at the turn around to beat last years 2:13 time. I felt much more spring in my step and For the first time in a long time, I loved running again.

So I kept picking pace bootie for the rest of the race. (The quality went up as I got faster). I'd pick someone a little ahead of me and catch up, then pick another. Towards mile 10 I saw a medicine doctor from MCG who's a good dude. I paced behind him until he turned for the full Mary. I wished him luck and gave him a pat on the shoulder. he gave me the thumbs up and said "good job!" I get sorta emotional towards the end of these races and I yelled "Go Kick Some Ass!"

I had lulled at mile 10-11, but my GU had kicked in and the last two miles was pretty easy. I felt in the groove. I knew by then I couldn't beat last years's pace without a serious outpouring of energy and I had to golf later. So I kept a nice easy pace.
At the last turn I saw Katiefrog's husband and I almost passed him without figuring out who it was. I tapped him on the elbow and said, "Let's Go..." I started to run a bit faster and then did a fast run across the finish.
I felt pretty darn good all things considered. The same as last year, I realized that a marathon is in here somewhere if I want it. I had plenty left in the tank, and I had met all the pre-race goals.
My wife had run walked, so I waited for her at the finish line. She had fallen off her training schedule and she was pretty wasted at the end. I put her medal on and gave her my silver wrap. It was a great moment to share!



Not much. If I wasn't sick and didn't have to remain upright for the round of golf, I probably could have beat my time from last year. This felt much easier overall than last year. I think my overall fitness is better and my swimming and cycling were not in the equation last year. It took me almost a week before I could do any more workouts and I'm sore, but ready to work out today (still have the cold!)

I played 18 holes at the Kiawah Ocean Course. I shot 62 on the front nine and 42 on the back nine! I got a birdie on the 17th hole! Woohoo! I'll put an addendum later today and describe the course, so if anyone wants to golf with me next year we can go.


1. Sick.
2. Recovering from right shin injury.
3. Needed energy for the round of golf.
4. Left foot arch blister.


This is a great race for beginners. The course is very flat and the weather doesn't let you overheat. The view is great and the people I have met there are quite nice. I am making this an annual event.

I may do the M next year or concentrate on decreasing my time. We will see!