Dasani Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

Pre Starting Line:
This was awesome. Tons of people, pre-dawn sky, FREEZING. Walked up to the starting line, ready to race. I shed my garbage bag during this walk.

Mile 1:
I felt like a $100. Running a nice pace, feeling strong. I started warming up during this mile. I ran past a couple of girls, who were talking about one of them not having clothes to shed when she warmed up. I told her in passing that she should shed whatever she wanted. She said, "Thats true". I said, "OH yeah, now you are going to undress, now that I am in front of you." Then I just hear "Awesome". Kept on running. I shed my ugly red sweatshirt at mile 1 marker.

Mile 2:
Felt great. I picked up my pace as I warmed up. I dumped my socks that were keeping my hands warm around mile 1.75.

Mile 3:
Still felt great. The clock said I ran mile 3 under 7:00, which was my first clue that the markers were messed up.

Miles 4-5:
Kept chugging along. Started thinking a couple of things. 1. Oops, I forgot to put on my body glide. this is going to be a long day for my taint. 2. I am kicking ass. I am going to beat my goal easy. I should have been thinking Take Fluids and take nutrition.

Mile 6:
This isn't so easy after all. Does anyone want to carry this piano for awhile? Maybe I will listen to some tunes, since I am no longer dodging and weaving. How did these earbuds get so tangled? Why isn't this darn ipod working? Does anyone want to carry this piano for just a little while?

Mile 7:
Look there's Jannelle (Runnergirl), getting a ton of attention from a group of marathoners. They are bowing to her telling them that she is an Ironman. I should talk to her, but I am too darn tired. I will catche up with her after the race.

Mile 8: I am going to make it. I am not going to break 2 hours, but if I hang with the group tha Janelle is running with, I will break 2:05:00.
There is the turn around. Only a quick jaunt back to the finish. Why does that 4 foot incline over 25 feet seem so massive? Hey! Where are you all going, leaving me behind like I was not moving.

Mile 9:
I got a big blister on my left foot, on the pad by my big toe. Ouch! Also, I ran by a Krispy Kreme and got a whiff of the donuts. I have never smelled anything so bad in my life. I thought I was going to hurl, a feeling that stayed with me for the last 4 miles of the race. It will be a long time before I will be able to eat a donut, which is not a bad thing.

Miles 10-13:
I will finish this race. I do not quit. I do not quit. I do not QUIT!

Mile 13.1
There is the finish. I am so glad. I still can't sprint, but I can raise my arms in victory for my accomplishment.

Summary:
This was a great experience. Many things didn't go the way I wanted them to. I learned some valuable lessons that will serve me later this year and into the future. I need more mental training, as well as physical training, but I am proud. I can say I gave it may all and I left nothing out on the course.

I am sad that I didn't get to meet any BT'ers out there, but there will be many more chances, because I will be out there giving my all many other days, and I am sure you all will be too.

As I have listed my lessons learned during the run description, I will keep this short and simple. I practiced how I intended to race, but I didn't race as I practiced. My plan was to hydrate every 2 miles, and nutrate every 4 miles. I was going to walk through the aid stations. I did none of these. A lesson I need to learn before my Half IM and Marathon this fall, is practice my nutrition and hydration and then follow it during the race. PERIOD.

When I finished, I felt terrible. I was on the verge of puking. I got rid of my chip, collected my medal and a pancho, got a couple of bottles of water and walked around looking for people I knew. After 15 minutes, I ate some food and felt better.


Aside from the things listed above, being sick the two weeks prior to the race probably affected my performance.


I thought it was a great race. I loved having all the volunteers and fans cheering the runners on. I give them alot of credit, because it was cold out there.