More Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

WOW!
The first six miles were pretty heavenly! I felt energetic and strong. I tried to conserve energy on the hills, but cruise on the downhills. We seemed to be flying down the downhill sections. Started to feel that old familiar twinge in my left leg around 4 miles, but I decided to ignore it. Lots of energy from the crowd - not to mention my personal cheering section shouting from the sidelines. I took a gel between mile 5 and 6 and it went very well. Not upsetting to my stomach in the least, so I was really happy about that. I think I'll try a gel w/o caffeine next time though, b/c I felt a little heart flippy-ness after that. I was taking water at every stop which I probably could have alternated stops, because I had to pee. I didn't want to stop to wait in line at the porta potties and I couldn't hold it - you do the math.
Highlight of the race was slapping five with Mom and Carol just after mile 6. At this point I was on top of the world and felt awesome.
If only the last 7 miles could have been as great as the first 6!
I really started to feel pain by mile 8. Weird thing was, it was my right knee that was worse than the left and the pain shot all the way up to my hip. Ouchie! I took more walk breaks after that, especially on the hills. Pretty soon, we hit mile 10 and I was so happy, because from there it was just a 5K to the finish. I was still struggling, though. Stopping to walk was even MORE painful because it made starting to run again feel worse, so I started doing that "survivor shuffle", anything to keep moving.
Fiona wasn't struggling as much as me, so at mile 11 I told her not to stick with me, just go to the finish on her own. She ended up finishing only two minutes ahead of me or something like that.
I was in so much pain, I didn't want her to see me lose it or cry until the end, because crying at the end is kinda expected.
What I didn't expect was for it to hurt so damn much. God in heaven, I really have to rehab these legs o'mine before I even think about doing this distance again.
As I was finishing, I think the marathon winner passed me, she was cruising along like this was literally a walk in the park. That gave me a slight boost and people in the crowd could see on my face that I was hurting, several cheered me on. They were a great crowd.
When I finally saw the finish line, I did my best to actually start running again and as I crossed I raised my arms in victory, like I'd pictured in my head.
I was so happy to be done - still doesn't feel real.

This was my first half marathon, so there's alot of inexperience factored into this performance.
I only started running in July of last year in training for the Danskin Sprint - so I'm a newbie to the sport.
When I started, just doing 2 miles would give me an exertion headache and I really ran at a snail's pace.
I would have taken that second gel I had in my pocket, because I think it would have stayed off the mini-migraine I got today.
I would have trained more at the longer distances. Illness and injury kept me from completing the all-important 10 mile run prior to the race.
Today was just about finishing - I'm super happy that I did it in less than 3 hours - which was a quiet goal I'd had in my mind at the outset.
I need to invest in some really good knee support for the future, because even though this was so painful, I really enjoyed myself.
Women only events are amazing - I thought everyone out there was a heroine!

Stood in line for a massage, but got out when Jorge promised me a really nice rub down at home later (he delivered and it was painfully good) my legs are sore, but not too bad, considering.
Drank a gatorade and munched a bit o bagel before heading to the City Diner on 90th and Broadway for something to eat.
I ate eggs benedict and I'm not sorry!


The excrutiating pain.


5 down, 4 to go! NYRR puts on a great event, as usual.