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Comments: This was my first half marathon and I think I ran well. The first 1-3 miles were great. I started getting a side cramp at mile 3. This has been happening a lot recently and I'm not sure what the problem is. I have been training through it and that's what I did today. I just dig my hand into my side, massage it a little bit, and it goes away for a few minutes then comes back. I just keep repeating the process and eventually it goes away. It hung around until mile 6 or so. I do have lovely bruises on the front of my stomach and my back where I was "massaging" the area. Ahh well. The pain is pretty sharp and I wouldn't be able to continue otherwise. Post cramp, I was feeling great. I decided to take water at every other stop and I took some Powerade in at two of the stops. No problems with my stomach at all. I do wish I had a gel though and I would have taken it right before mile 10. I was dragging at that point and I could have used some extra oomph. The last 3.1 miles were tough because of the hills at the beginning and I was mentally and physically tired. I do feel like I ran well for my first half and I know that I need to eat more beforehand and probably take a gel with me on the run. They did have some sport beans, but I tried some at the expo the day before and the flavor was too intense for me. Finished out the last 3.1, got my finishers medal, coin, and a picture taken with "Thomas Jefferson." I went to find Steve at our designated meeting place and he gave me some flowers. :) What would you do differently?: Eat more breakfast before the race. Not too much more, but enough so I'm not hungry an hour later. I would also bring a gel or two on the run. I need to get better at the hills. This course wasn't very hilly, but when it started to get hilly, I was dragging. I probably would have started dragging around mile 10 anyway though.  Post race
Warm down: After finding Steve we went into the convention center and I stretched my legs out a little bit. I also ate a bagel and a banana. What limited your ability to perform faster: I just need to get more mileage in. I also think that I needed some calories to get me through the last 3.1. The Powerade helped a little bit, but not enough. Event comments: The Marines really put on a great race. It was an inaugural event and everything went smoothy. They had plently of drink stations, a lot of volunteers, the course was well marked, and they had some entertainment every few miles out on the course. I will definitely plan on doing this race again -- Loved it!! :) Last updated: 2007-11-30 12:00 AM
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Overall Rank = 826/3822
Age Group = 25-29
Age Group Rank = 39/388
We got to Fredericksburg around 3:00 PM on Saturday afternoon. I went to the packet pickup, got my stuff, and walked around for a bit. We then went to check into the Quality Inn, dropped the dog off in the room, and went to an Italian place right next door for an early dinner. I had some ravioli, a salad, and a beer. Yum! After dinner we went to downtown Fredericksburg for the block party they were having as a pre-event gathering. It wasn't all that big so we got a beer, some kettle corn, listened to the band for a bit, then headed back to the hotel.
Got to bed early around 8:45 and got up at 4:45. I showered, got dressed, and Steve drove me over to the race site. I ate a half of a peanut butter sandwich and a banana. I started getting hungry again around 6:30. Not good!! I bought a plain bagel and ate some of that pre-race as well. I should have eaten more for breakfast.
I didn't do much to warm up. We got to the race site about an hour before the start. Walked around, ate a bit of the bagel, drank some water. I also stretched out my calves a little bit on the curb, but that was it for a warm up.