Long Branch Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

well, well, well... since I have not run a race in like FOREVER! this is going to be a little challenging for me to recall all the details...

Nora had it in her mind that she could/wanted to finish at 2h 24m... someone on the biggest loser had done it and so she wanted to match that. I knew that was a lofty goal for me - but I told her we'd try.

The race didn't start on time because there was a huge demand for shuttle buses bringing runners to the start - I guess more people followed the suggestion to use that service rather than park their own cars in the neighborhood. There was also an accident that delayed their arrival. There was no precipitation until after the gun went off. Seriously, then steady rain throughout.

We got next to the 4:45 pacer group, but they just took off way too fast and we couldn't keep up - we lost them very quickly - later were passed by the 4:30 pacer group and passed the 5:00 pacer group which made no sense. So we chose to follow the pace on Nora's Nike+ iPod device.

Halfway through the first mile, I knew I was way too hot with my hat and jacket so I tied my jacket around my waist and handed it off to my brother-in-law Brian as soon as I could - I don't know where along the course that was, but I felt much better after I was unencumbered with that extra clothing. The air was very humid and it steadily rained the entire time. The air was soupy - I could tell because my breathing was labored.

We saw our cheerleaders throughout the course, Brother-in-law Brian and my neice, Seryna were on bikes following us through the area and offering encouragement. Nora's Mother-in-law was there too, cheering loudly. Carol (mosc11) and my mom and nephew came out to support us too, braving the conditions - cold, rainy - not a nice day to spectate let me assure you. Seeing them lifted my spirits.

If I didn't know it before, I know now that 6 miles is my magic number - at 6 miles, I feel like I can conquer the world - 6 miles is heaven - I was clapping with my music, singing, laughing, talking to Nora (who was having a bit of trouble at the time) and feeling great...

But a half marathon is 13.1 miles and therein lies the rub...

I got a weird stitch in my right side, just under my lowest rib and it was killer - had to push it in and walk a little at 7 miles. I started eating my gel shot bloks at about 5 miles and every other mile after that. They helped keep my energy level up, I never felt hungry. I was spot on with hydration - never felt dry and never felt like I had to pee. Was diluting the Gatorade at the fluid stations with water and it was perfect.

The section of the course between mile 9 and mile 10 was on concrete. This sucked. I mean, like really sucked. Why I didn't go off to the side and run on the grass is beyond me. At one point I covered my face and sobbed openly - looking through the cracks in my fingers to make sure I didn't trip. The feeling subsided a little when I ran by a church and saw their sign on the lawn that said:

Those who conquer others are strong.
Those who conquer themselves are mighty.

I kept repeating that second line over and over in my head - it helped. I remembered my mantra from my first 1/2 "I am healthy, I am strong, I can run all day long" Anything to distract me.

I started thinking about other things, imagining that my dog Bongo was running beside me as he'd done on every one of my outdoor training runs with his long doggie tongue hanging out looking up at me blissfully trotting along - the picture of a happy happy dog! I thought of Bongo a lot.

I thought of my daughter. I thought of my husband. I thought of Yanti - remembering that she said to have fun. I thought of how Nora wrote people's names on her "in training" shirt for each mile and was dedicating each mile to those people in our family that she loves and feels inspired by their lives. I thought of Aimee Mullins, who runs on prosthetics from the knees down. Of all the people who probably wish they were healthy enough to even attempt what I was doing.

And so the miles ticked by - I am proud to say that I didn't walk at all after mile 10 - I don't know if what I was doing could be considered "running" but it wasn't walking.

I ran through the pain picking up the pace ever so slightly as I neared the finish. Thrilled to hear my mom and sister and nephew cheering me on.

So I have another 1/2 marathon on the books - will I ever do a full? Right now the answer is no. But then again, after my first 1/2, I said I'd never do another 1/2, so there you go.

I'd be more consistent with the mid-week runs. I did log all the long runs I needed to.

should have stretched more - the backs of my calves were burning and tight right afterward... other than that, I felt I recovered okay


I'm slow... but steady...


good race, a little unorganized, but I might consider it again