This was my first 1/2 marathon - and the longest I've ever run. So maybe all of this is just first-timer stuff...

Mile 11 was probably the toughest mentally/physically. Luckily I ended up finding a few others to run with for the last 2 miles. We really helped each other along. Other than that I was kind of in my own zone.

Mile 12ish - Walker #1 says (out loud, not directed to anyone in particular) "What's your pace?" Walker #2 "I don't think they can really talk right now." Now, at this point, I really didn't know my pace. My brain was failing to do math. And #2 was correct, oxygen was precious. I'm sure I also sounded like a choo-choo train. Regardless, I allowed myself to imagine they were talking about me. It made me feel like I must have been doing ok, because, in my head, these ladies were asking because they were impressed. So... Thank you, walkers!

Start up near the front of the 6:30-9:00 mile group. Going around people in the beginning wasn't very fun and didn't help my overall time.

Walk around. Get a little foot massage (not really that good, actually). Eat. Be cold. Drink 3-4 of those Jamba Matcha Green Tea shots. Hang out with my fiance and friend, who magically found me. Good thing they found me - I was pretty delirious.


Should do some training runs at set distances, not just set times. (not really a limitation, just a suggestion for next time)

My paces for miles 1-2 were slower than I wanted - wasted too much time & energy going around people instead of just running in a straight line. Sometimes I was blocked just because there were a lot of groups running together. Ran into this a little at the end when I caught up to the walkers, but not as bad.


Some bad:
The start was not good for me. I think some of this is to be expected b/c it's such a huge race - but I wasn't thinking when I just jumped into the middle of this pace group. Interesting, because after 9min the pace groups were 9-10min/mile, 10-11, 11-12, 12+. 6:30 - 9 is a pretty huge spread.

Would have liked >1 Gu/PowerGel station. I ended up bringing some with me b/c I've found that I like to have one every 30-40 min. Tip: GUs fit very nicely in sports bras.

Some of the mile markers were off (I didn't have a 5 min mile at mile 5), some of them I never saw... Could have used a little warning prior to the aid station, so I knew when to take my Gu so I'd have water.

Lots of walkers and TnT folks. Not sure if this is a really competitive 1/2. A lot of the walkers started @5:30, so I had to go around groups ~ miles 10+. Sometimes ok (see above), other times annoying. I like running in a straight line and don't want to add extra distance when I'm already completely exhausted.

The good:
Great girl power all weekend.

My friend & I took advantage of the free mini-facials at Macys on Saturday.

Heard that the necklaces last year were just little circles. Suckas! Ours are awesome. Supercute finishers necklace - silouette of a runner (w/a ponytail!). Great dri-fit tshirt that says "run like a girl".

Lots of crowds cheering (mostly TnT, but sometimes I pretended they were for me).

Only a few smelly boys in the way (ha ha ha)

Course kept me interested - pretty scenic. Would be good for tourists, except that in the morning you can't see GG Bridge through the fog.

Perfect weather w/a little mist.

Good volunteers!

Think I'm going to try to get my mom to come out next year to walk it.