My goal going into '08 was to achieve a half marathon time of less than 1:40. I had done that in Augst so my main goal was to win my AG something I had never set before. I looked at the last few years results and figured at around a 1:40 I would have a shot.

The run overall went well. I may have started little conservative, but I usually strengthen as a half goes on and work to negative splits. My HR was a little high so I backed it off slightly (mistake?), but I started feeling even better mid race so goosed it up. For some reason, my last 5K faded a little, no good reason why, again too conservative. Just before 12m I saw a woman I thought might be in my AG ahead of me and she looked like she was struggling. With a mile to go, I could not take the chance so I sped up and passed her easily. About a 1/2m farther, I had the familiar "I feel like I am going to puke moment". Told myself to keep swallowing and prayed it wouldn't affect my time. None of that worked. I had my first throwing up episode on the fly. Kept running and saw that I was very close to 1:40 (I thought I was going to do better based on one of the earlier clocks) so I sprinted that last little bit. I hit the chute and knew I was in trouble. Threw up four more times. The med people came to my aid and lots of people moved back from the spectator fence. Felt stupid, but a lot better once I had nothing left in my stomach.

As it turns out, the woman I passed was in my AG. I beat her by 1 minute. The real bummer is I lost the #1 AG slot by 13 flippin' seconds. I looked ahead of me as I turned the final corner and didn't see any old buzzards like myself so thought I was home free, not to be. I could have easily found 14 extra seconds in this event.

Two things:

1. I had taken a 8oz bottle of Infinit for the first 2m. I did this in Nashville and also threw up at the end. Next time I am going to try going w/o it and just drinking water.

2. Be more aggressive from the start. My coach thought I was capable of a 1:38 and I doubted him. Next time, I am going for it and if I blow up, I will learn from it.

I was hoping to run my friend Greg in, but after throwing up my husband told me to cool it. :) I walked about 1m down to cheer him in instead.


Doubt in myself.


This is my very favorite small town race. I have done in for the last 4 years and it continues to be full of fun support, volunteers and great organization. Highly recommend it.