Travis had decided previously that he wasn't going to push this race and was instead going to hang back and pace me. At the end of the race he said it was a good thing he PRed at Long Branch 2 weeks ago, as he never could've on this course!

Approx. mile splits from watch:
1: 10:50 (crowd)
2: 9:41 (downhill)
3: 10:09 (hill)
4-5: 19:42 (missed seeing the 4-mile marker)
6: 9:56 (small hill)
7: 9:52
8: 9:44
9: 9:56
10: 9:44 (flat - on the canal path)
11: 10:49 (monster hill!)
12: 9:34 (more significant climbing)
13: 9:06 (flat)

1: 54.52

We started off slow due to the crowd, which was a-ok with me. Everyone was relaxed and settling into comfortable paces by mile 2. I easily fell into a comfortable pace, myself, with very relaxed breathing. At about 2.5 miles in we turned off the main road into a side neighborhood street with some beautiful houses and some people out in lawn chairs or at the end of their driveways cheering us on, which was cool. There were a couple sizable hills to climb in this section which caught us by surprise, but nothing we hadn't run back home before. Turned out onto another main road for a sweet downhill, then turned back into a neat residential area near the U of Mary Washington just after mile 4. Lots more people out along the route cheering us on. Also saw lots of cute dogs. I still felt strong and like I could run for quite some time. Hit mile 6 and I told Travis that that mile was for Tom (TC117) - he told me to remember him then since 6 is his fave number. Surprisingly, though I knew we still had a ways to go, I still felt strong. Thanks for the boost, TC!

Not long after that we looped into the historic downtown Fredericksburg area, which had some really neat old houses and buildings. More people lined along the street cheering - what a boost! Turned and hit timing mats just after 7 miles (YAY! more than halfway done!). By mile 8 my legs were starting to feel tired, but not terribly so. Each step was one closer to the finish, so I kept going. By mile 9 we were now running along the Rappahannock River, so our scenery changed a bit. Turned onto a paved canal path and ran on that through mile 10. At the end of the path, took a sharp, steep turn onto a main road briefly, then turned right into the drive into Mary Washington Hospital's campus. At this point Travis pulled off to hit a portajohn and told me to keep going - he would catch up with me. Okay, good - even though I had to go, too, I knew if I stopped my legs would not get going again!

Soon after that, we turned left and started a mile-long steep uphill climb. We knew from the elevation chart that this climb was coming and was going to be a doozy, but it was even longer and more intimidating than expected. Most everyone I saw was walking up it, but I kept on running. I knew I was just a couple miles from the finish at that point, and have certainly run larger hills at home, so I was not about to let that hill get the best of me. Finally, Travis caught back up to me and said "You didn't need to SPRINT!" haha

Hit the last water stop and turned back onto the main road we had run on earlier in the race. At this point I knew the end was getting ever nearer. Again we were faced with a good uphill climb, and people were walking. Not us. We kept running - another hill I was NOT going to let get the better of me. A guy I had seen at various other points along the race on a bike got off the bike and was yelling to everyone to not walk the hill - "You OWN this hill! Don't walk! You OWN this hill!" I'm sure many others wanted to deck the guy, but I took his encouragement and kept running. Sure, my legs were screaming, but whatever! The sooner I got to the top of that darn thing, the sooner I'd reach the finish line. Right after mile 12 we ran under the balloon arch and giant flag (connected to 2 aerials from a local FD's ladder trucks) and then we turned back onto the road we had started on, almost 13 miles ago. The end was almost in sight! I started turning up the pace. We crossed the last major intersection before the finish line and really picked up the pace (despite my legs' protests). Not far from the finish, I saw my parents off the to side and we waved to them before powering it into the finish. I think I had a smile on my face the entire race, because I was just so happy to have been able to do it in the first place - but by the end, after seeing my parents, my grin was a mile wide. Grabbed Travis's arm and we cruised across the finish line. I DID IT! Then I looked at my watch - I had 2:10:01. My secret goal was to get under 2:10 (or under 10 min miles), so I knew I had come darn close to attaining that. Was even more thrilled to see my chip time HAD in fact come just under that at 2:09:57!

Nutrition/hydration went perfectly. There were water stops approximately every 2 miles and at Travis's advice, I drank Powerade and water at each. I had planned to drink water at each stop, but I'm glad I also drank the Powerade - extra fuel certainly doesn't hurt (me). I also ate 6 shot bloks throughout - 1 at a time approximately every 1.5 miles starting just before mile 4 (as I had done in my longer training runs). That worked perfectly - I never once felt hungry, thirsty/dehydrated, or like I had run out of fuel. I also didn't have any GI issues.

Nothing. For a first half-marathon on a very abbreviated training schedule (started from NO running due to my knee surgery recovery in late February and had just one 10-mile training run 2.5 weeks ago), on a hilly course, it was just right. Psychologically and cardiovascularly I felt like I could've run further at the end, but my legs had had enough.

Walked through the recovery area, got water, our medals, towels, coins, then met up with my parents and continued walking toward the expo center. Stopped and took a couple pictures, then went inside and got our goodies. Ate a banana right away. Went to the bathroom, changed into comfy flip flops. Considered the free massage, but the line was rather long so we skipped it.


The aforementioned abbreviated training schedule, hilly course


Another well-organized, fun event put on by the Marine Corps Marathon Association. Fun to be part of an inaugural race, especially since it was also MY first half marathon. Awesome to see all the Marines out along the course (including the Navy Corpsman who spotted Travis in his USMC jersey and yelled "Go NAVY!"). Definitely a race we'd do again if we can travel back East again to do it.