I didn't know what to expect from this race heading in. I had done the training and felt I could, if the conditions were right, have a really good race. Unfortunately, I had had a migraine headache starting on Friday and I didn't get it taken care of until Saturday night. The effect of that and a week of not hydrating enough made race day a challenge when the weather did not cooperate and we had warm and humid conditions the day before a front came in. With all that said, I starting in corral 8 expecting to run about a 9-10 minute mile average (2:00-2:10 hr Half Mary). I crossed the timing mat and felt really good as we settled into a comfortable 9:20 pace and was breathing and moving just great. In hind sight it was a slight downhill and in the shade before we got heated up so maybe it was starting out a bit fast for the conditions. Still, it felt well within my conditioning for 13 miles. I had to stop between mile 1 and 2 at a port-a-poty since it had been over a hour since my last visit before the race started. I only waited about 20 seconds before one opened so other than the time to stop and go there was not much time wasted. I think I lost about minute. Going by the Alamo and through downtown at this point was awesome. It was incredible how many spectators there were out on the course. With 30,000 runners the course was crowded all day and everyone's family must have come out to watch them run. At mile 3 I noticed that I had slowed down and was starting to feel a lack of energy to pick up the pace. It was here that I started to get warm and my head started to pound a bit. I just could not maintain a good pace with my head hurting again so I had to walk a few times to get reset. I was 31:51 through the 5k mark. I slowed to a 11:00 minute mile by the 10k mark (1:03) and from there on it was a slow gradual decline. I started cramping in my abductors (inner thigh) about mile 12(?) and when I saw a friend from volleyball at mile 12.5 I started walking again. Overall, the miles are in the bank, it was just not a very good deposit. I needed to drink more water the week of the race, especially when it's going to be warm and humid and when you take a medication. The migraine should have been treated earlier but I had never had one before and will know better next time. I never knew how much it can take out of you physically. I also need to get the patella tendon issue taken care of. It does not seem to be going away.
Mile 1 - 0:09:49 (9:49/mile)
Mile 2 - 0:20:50 (11:00/mile) potty break
Mile 3 - 0:31:51 (10:03/mile)
Mile 4 - 0:41:27 (10:34/mile)
Mile 5 - 0:52:27 (10:48/mile)
Mile 6 - 1:03:32 (11:02/mile)
Mile 7 - 1:15:24 (11:51/mile)
Mile 8 - 1:26:32 (11:08/mile)
Mile 9 - 1:38:06 (11:34/mile)
Mile 10 - 1:50:21 (12:15/mile)
Mile 11 - 2:03:14 (12:52/mile)
Mile 12 - 2:15:41 (12:26/mile)
Mile 13.1- 2:29:36 (13:58/mile)

Take migraine medicine much earlier (now that I know) and hydrate better the week of the race for a humid event.

Waited for Kari and friends to finish for about and hour or two by sitting on a grassy hill and stretching and drinking water and eating bananas and chips.


Migraine headache for 2 days leading into the race, sore patella tendon in left knee and humidity causing some dehydration.


The best support race I have done. There were so many people on the course cheering and volunteering that it seemed, at times, like the Tour de France. Post race was just as impressive with more than enough drinks, food and entertainment.