I was pleased with my performance given that I had fallen off the training wagon as my logs will attest. I used a walk/run combo and did a 30 sec walk break every 5 minutes for the first 4 miles, then a 45 second walk break every 5 minutes from mile 4 til the end. It worked really well and kept my heart rate where I wanted it. I felt really strong up until the 10 mile point, but from 11 on it was absolute pain with every step. The quads and hamstrings were screaming and my walk was a bizarre limping gait. I did however run - or more honestly shuffle - up that entire hill at mile 11. I didn't walk once up the whole thing which I was really proud of!!! I did have to stop and pee several times which I'm guessing is common for these distances?? It was my first half so I really don't know. I also stopped at mile 6 to adjust my shoe because I had developed blisters on the bottom of three toes on my right foot and I was hoping to make it better. It didn't work, but they didn't really hurt too much - just uncomfortable.

This was a good experience for my first race at this distance and made better by being able to share it with my cousin tliles and Dean Karnazes who is a great motivator! In the end, I have to stop and really think about my accomplishment. Six months ago I couldn't run one mile, and I just finished a half-marathon. If you have the determination and the desire, you can seriously do anything!!

follow my training plan and get my body used to the distance

I was afraid to stop moving so I kept walking for about 10 minutes then stretched as best as I could but everything was quite tight. Then I grabbed a beer and cheered on my cousin tliles who was doing the full marathon. I also got the chance to meet Dean Karnazes and have him autograph my race number which was awesome!!


I wasn't looking to go fast at this event, for me it was about the distance. I'm pleased with my time and my pace because it's a little faster (but not much) than what I was doing in my long runs during training. I look forward to following a training plan and seeing what I can do in a future half-mary.


The volunteers were great, and there were a few spectators along the course which I didn't expect given how small (relatively) it was. It did get a little tight sometimes on the Katy Trail, especially with the occasional bikers that were trying to move through the racers. I'm guessing that doing a second loop was miserable for the marathon folks and I was just sad that people left before some of the longer marathon folks finished, especially given that it was downpouring.