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Quantico Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon


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Quantico, Virginia
United States
USMC SemperFit
Total Time = 2h 04m
Overall Rank = /
Age Group =
Age Group Rank = 0/
Pre-race routine:

Woke up at 4am to my drunk brother calling me from downstair cause he forgot his keys. Back to sleep, up again at 5:30, on the road by 6, downed a sugar free Red Bull and a cliff bar on the way.

Warmed up by jogging back and forth between car and packet pick up (maybe a 5 minute jog) Caught up with Cindy (BodyCheck) and had a great time catching up.
Event warmup:

Not much. I was worried about my foot, which had been sore since my 18 miler last week, so I was fully intending to DNF this if I had to. Just wanted to go out and see if my foot could maintain any sort of distance, but I didn't want to take an annoying ache into injury status. So, with that mindset, I didn't really warm up, because I wasn't really going to race.
Run
  • 2h 04m
  • 13.1 miles
  • 09m 28s  min/mile
Comments:

Ok. So. Here's the thing. See above, where I said I wasn't going to race that? I meant it. I stayed using 8:2 run/walk the entire time, and was just going by what pace felt good. First mile was a decent warm up mile, coming in at 10:40. I kept passing and being passed by Cindy, and we'd give a celebratory ass-slap with every passing. As you do.

And then. Running just got ... easy. I mean, I could feel my foot, but it wasn't painful, just sore, so up through mile 5 I was just kind of testing the waters. Miles 2-5 were in the 9:30-9:50 pace, and then I could feel my self settle into something comfortable. There was a group of marines jogging together that I stayed with for a bit ... kept their cadence, but eventually I'd pass them, and then they'd pass me on my walk breaks, and then I'd catch back up, rinse repeat. There was this MONSTER hill at mile 8 that was just brutal. I asked the marines if any of them wanted to carry 130 pounds up the hill to increase their training, but no takers. Eventually I started walking the hill and watched as the took off. The best part about this mile though? Was the downhill, and then catching them, and then passing them for good.

Mile 10 clocked me in at 8:33. Wha? 8:33 WITH a two minute walk break? And I still didn't feel like I was working? Wha? It was awesome. Miles 11 and 12 also came in sub 9, and every time I saw my Garmin kick up a mile split, I couldn't believe it. As I hit mile 12, one guy who I'd been passing and being passed by for the whole race turned to me and said "C'mon now -- you're not gonna let me beat you in, are you?" Oh, HELL no I'm not. I didn't really want to be working any harder, but what can you do? I kicked it in. That last mile hurt, but as I saw the clock, I remembered that I finished Gasparilla in about 2:43 ... and I was crossing the clock at *exactly* 2:04. I'd PR'd by 40 minutes. That mile didn't hurt so much anymore.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing.
Post race
Warm down:

Medical tent for ice for my foot. Plopped myself in the bleachers, took off my shoes, iced feet. Started crying. A year ago, I almost passed out on the course of the Army 10 miler, and couldn't even do anything longer than a 6 mile training run. What the hell happened? The run I did today -- I never thought I'd do that. Never. And that it was 'easy' -- that it was fun. I can't quite put into words how amazing I feel. I don't care if I even do the MCM -- what I did today might have proved to me, finally, that I am healthy, that I am not an invalid, and that I am capable of doing whatever it is that I want to do. I have no more excuses, and it is fantastic.

Oh, and then I went to Cracker Barrel with Cindy, which was even more fantastic.

Event comments:

Perfect weather, beautiful course. Awesome race.




Last updated: 2006-09-30 12:00 AM
Running
02:04:00 | 13.1 miles | 09m 28s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/
Overall: 0/
Performance: Good
190 avg HR, 206max
Course:
Keeping cool Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race?
Evaluation
Course challenge
Organized?
Events on-time?
Lots of volunteers?
Plenty of drinks?
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5]

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2006-09-30 3:02 PM

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Master
2052
20002525
Colorado
Subject: Quantico Half Marathon


2006-09-30 3:32 PM
in reply to: #556518

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Veteran
290
100100252525
Kinston, NC
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon
way to go!!!! I am proud of you. I can understand the emotions, especially what you have gone through in the last year or so. Go drink some beer (good beer) or whatever else you wish. You did great.

2006-09-30 3:34 PM
in reply to: #556518

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Elite
2661
20005001002525
DC Metro, slowly working my way to NC
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon

I am SO happy for you on this race. 

It's probably a good thing we were 18 minutes apart at the end, cause I bet if we'd actually seen each other crying, the waterworks would have gone on for hours.

Awesome, AWESOME job. 

2006-09-30 3:47 PM
in reply to: #556518

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Pro
4481
20002000100100100100252525
Reston
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon
cracker. heh.
2006-09-30 4:08 PM
in reply to: #556518

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2006-09-30 4:09 PM
in reply to: #556518

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2006-09-30 4:21 PM
in reply to: #556518

Champion
7704
50002000500100100
Williamston, Michigan
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon
Great Job   Congrats on the amazing time crushing PB
2006-09-30 4:54 PM
in reply to: #556518


8763
5000200010005001001002525
Boulder, Colorado
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon

GREAT work! I am so happy you are healthy! Havign patience with the run/walk thing has been good for you - I know it's trying at times, but look how you ran today? You had one of those days when you are just 'in the zone' - and you can't really explain it, you can only experience it. Congratulations to you! You ROCK!

Did you get an avg HR for the race?

2006-09-30 5:19 PM
in reply to: #556518

Buttercup
14334
500050002000200010010010025
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon
FANTASTIC!
2006-09-30 6:28 PM
in reply to: #556518

Master
1558
10005002525
Pensacola, Fl
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon

There is no crying in half-marathoning!!!   (just doesn't roll off the tongue

 

Look like Jess and I will need to find another running partner since you are now faster than us.    

 

2006-10-01 6:36 AM
in reply to: #556518

Champion
5615
5000500100
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon

Amazing Job!

That is an amazing feeling when you can sit down, think about where you were a year ago, and just cry about the fact that you have pulled yourself back from that brink.

Love the post-race Cracker Barrel trip.  That is my standard.



2006-10-01 7:08 AM
in reply to: #556518

Champion
5183
5000100252525
Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon
Yay Chipster!  total props and love and virtual slapping- also love the endorsement for the run-walk- to all the haters: take that, you swine!
2006-10-01 8:51 AM
in reply to: #556518

Elite
4344
2000200010010010025
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon
Wow.  You really found that magic point where you ran your best.  That is a great thing.  Congratulations.  TW
2006-10-01 9:11 AM
in reply to: #556518

Resident Curmudgeon
25290
50005000500050005000100100252525
The Road Back
Gold member
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon
Great job, Chippy!
2006-10-01 10:21 AM
in reply to: #556518

Master
1597
1000500252525
Colorado
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon
Among other things, I am so rediculously proud of you!
2006-10-01 11:50 AM
in reply to: #556518

Pro
5153
50001002525
Helena, MT
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon
Wow, dude. That's flipping amazing. You got FAST. Maybe I should go to a heart doctor and see if they'll make me fast too... I'ma do Hollis one better and go for the virtual -slap... as you do (that cracked me up). *smack* Great RR.


2006-10-01 1:22 PM
in reply to: #556518

Queen BTich
12411
500050002000100100100100
,
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon

You're going to make me cry! You're one tough cookie

Now, go have some wine. Congrats!

2006-10-01 1:52 PM
in reply to: #556518

Champion
8766
5000200010005001001002525
Evergreen, Colorado
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon
The Chipster is AWESOME!  I may just have to come out to MCM and watch you in action...
2006-10-01 1:57 PM
in reply to: #556518

Master
1920
1000500100100100100
Ann Arbor, MI
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon
Great race! Amazing time, and way to go destroying your previous PR- you ROCK!
2006-10-01 2:49 PM
in reply to: #556518

Expert
1240
100010010025
Columbia, MO
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon

Great work!!!!!

2006-10-01 7:45 PM
in reply to: #556518

Pro
3883
20001000500100100100252525
Woodstock,GA
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon
Awesome Race there Chipster!! You have come a long way this year. Keep up the good work!!


2006-10-01 8:37 PM
in reply to: #556518

Expert
950
5001001001001002525
McKinney, TX
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon
AWWWWWW!!!  Chippy, you totally rock!!  You did awesome today!  No, honey, you are not an invalid by any stretch of the imagination.  No invalids I know can run 13 miles or carry 35 lb bags of ice!  Great job, girl!
2006-10-01 10:02 PM
in reply to: #556518

Master
1831
100050010010010025
Keller Tx
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon
Awesome job!  Im so happy you had a great easy run.  Watch out MCM.....The Chippy mama is a comin'
2006-10-02 3:12 PM
in reply to: #556518

Elite
2515
2000500
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon

Wow, Chippy!  Great race.  See, you can mend a broken heart.  Its pretty amazing to consider that doctors were selectively destroying parts of your heart via catheter less than 10 months ago.  Here you are running 13.1 miles and doing so quite quickly.  Congratulations and good luck at MCM!

Big 'ol smack coming your way for a job well done. 

Tom

 





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2006-10-02 3:48 PM
in reply to: #556518

Master
2052
20002525
Colorado
Subject: RE: Quantico Half Marathon

Hee heee heee!

That's totally awesome

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