So I started out and my first mi was 11 minutes. I was pissed. Sooooo many people that I could not get anywhere. Don't these people know that I have a goal for this race? The ones that really irked me were the people walking 4-5 abreast. Uh, walkers in the rear please. Some guy asked if he could run with me, and I laughed and said sure. Come to find out he ran CC in high school. I was thinking the whole time what is he asking to run with me for? But it was all good. Chatted for a most of the first 9 miles.

I was able to run around a few people and settled into a comfy pace. Miles 2-7 were at 10:10 per mi. I wanted 10 min miles but thought I would catch up as the race went on. Ended up taking water and or gatorade every other station and walked those for 20 yds or so each time.

Mile 6.5-9 were the bigger hills of the course. I had been doing alot of hills and they ended up not being near as bad as I thought they would be. I passed alot of people on the hills as I picked up my pace to 10:00 per mile. Bands and fans were everywhere. Scenery was great, everyone was in a great mood. My pseudo running partner was struggling on the hills and I found myself checking on him to make sure he kept the pace on the hills. He had one part where he said go ahead but I stayed on him through mi 9. Only bad thing is I was running behind two guys that had on hospital gowns and speedos. Over the speedos were fakes butts. It was really funny until I realized that I was looking at the wrong kind of pace booty. Luckily they were doing the full so at the split they were gone. I passed the 9 mi mark and thought to myself that I was not going to make my goal. I was pretty bummed for a bit until I thought "wait a minute, you feel great, hard part is done, pick it up!" So off I went.

Mile 9.1 through finish was mostly downhill or flat. I know that they say downhills are quad killers but I have never had a problem with my quads so I really picked up the pace. Left my running buddy at this point. I had some serious time to make up if I wanted my goal. I am not sure what pace I was running, but it was about 9 or maybe even a bit under. I was 2 min and 20 sec off of my finishing goal. Tried to stay focused on a fast, but not too fast pace. Felt pretty damn great most of the way. Hit the turn around that was about mi 11.5 or so and ran into a bottle neck. Had to actually walk for a bit which made it really hard to keep going. Got back up to speed with about 2 miles left. Checked my watch and still needed to pick it up even though I had made up some time. So paced increased again.

I was now within 2 miles and tried to just keep a good strong pace. Inside of one mile some jackass was with his buddy pounding brews and he looks right at me and says only 7 miles to go and starts to laugh like a drunk POS. I gave him the glare(yea, you know the one) and said nice boiler lazy ass. Man did that feel good to say. The girls running next to me gave a little giggle so it was all good.

I had passed mile 12 a little way back so I was trying to kick it into high gear(well for me anyway). Ran under the underpass that went between the stadium and the arena and I was positive the finish was just on the other side. I come out of the shade and I can not see the finish anywhere. This was like getting punched in the mouth. I was crushed. How much further did I have to go? I ran the next 200-300 yards or so while being totally deflated. Make the corner and THERE IT IS!! the Finish Swine. Tried to sprint but I felt my legs were DONE! Strided it out as best I could and crossed. I did it. A little over a year ago I ran a mile in 13.5 minutes and was gassed. Now I have done a half!!!

Slighty quicker pace at first, but not much faster. Felt good to have something left over the last 4 miles. Maybe try to run a 9:50 pace or so. I think that was definitely doable

Organize the bT get together better. THere were quite a few peeps that I did not get to meet. Although getting to meet the ones I did was a definite highlight.

Raided the free food line. 1 orange, 1 banana, 1 bagel, 2 waters.


Not much, little slower than goal pace but made it up in the end.


Race was outstanding even though I have not done many. Everyone I heard was raving how well it was run, aid station every mile, mile markers every mile. Good expo, lots of post race entertainment. What a good time