The first two miles felt creaky and slightly sore, frankly not pleasant at all. Told myself I'd warm up.

Due to the fluid still in my bladder, I stopped for a porta-potty line just after Mile 2. WHAT A SLOW LINE! It took about 5 minutes. To my dismay, I watched people I'd left behind streaming past me. :( I also saw a couple of people in costume, and cheered for them: "GO HULA GIRL!... GO ROCKY!" The Rocky guy and his buddy were particularly animated.

Well after the agonizingly long wait, I took care of business and got back on my way -- FLYING! Suddenly, I felt great. Untouchable. A machine. Fabulous. Steady. Rhythmic. Passing people. Happy! Pretty soon I caught up with Hula Girl, and Rocky and his buddy, kindred spirits who had all found each other, singing their way through the streets of Philadelphia. Okay, the lead guy was more "bellowing" than singing, but it was still fabulous. First, GO SPEEDRACER, then the segue into:

IT'S THE EYE OF THE TIGER
IT'S THE CREAM OF THE FIGHT
RISIN' UP TO THE CHALLENGE OF OUR RIVALS
AND THE LAST KNOWN SURVIVOR STALKS HIS PREY IN THE NIGHT
AND HE'S WATCHING US ALL... WITH THE EYE OF THE TIGER!

Pretty impressive how many lyrics that guy knew, and all while running. Well after some fun and hooting and hollering, I left them behind.

Though I was running based on effort, without a watch, the optimistic goal I had in mind was 11:20 splits throughout. When I hit the 4 mile clock at some fairly even number, I did the math in my head... and hit the 5 mile clock 10:40 later. Whoops! Considered slowing down, but just. felt. too. good. I'd enjoyed negative split my other two half marathons by large margins and felt SO good, couldn't resist. Wanted to make up for that potty break. Kept running at what felt like a good clip.

Well, roundabouts mile 7 the course starts to climb. Not very steeply, but for a long time, which slowed me down... a lot. Felt myself flagging. I had planned to walk inclines, but they were just too long to walk the whole dang thing, so I alternated running and power walking. Unfortunately, soon after Mile 9... the Rocky Trio were back. They'd caught me again. Uh-oh.

"What pace are you guys running?" I asked. The answer was 12 minute miles. This confirmed my latest round of mental math, which had put me at a 12:20 pace for the previous mile. I ran with or just ahead of them for a half mile or so. This part of the course is pretty much devoid of spectators, much less fun than Center City, and I was really starting to feel the miles... here, the Rocky Trio were the best thing going. Nevertheless, I KNEW that in order to even come close to goal, I'd need to leave them behind. We were in sight of Mile 10, where the course turns around and heads slightly downhill or flat the rest of the way. They were going the whole 26, but it was time for me to kick it into gear. They cheered me on, especially Hula Girl, who encouraged me to relax my shoulders and got my stride looking normal again.

Those last three miles were HARD. My heart and lungs felt fine, but my LEGS were screaming. My hips felt like I was trying to push them sideways out of their sockets. So I pushed, focusing on people to pass, pushing, pushing. Didn't feel like I was gaining much speed, but tried. Yelled aloud every now and then, which kind scared people but oh well. For the last mile or so I was yelling at myself maybe half the time. Stuff like, "GO LEGS GO!" and "LEAVE IT ALL ON THE COURSE!"

Finished.

Chip time: 2:36:00... less than 5 minutes over a PR. So the pee break may have killed a PR, but it was still a great race. Other than that, my pace was right at my optimistic goal range.

Do whatever it takes to pee before the race.

ooh, warm-down. That would have been a good idea!


1. Not training on the right kind of hills. If I do this again, I will train running up 34th Street.

2. Not peeing before the race!



Seemed well organized. Aid stations were advertised as only every 2.5 miles, but there was an extra one around Mile 4. Water at some, Gatorade and water at others, plus gels at Mile 10.

Pretty good crowd support the first 7 miles and the last 1/2 mile (half-marathon course). EVERY intersection was policed.