HALF MARATHON RECAP!!

My goal time for the half marathon was 2:35:00 (and in my head, I said maybe even 2:40:00 because I was forced to skip all my training runs last week) – I finished in 2:25:29!

(I’m waiting on race pictures – I just got 4 – trying for more – I apologize – I’m workin’ on it!!)

That’s right – I smoked my goal time! 

I’m a very happy girl right now!  Here’s the full recap…I woke up at 4:45 on Sunday to make sure I had plenty of time to eat, drink coffee, do Polly’s Yoga for Runners, and foam roll.I drove down with two other friends (one was running the 10k, Danielle was running the FULL MARATHON!) – and by the time we found a port-o-potty and used it, we had about 1 minute to get to the starting line.

The gun went off promptly at 7am, and I was with the 5:00:00 pace group for the marathon (they didn’t have specific groups for the half – so I just had to double my anticipated time) – and I knew if I could keep up with the 5 hour pace group – I’d come in right around my goal!

It took us a good 5 minutes to actually get up to the starting line due to the massive amount of people.  So it was a nice slow easy start.  Right out of the gate, I felt wonderful.  It was a cool, beautiful day, and I was so happy to finally be running my first half marathon. Once I got going, I actually passed my pace group, with ease – and started following the 4:30:00 pace group for a little while.

Mile 1-2: I hit mile marker 1 and 2 at a steady 11 minute mile pace.  Just past mile 2 – I saw my in-laws standing on the side of the road – camera ready!  I gave them a big ole wave and smile, and ran into the first HUGE hill of the race.  Basically, all of mile 2 to 3 was uphill. Not a crazy incline, but a very steady one (we were running over a bridge, out of downtown Cleveland – towards Ohio City).  I knew we were going to hit the hill based on the elevation map when I studied it during the week – so I just dug in, took smaller steps, and powered through!

Miles 3-5: These flew by – I was feeling great and loving life.  Every time I passed a mile marker, I’d check my watch, and sure enough – I was keeping up the steady 11 minute miles.  I thought to myself “SWEET – as long as I stay ahead of the 5 hour pacer I’M SET” – and literally as that thought finished in my mind – they PASSED ME!  I didn’t freak though – just picked it up a little bit, passed them again – AND DIDN’T SEE THEM AGAIN FOR THE REST OF THE RACE!

Mile 6-9: These were more of the same – I felt great – I was cranking along.  These flew by, thanks to to my huge cheering section! Kristin and her boyfriend Tim were at mile 6 – and 9!!, Mike and my brother Matt were just past the half way point, and my in-laws were at mile 7!   Talk about a lucky girl – that’s me!  `

Mile 10-12: Every step past 10 miles was a PDR for me.  And ever step felt fantastic!  My legs felt great, I wasn’t tired – I was cookin’ with gas!  The only problem – mile 10 to 12 was ALL uphill.  We were actually running on the Shoreway – the highway that runs directly along the coast of Lake Erie.  It was quite a beautiful view.  My in-laws also managed to be around mile 11 to cheer my on – they were really the super fans of the day!

Mile 13 to the finish: About half way through mile 12 we were spit back out downtown, and made a loop into the “home stretch”.  I.FELT.GREAT! I was seriously on a high!  I knew I was going to smoke my goal, my legs were happy – and I was JUST ABOUT TO FINISH MY FIRST HALF MARATHON EVER, that I’d spent 4 months training for! I saw Mike and Matt again – as well as our friends Brian and Stephanie – and kicked it into high gear (or as high as possible at that point) for the last 50 yards – and even saved a bit of energy for a quick wave at Steph!!!   Final time – 2:25:29!   All said and done, it was a great experience. I can’t wait to run another one.  The Cleveland Clinic puts on a half every September, and that can’t get here fast enough!

A very special thank you to all my family and friends (some of you were there in spirit!!!)  who were there Sunday to cheer me on – your support and encouragement means the world to me!

Another special thank you to the blogging community (other bloggers and readers as well) – your support and comments helped me through so much!   A few ladies who I wanted to thank by name, who are also running (or have just completed) their first half marathons:

Andrea

Rose

Sarah

Heather

Andrea

Aimee

Alison

Melissa

Thanks for everything!!!