What a great way to spend on our Anniversary on Sunday…..a half marathon. It was Marc and I’s 11th race we have ran together since being married, 12 if you count the Turkey Trot fun run we do every year on Thanksgiving.
It was bean and I’s 11th race together as well. We have one more race planned in the next couple of weeks. Let’s see if I can make it that long. I wouldn’t be too terribly upset if she decided to come before then.
As you know Marc and I spent the weekend in Sandpoint, where the race was for our anniversary. It was a nice get-a-way and probably our last before the baby arrives. The race had a later start at 8:30, and it was really sunny. It was definitely toasty, but as we made it closer to the race start by the water it was so breezy.
The breeze of the lake was nice, because it kept us cool throughout most of the race. It would have been way to warm otherwise. The temperature neared 90 for the day. It was an out and back course, which aren’t my favorite. I actually hate out and backs. For some reason they are mentally tough for me.
On this particular course you go just over 5 miles out, running along the lake for a good portion of the run, and then pass the finish area and go out another 1.5 miles. That was the worst part. There was a strong headwind coming back too, which wasn’t fun, but at least it kept us cool.
- Mile 1: 7:21 Mile 2: 7:20 Mile 3: 7:29
I wasn’t feeling it race morning and didn’t enjoy the first 6 miles of the race. I thought I was going to have to walk, but never did. For the most part it was a flat course, with some gentle rollers.
- Mile 4: 7:26 Mile 5: 7:49 Mile 6: 7:46
Again, Marc ran the entire way with me. I had to stop once to retie my shoe around mile 4ish, and then again around mile 8ish to pee, but it only cost us 30 seconds. I was surprised I only stopped once to pee though. I felt great through mile 7-10, and then the last out and back got to me.
- Mile 7: 7:45 Mile 8: 8:01 Mile 9: 7:58 Mile 10: 7:47
Somehow I managed to stay in 5th for most of the race, until around mile 11.5. I had no intention of being in the top 5. I ended up finishing 7th overall and 1st in my age group. Marc finished 2nd in his age group too. Again, not intended to have any age group wins.
- Mile 11: 7:46 Mile 12: 7:52 Mile 13: 7:31
We saw some family while there, we didn’t know were doing the race as well as some friends that stopped to cheer us on at the end. I was so relieved to be finished. I kicked it in at the end, because I knew there was a girl behind me, and I had a competitive moment where I couldn’t let her out kick me at the end, and I didn’t.
It was definitely a great morning for a run, and even better sharing it with my hubby and little bean. We stayed until noon for our awards and then headed back home. Our official time was 1:41:32, with an average of 7:42.
I wasn’t as sore after this race as I typically am. The last few races while pregnant have left me waddling to the car, but not this race. I was thankful for this since Marc and I still had an anniversary dinner planned.
We laughed about getting age group awards when we weren’t planning on it or trying to, and we laughed at all the comments other runners gave me after the race and during the race. It was fun and a great way to spend our one year anniversary.
35 weeks pregnant and another 1/2 in the books. The countdown is on!!
Until Next Time Be Whole and Be Fit