I am late getting the post out for the week. It was a busy weekend and has been busy thus far as we have a birthday party coming up for little miss R.
I also had some site maintenance and the like done so I wasn’t able to get on my site to get a post out. Things may be looking a little different but it will be better in the long run, and there’s a few things I need to fix still. I have a great team to manage my site maintenance and hosting!! They do an amazing job.
As you may have seen on social media, I did a half marathon a little over a week ago. It is one of those races I love, but I also hate. The course is terribly hilly. It is basically up and down the entire way, with a big hill just after mile 9 and a little one, that feels monstrous, right before the finish, as in 1/2 a mile to the finish.
On the other hand, the course is beautiful, especially in the fall. All the changing and vibrant colors, as well as the dip into an area that makes you feel miles away from civilization. It was a beautiful day for racing too. Sunny and perfect weather, mid 40s to start and low 50s to finish. Couldn’t have asked for a better day.
Mile 4
I knew I wanted to go in with the mindset of PR’ing, and since I was coming off of a good haul at marathon training with improved fitness, I knew even with the hills a PR wouldn’t be too hard. I wanted to run a 1:20, but that didn’t happen. The hills slowed me down more than I would have liked. I did place 4th overall though, and was 1st overall female. Spoiler Alert!!
Waving to my people – 7.5 miles
The family came out to cheer along the course as well and they drove past me running as well, which made for nice pick’me’ups when I needed it. It kept me motivated and pushing the pace as best as I could. The second, third, fourth and fifth place males and I stayed together for a few miles until we slowly drifted apart. I kept the third place male in sights the entire race, knowing that he wanted to run a 1:20. Later I would find out he gave it his everything to stay ahead of me and to keep a little gap between us. He even told me after the race he wasn’t going to let me pass him.
The fourth place male and I went back and forth the middle part of the race. I always passing on an uphill and he passing on the downhills. I finally passed him the last major hill after mile 9, and didn’t let him pass me back through the last 3 miles.
Finish Line
It was fun to be out racing again and even more fun that I didn’t blow up a port-a-potty or that I didn’t have the flu. I did have to pee along the way, but fought the urge and at around mile 10, I felt like I had to poop as well. I prayed I wouldn’t have to stop. It worked!!
It wasn’t until mile 10 that my legs started to feel fatigued. The last hill, Doomsday, caught up to me, and I just couldn’t keep my pace. I think to I didn’t have the will to keep pushing it, especially being 5+ minutes ahead of the second place female. My body was also feeling fatigued and tired after having the flu and the kids coming down with it as well.
To be honest though, it was a fun race, because the weather was perfect and the course beautiful. I loved being out there, even if I was sucking wind up the hills. I finished in 1:21:35, for a 6:16 per mile average. A new PR by over a minute on a hilly course. No complaints there. After the race it was mom mode and I helped volunteer with our cross country team to hand out the checked gear bags. I loved hearing other runners experiences and their new PRs.
Have a great weekend friends!!
Until Next Time Be Whole and Be Fit