Copyright Hyperbole and a Half
This report is WAAAAY overdue (see above image for explanation), but here it is! :)
Location: Atlanta, GA
Date: March 18th, 2012
Importance: My FIRST half marathon!
After finishing my first Olympic distance triathlon in
August 2011 and actually enjoying it, a little voice began nagging inside my
head “You did it, you liked it, your body didn’t fall apart…so what’s next lady? How about a half Ironman? Come on, you can do
it!” I quickly told 'the voice', “Are you crazy? Wait…don’t answer that. I can’t run 13.1 miles!”.
You see, I’m not a ‘runner’; running just has never been
easy for me. It usually results in various
injuries or pains of some sort or another.
So I decided that if I ever seriously wanted to consider doing a 70.3,
then I had to first prove to myself that I could run 13.1 miles. I and a friend decided to pursue this
together and both signed up for the Publix Georgia Half Marathon.
One thing I did not think through before registering for
this race is that it is a TOUGH and HILLY course. If I had read the reviews and previewed the
course before registering, I most likely would have told that crazy voice “Hell
to the NO, find me something flat ASAP!”.
But it is what it is and I was in it!
I live in a very hilly neighborhood, so it was perfect for
training…unfortunately it was also perfect for aggravating my Achilles. I
recognized the symptoms before they developed into anything too serious and
backed off running for a week to focus on doctoring my legs. I then made sure to run on mostly flat roads,
especially for the longer distance training runs. Before I knew it, I was running 8 miles, then
10!
First 8 mile run!
The first time I set out for an 8
mile run I was nervous. Having read
Swim Bike Mom's post about the infamous 8 miles, I was expecting the worst. To my pleasant surprise, my first 8 was
ok. I’m not saying it was great because
there was some pain involved and mental toughness to just keep going, but it
was alright! A lot of things factored in
to making it a good run, including the weather.
I tend to run my best in cooler weather.
As soon as things started to heat up, I started to feel like I was
struggling more and not enjoying my runs as much. Hold up….did I just imply that I enjoy
running? Progress!
The Race
Race day morning I was a little nervous, but mostly excited
to get it over with and prove to myself that I could do it! My training plan only had me running 10 miles
at the most and I was a little worried that the last 3.1 would kill me. Ever since doing triathlons, I don’t get near
as nervous as I used to for running races.
It takes off so much pressure when you don’t have set up your transition
area and think about 3 events all in the same morning!
Waiting for the race to start!
This race was HUGE.
There were something like 15,000 people registered for the half and full
marathons. I and my friend made our way
to corral L and waited for the start.
The 64 degree morning air was already slightly humid and we knew it was
going to get warmer as the sun came up.
My primary concern was trying not to overheat and to stay hydrated. I took my fuel belt with me and attached 2
honey stinger gels to it. My plan was to
take salt tabs, drink water, take the gels every hour and drink the Gatorade on
the course as needed. I learned quickly
(at the first hydration station) that it was so smart carrying my own water. The first few stations were packed and
overcrowded and they couldn’t keep the cups filled fast enough. I just kept running and drank my own until
about mile 4 when I made a point to stop at every one and walk while I drank
Gatorade and water.
I felt pretty good up to mile 7 or 8. We had already hit several hills, but I knew the really tough hills were all near the end starting at about mile 9. It.Was.Tough. I walked up most of those hills at the end and the heat was really getting to me. I began to feel "chills" around mile 10 and just kept telling myself "You only have to run a 5k, just a 5k!". Those last 3 miles went by so incredibly slowly!! When I had about 2 miles left, the lead marathon runner sprinted by us with a police escort. We all cheered loudly for him and I was only slightly embarrassed that he completed an entire marathon faster than my half. :)
I had set a goal in my head to finish in 2 hours 30 minutes. I knew I was cutting it close, but also knew that it was completely attainable as long as I kept moving at a decent pace. The last mile went on and on forever ...but then I turned the curve and there was the finish!! I finished in 2:30:something, hitting my goal time pretty much right on the nose!
I definitely pushed my mind and body in this race and discovered just how far I could go. I was a little dizzy afterward and confused with all the people wandering around, but I managed to meet up with my training buddy and find another Ironheart teammate. Great race ladies!!
You might be wondering, will I do another? YES, of course...but the next 13.1 will most likely be after swimming 1.2 miles and biking 56 miles ;)
