What I Learned at My First Half Marathon

So I did it! I finished my first half marathon, and was almost dead on to the time that I wanted to be at. I had set a series of goals for myself and I hit the top three. First of, I wanted to finish on my own two feet. My sister and I had seen a t-shirt at the running expo that said, "If found on ground, please drag across the finish line." I didn't want that to be me! Although I made my sister promise to drag or roll me across just in case... Secondly, I wanted to be able to RUN the entire 13.1 miles - and I DID! We didn't stop to walk at all, we didn't stop to stretch or to take a potty break. We ran the entire course, and the first 8 almost 9 miles is all UPHILL! Finally, my time goal was to finish at a 10 minute pace for my first one, which would be a time of 2 hours and 11 minutes. Well, we finished at a 10:02 pace, for a time of 2 hours, 11 minutes and 19 seconds. I consider it goal achieved. I think there is a 30 second grace period on this... (new rule of mine).

So, for the next one, I'm hoping to be closer to 2 hours 5 minutes or less... Now, I just have to figure out which one that will be. All in all, the race was fun. It was a little scary at first. Cincinnati was in the midst of THUNDERSTORMS! My brother in law pointed out that I can now call my self a true runner since I've finally ran in the rain. My sister was nice enough to follow that up with, not only did you run in the rain, you PAID to run in the rain... It rained the entire time. It did let up after the first few miles and it wasn't storming and coming down quite as hard. By the 5th or 6th mile, I was sweating so bad (it was probably 67 degreees with 95% humidity at that point) that the rain and the puddles felt heavenly!

Anyway, here is my list that was going thru my head that first night after we got home, and what it was I had learned from the whole experience. So here's my Top 20!

20. I'm sooo looking forward to this thing called "Recovery Week",
19. That there should also be a "Recovery Sleep" period as well ... A mandatory 12 - 15 hours would be a good start;
18. That icing and ibuprofen are part of the prize, and should be included in the post-race handouts;
17. Even 14 hours after the start time, that one's endorphin levels are still at an all time high and fighting with the bodies need for that "recovery sleep;"
16. Those endorphin levels would be great blog stimulants, if I wasn't too sore to get out of bed and get the computer;
15. Only crazy people would pay to run in a thunderstorm, across two very large steel bridges...
14. That I am one of those crazy people;
13. Wet hills are VERY slippery, and man hole covers are worse, but the yellow lines in the road were the sneaky little slippery spots on the course;
12. I really wish sometimes that I had the freedom to urinate like a guy... those lucky dogs that we spotted lined up in the bushes...
11. I can drink a WHOLE LOT (about 60 oz) of gatorade and water within 2 minutes of crossing the finish line, without feeling sick...
10. I can simultaneously hold 2 bottles of water, hold the running blanket around me, while devouring 2 little bowls of pineapple by pouring them down my throat, and reach for a donut at the same time...
9. While attempting previous feat, I did not care that I yell at my kids for eating like heathens...
8. The pain in my foot was thoroughly outweighed by the sight of food;
7. That soggy feet take a long time to "de-prune" after a couple of hours in wet socks and shoes;
6. Noticing blood soaked the back of my shoe was a source of pride, because I hadn't even noticed the sore that developed on my heel...
5. In all seriousness now, making it the last two miles through the foot pain was totally motivated by my sister and the runners around me, but that it was MY own inner voice telling me "don't stop now;"
4. That when you are exhausted and fighting pain on mile 12, that giving high fives to a bunch of kids who are cheering you on, is an incredible sense of motivation;
3. It's heavenly to hear your six year old say, "Dad, did you see mom's medal? It's awesome..." and then have that six year old ask you, "Mom, are you going to hang this up in your room?"
2. Obtaining goals is awesome, but I'm already looking for another one to run, so that I can beat my time...
1. and that (#2) means I'm hooked - Yes, world, I'm a runner now!

Crossing off the Days

Only 5 days until my first 1/2 marathon at the Flying Pig in Cincinnati! I received my confirmation email and bib number - 17686. I'm so excited it's crazy! I never, ever thought that running 13.1 miles would do anything other than make me say "he!! NO!" But here I am, five days out and obsessed with that 13.1 miles that is waiting for me. My nerves are still on edge, although I do think I've brought them down a few notches. My sister keeps giving me pointers, and I've been reading reports of some people that finished the Borgess 1/2 this past weekend. Where there's a will there's a way, right?

I did miss my last long run before the Pig this past weekend though. I had planned it for Sunday as Saturdays are full of soccer games for us, and then on Sunday it stormed for most of the day. I did get a little indoor core workout in, but not my last long run. Oh well... if I wasn't ready before that run, then it's kind of too late anyway! I did run a good 5 miles this morning a t 9 minute pace, and will finish up another couple short and sweet runs before the end of the week.

My new worry is the race week diet! I'm trying to follow one that I found online, but this "dieting" thing is all new to me! Oh well, if nothing else, I'll stick to eating "healthy" all week, and just filling up on some good old-fashioned pasta the two days before. Not going to worry... my new motto for the week. I'm just going to keep looking forward, and in doing so, I'm going to enjoy contemplating the next decision before me. The deadline for the early discounted registration for the GR Marathon in October, is May 15th. My sister is running the full marathon at that one, and she thinks I can be ready, too. I have a couple weeks after finishing the Pig, to evaluate my body's reaction to 13.1 miles to see if doubling that is something I want to do. Or, do I want to keep training for 1/2's (if I find it as enjoyable as my enthusiasm leads me to believe that I will - craziness again that 13.1 miles is sounding enjoyable). I think I've gone over the edge!

Ah well. If looking forward to 13.1 miles means that I am really a "runner", then so be it. I've definitely been called worse things in my life. However, I do think I owe my sister an apology for telling her she must be crazy when she started running her first marathons!

Countdown to the Flying Pig

I have 11 days until I will attempt my first ever half marathon... I'm literally "running out of time" in my training schedule. I'm thinking of all the workouts I didn't squeeze in, all the weights I didn't lift, the hills I didn't run, did I do enough core work? Is it like a test? Do you think you can "cram" for a 13 mile run?? I'm telling myself that I'm over thinking it all, but it doesn't help that the "nerves" and "butterflies" have set in so far ahead of the actual run.

I have to stay at a different hotel than my sister, who I'm running with (she is in charge of dragging me over the finish line in the event that I pass out, need to crawl, trip and fall and land on my face, etc...) and I'm worried about getting over the bridge (my hotel will be in Kentucky) and to the race and finding her somewhere near the starting point at 6 in the morning. I don't really want to carry my cell phone, but I want to make sure I find my motivational, strength, pacer, and support partner for this event! I also have a friend riding with me and need to find her at the finish line.

And then there's the matter of my shoes. I went 2 weeks ago to get new ones because my old ones were giving me black toe nails, this started happening after my training had led me beyond the 10 mile run mark. I figured a month to break them in would be plenty of time. However, I let the sales lady "convince" me that the Asics fit my high arches better and made me run "more neutral" than the Saucony brand that I had been wearing (with no problems other than the black toe nails, and that was only after 10 mile runs - anywhoo...). I HATED them. I returned the first pair for a second pair, different style, and still hated them. Went yesterday and exchanged them again for the Saucony ProGrid Ride 2, but I just wore them today for a 6 miler... Do I keep wearing them for the next 10 days and for the half? Or should I just play it safe with my old ones? The toe nail is already black at this point...

There are issues of "Race Etiquette," which I really know very little about since I've ran one 10k. I do know to step towards the right when someone yells "on your left." But there seems to be a whole slew of race jargon and rules that I don't know about. I need to find the book, "Running a 1/2 Marathon for Dummies"... I would buy that. Do you think they make signs that say "newbie - I apologize in advance for breaking any race rule that I claim to not be aware of" to stick on your back? I'd buy one of those, too!

Then there are the little things. Like what to wear? I need an outfit with enough pockets to hold my ipod, my sportbeans, maybe my cell phone. If it's a bit chilly I can wear my jacket and I'll be good, if it gets to warm, the jacket will be out of the question. I could unzip the sleeves of the jacket, but then the zipper rubs on my armpit and causes a great deal of discomfort. Maybe I should just buy a vest so I don't have to worry about zippers on the arms. Should I by a hat? A visor? I don't really like running with sunglasses - I sweat way too much. I'll probably pack like I'm going for a week, for one little run. Gloves, hat, pants, long-sleeved shirt and jacket in case it's chilly at 6:30 am. Shorts, tank, vest, in case it's warm. Then there will be the in-between layers. Short sleeved shirt over the tank? How many layers will I feel like stripping off? Just wear the minimum and hope it warms up quick? So many decisions... and I'm running out of time!