as well as I did, although I'm disappointed that I missed a PR by .08 of a second. However,
considering that my pain levels were higher before the race even started than I would have liked, I'll take it. Between that and having to wait around in the cold for more than two hours before my race started, I'm amazed things went as well as they did.
My approach for this race was to distract myself by listening to a good book, something that would
keep my attention and give me something to focus on other than each step on the road. As a strategy, it worked pretty well and my pace remained fairly consistent, at least for the first ten miles. At around mile 8, my pain levels were really starting to climb, in spite of the pain pill I'd taken a couple of hours before. I pushed through until almost mile 9 and then gave in and took another one, even though it was sooner than prescribed. However, I know that my pain meds are probably the lowest dosage out there (have definitely seen others mention ones twice as strong) and I figured the benefits were worth it. Honestly, I'm not sure if I could have made it through those last four plus miles or so otherwise.
At about mile 6 I realized how spoiled I am by ultras and their well stocked aid stations. Although I'd had part of my coffee/protein shake combo on the drive down, I hadn't quite finished it. For some
reason, I didn't pack any beans or bars with me and by the time I got to aid stations, anything besides
water or vitalyte was gone. I was really feeling this by the turn a around at mile 8. Right after this, though, someone asked me if I wanted a graham cracker and opened a fresh pack and handed me two when I said yes. At the same time, a representative from Clif offered me a package of Clif Bloks, which I gratefully accepted. I tell you, I'm not sure I've ever enjoyed anything more than those graham crackers! Then at about mile 10 someone gave me a Lara Uber salted nut roll. Next regular
race I do, I'll have to remember to take my own nutrition!
My pain levels dropped down to about a six after that pain pill kicked in, which helped. Still, I could
tell I wasn't going quite as fast, although I was keeping up with the same walkers I'd been keeping
pace with for most of the race. A friend who had already finished her half found me on the course
somewhere between mile 11 and 12 and asked if I wanted some company. I remember commenting to her as we hit mile 12, asking how it could only be mile 12. I turned off my book and we chatted all
the way to where a race legend, Ed "The Jester" Ettinghausen, was cheering runners on at the point
where there were .2 miles left to go. I'm lucky enough to count Ed as a good friend and the big hug and words of encouragement I got helped me push through that last .2 miles.
My husband had finished the marathon shortly before and was waiting for me at the 13 mile marker. Another hug for encouragement and I pushed through to cross the finish line. The clock time read 5:04 something and I was disappointed, thinking that it had taken me over 5 hours to finish, which
would have been much longer than last year. I had forgotten, though, how many waves there are to the half marathon start and how long it takes to get everyone across the start line. Since I'm in one of the last waves, I didn't cross the start line for well over half an hour after the clock started.
Some comparisons of my finish stats between last year and this year:
2015
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2014
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Congrats girl!!!!!!
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