WOW, all I can say is WOW what a race day it was. First off I woke in a panic at 3:36 am thinking I had over slept my alarm and that I had missed my race. After a few moments of deep breathing I fell back into a semi-sleep. At about 4:15 I was woken again by the dog's scratching, so I got up for good. I unplugged my laptop and crept into the bathroom to check the weather. Just as predicted a storm was coming in and after all my careful race day planning I did not pack one thing that would have been useful in the rain, ok one my visor. After a bit of nervous pacing I left about 15 minutes early in hopes that I would get to the race site before the rain. So glad I left when I did. The line for parking was already really long and winding around the block but thankfully it was free and close to the park. It was just already really crowed so I did what comes naturally, I headed to the port-a-potties, there were already 10 lines making their way across the street, and it's now starting to sprinkle, so I chose one close to the trees. Trees make great umbrellas. I finally get thru the line and back under the tree and then shit happens. Bright flashes of light and booming thunder...bad sign. After a few close by lightening strikes the race director made the announcement that the race would be delayed 1 hour and that everyone should take shelter some place safe until then. So I made a break for it and ran back to my car. Except I hadn't paid that much attention to where I had parked so I just followed a trail of runners into the underground parking garages figuring at least there it would be dry and warm as it turns out. It's was really warm in there. I find my car and take out my yoga mat and take off my shoes and find them full of ants. I assume under that lofty oak I was standing in an ant hill. Blessing in disguise. I only got one bite and it was on my hand after one little sucker got away from me. I rang out my socks and had a bit of chit chat with the guy in the car next to me, who incidentally I came across once again as he passed me somewhere around mile 9. So I get to that point where I just can't handle waiting. I get laced back up, change my shirt and head back up to the surface. It's still raining. I head back to the race start and figure that a little warm up now is better than never. I head down the block and turn up towards the first water stop and get shouts of encouragement from the 2 guys left manning it. What good souls to be out there still getting things ready. As I come back around I hear the announcer "15 to start, we are starting right at 8 am, runners get ready, we are a go" YEA!! So I am warm and ready and I am heading to the scrub. I cross under the start balloon and keep on going. Trying to get far enough back that I do not end up in peoples way. The most amazing thing happened as our National Anthem was being sung you could hear all the runners softly singing along. Normally at races I can only kind of hear it being played, mostly b/c I am so far back and the chattering doesn't quite stop long enough for everybody to hear but on this rain soaked morning everyone hushed and joined in. It is by far one of the best reason to live in this state. You want to see patriotism, Texas leads this country in it. It's something about the pride in this state that I have never seem elsewhere. Then before you knew it the race had started. My Garmin was pretty much worthless the first few miles, the buildings downtown do not make for the best reception, it even clocked me at a 37 second mile pace. Once I got back out on to Allen Parkway I knew I would need to slow down or not be able to finish at all. I hit the first of the underpasses and slowed back to my intended race pace of 12:30. This is just a training run after all, the first of 3 until the end of the year. Once I turned out on to Memorial when this leveled off a bit I started to pick up trying to keep about a 12m/m pace. Before long it hardly seems like my 8:30 m/intervals were anything at all, before I knew it I was walking again. I grabbed a few PowerGels as they were handing them out at the water stops but I stuck to what I had packed not knowing what something knew would do to me. I brought home 6 in total and 4 PowerBars, nutrition wise I am now stocked up for at least a month of long runs. At mile 8 I started making note with my pace card. I was about 2 minutes up, giving me an decent buffer if I choose to take an extra walk. The turn around brings you back on the downhill until you get back to those 2 underpasses on Allen drive which are right before the finish. I have to admit I was hurting by now. There is a guy in town who runs carrying the American Flag, he caught up to me and began shouting encouragement to everyone. "Come on now 1/2 mile to go, You got this, no DNF from here" I got to say it helped. I took one extra walk break before the finish and then ran it in. I think what I learned from this race is that you can physically prepare all you want, if you don't mentally prepare you will not get anywhere. This is my first half marathon that I brought everything with me and I left it all out there. All parts of me were in on the work and mind, body and soul crossed that finish line.Official time 2:41:26, goal time 2:43:52. I took 3:45 off my April PR time.
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| HHM Finisher Medal | | | |
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Things I can't tell you about the race...when it stopped raining. The rain became such a non-issue once I started running that other than having to wipe the drips off my elbows once-in-a-while and off my hat I hardly noticed I was getting wet. But let's face it, that elbow thing happens on hot runs too so not much from the norm there. Not sure what the finish food was, the party was on a grass knoll and the food was at the bottom and there was nothing but mud between me and the tent so I skipped it.
Today I feel good. My toes are a bit sore from sloshing around in my shoes but other than that nothing a little yoga and a light walk this morning didn't work out.
October mileage so far 88.89/100 with 3 days to go to hit the goal.
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