Cheryl vs. Her First Half

It’s been a month since I ran my first half-marathon, but I am finally writing the race recap. Hopefully my brain remembers all the sensations I felt during those 2+ hours.

Race Arrival

I’m really bad with arriving to races on time. I just don’t like standing around pretending to stretch and watch people doing strides. I just don’t do prep. When I go running, I walk outside my house and just go, so I follow the same motto at races. I showed up about 8 a.m. (start time was 8, but I knew I wasn’t going to cross the start line for about 30 minutes). Lots of standing around. I thought I would meet my new running BFF, but I didn’t speak to anyone until about mile 8.

Miles 1-7

So stupidly, when I was doing all my standing around to cross the start line, I had to pee, but I was hesitant to get out of my corral because what if they left without me? So I waited until mile 2 when I saw porta potties without much of a line. I knew I was losing minutes off my time, but it’s not like I was about to win any medals here.

I can’t even believe I am typing these words, but miles 1-7 flew by and miles don’t ever fly by for me. I remember and feel each one. But I was running along and just enjoying it. I also saw my husband twice and he had made a sign (aww!).

Still smiling at mile 5

Miles 8-11

Around mile 8, my left knee started to hurt. And then the right one followed. I was forced to take walk breaks and stretch breaks to try to get a little relief. The course also started to suck at this point because we’re winding along a river trail and since there is basically no parking, there are really no spectators to cheer you on until you get much closer to the finish line.

This is the moment when someone finally spoke to me. A woman turned my way and told me she wanted to die. Not feeling particularly inspired by her energy, I took out a GU and trudged ahead.

By around mile 10, I was just annoyed at my knees. But suddenly all the clouds in my brain cleared and I realized as the 11 mile marker was in sight that I only had 2 miles left. The end was near.

Miles 11-12

These really just sucked. I knew I was near the end, but the pain was rough. I also saw an ambulance coming to pick up another runner, which is always scary.

Less smiling is involved at this point.

Mile 13

I was never so pleased to see a finish line in my life. I hobbled my way across, took my medal, and sat down to enjoy Bret Michaels. (sidebar—does he have hair or is that a bandana attached to a wig?)

Final time: 2:46. Not what I wanted. I was hoping for 2:30. But I learned a few things. One, don’t trust your Garmin. Mine had me finishing miles before they were marked. However, this could be because I don’t run very consistently and veer all over the course, so maybe I added distance on myself.

Two, don’t doubt yourself. The week before the race I felt unprepared and wanted to drop out. I dragged myself there and ran 13 miles for the first time.

Didn't Die During the Half

I really need to write a run-recap. I've been planning on it, but just haven't done it yet. But I did finish! Update to come!

Still Alive, but Maybe Only Til Sunday

I don't think I've blogged in over a month. But hey, things got crazy--I got married, our huge work conference is coming up, and I have my first half-marathon on Sunday. I am EXTREMELY nervous about this race--I wanted to drop out last week and forget running. I haven't dropped out yet, but it's still in the back of my mind that 13 miles is no picnic and maybe I'm not really prepared to do this. I've done 12 miles, but I just don't feel ready.

At least Bret Michaels will be there. Don't try to tell me you didn't watch Rock of Love Bus.

So stay tuned. You'll either get a race recap next week or some excuse for why I didn't run the race at all.

Giving 10 Miles Another Go

The one good thing about thoroughly sucking at something the first time you do it is that you are almost guaranteed to do better the second time around. This was the case with my second 10-miler I completed Sunday. I shaved 17 minutes off my time! (You can write awesome stats like that when your initial time is so bad.)

I'm not sure why this run was easier.  Maybe because I varied my route a bit and ended up running through part of a SheRox Tri. Don't worry,  I stayed on the path and didn't get in their way. It was kinda nice to be running through a crowd and to have other people running around me. And I got to enjoy some of their music.

Or maybe because I had already done 10 and knew I could do it. Or because I dragged myself out the door at 7:30 a.m. so there was less heat.

They say third time's a charm--I'll find out this coming Sunday when I run 10 miles for the third time!

10 Miles is Tough

I can't even be original with this title--running 10 miles was hard. I had intentions to be out the door by 7 a.m. Sunday to beat the heat (it's pretty much 90+ every day, which I love, except when I have to run). That didn't exactly happen. I was out the door closer to 9, so it was already quite hot. I turned on This American Life on my ipod because I knew that a whole hour would be over by the time that podcast ended. Things were trucking along until about mile 6.5/7. I was tired. At mile 7, I took a Gatorade Prime. These are supposed to be for pre-workout, but whatever, I'm a rebel. These are funny little blocks. They taste pretty good, but they are covered in a communion-like wafer (I suppose for easy swallowing.).

I keep going and around mile 8, I spot my fiance coming from the other direction on the running path I was on. He had been hoping to catch up with me. I was really glad when he arrived because at mile 9, I wanted to quit more than anything. I was walking a lot and telling him I was done, I wasn't running ever again, that I was dropping out of my half in September and that he should go get the car and pick me up. But he pushed me to keep going and kept talking to keep me occupied. And eventually, I did complete 10 miles!

I have to do it again on Sunday, and hopefully each time it will be slightly less awful.

Best/Worst Idea Ever

Yikes, I need to get back into blogging! I have been running though--just not writing about it. This weekend will  be the first time I attempt to run 10 miles. I've done 9.25, but never more. Cross your fingers for me!

I also may have the best/worst idea ever. My first half is scheduled for Sept. 18. Over Labor Day weekend, I will be in Virginia Beach, where a half-marathon is taking place that Sunday. I already have to run 12 miles that day. Should I just register and run two halfs in a month?

The one thing (other than the running itself) that is holding me back from registration is the $110 price tag that comes with the Va. Beach half. Would it be really terrible of me to run rogue? Meaning, I wouldn't drink any of their water or take any GUs or anything--but I would run the race course. Will someone come kick me out if I attempt this? Am I being really cheap? Should I just map my own 12-miler and prep for the Philly half on Sept. 18 as planned?

So many questions and so few answers!

9 Miles Looming

Usually I can save my long runs for Sundays and sleep in on Saturdays. This Sunday I will be in NYC for the day checking out Alexander McQueen's exhibition Savage Beauty (eeeeee!!!!), so my run gets bumped to Saturday. I'm a little nervous. My 5-miler  on Thursday started out well for the first 3 miles. BUT, I had decided to give a protein powder a shot before the run. Worst.Idea.Ever. I won't get into details, but I had to walk the last two miles of it. I think the protein will be a post-run type of thing.

At least I know this run will most likely be better than the last!