1/2 Marathon

I ran the half marathon yesterday and didn't know exactly what to expect. The last two weeks have been soft for training, but I still felt good.

I started off the first mile a little faster then I had wanted to do, so I had to reel it in a little. The next five miles I tried to keep my heart rate around 15From mile 1 to 5, I was probably passed by 200 or 300 people. I kept wanting to pick it up, but knew better.

At mile 7, I stared to pick it up a little, but was still trying to conserve. I have never been on the course and it was very hilly. The last thing I wanted to do is bonk. From mile 7 to 10, I passed around 100 of those people who had passed me earlier.

At mile 10, I picked it up and was going hard. Heart Rate 170-175. I am now starting to pass groups of runners at a rapid rate. Huge pain in my left calf, right shoulder aches and my right hamstring is gripping. Grit the teeth and push on. I have stopped taking water from the water statons and begin to breath heavy. One thing is on my mind now, finish hard.

The last 3/4 of a mile, I got a huge emotionally lift from a fellow runner. (He had an Ironman tattoo, so you know he was the real deal) He started to verbally push me and was able to motivate me pass around 4 more people. I thanked him after, it was awesome! I did feel a little pukey, but it passed relatively quickly.

Something funny - The fellow runner who helped motivate me,kept saying "you better start running faster you young'n. I better not beat you." All in really good fun and helped to speed it up. The funny part was, he must have thought I was much younger, because I was in the same age group as him! By motivating me, he placed himself lower in his age group. I didn't tell him, but I had a good laugh.

Tough race, but I ran hard and left nothing on the course. I came in 75th of 1500 and feel great about that.