I left my house around 5:15 am after shoveling down a small bowl of frosted flakes with skim milk down my throat. The race didn't start until 8 am, but they recommended you get there by 6:30 to allow time to find parking. And since I can't parallel park to save my life, I intended on getting there early.
By the time I got there, the rain had stopped. Yay!!!! I found a spot a couple blocks from the start and headed out to pick up my bib and chip. Then I hit the porta-potties (Hurray for being early! I was the first one who used my porta-potty of choice). As I started to walk back to my car, I couldn't find my keys! Two thoughts immediately crossed my mind - Either I left them in the porta-potties or I locked them in my car! It was only 6:30 by then and if I called Martin he would make it to me in time for me to get into my car so I could get my iPod and cap out. And then I briefly remembered setting my keys down on the bib table and reminding myself to not forget them. D'oh! I went back to the bib table and sure enough there they were. Thank God!
Back to my car, where I hung out staying warm munching on a Clif bar and getting the rest of my stuff together. I headed back to the start at 7:30 am to take in the activities. The line for the porta-potties were a mile long. I had to pee again, but was pretty sure I could hold it. They had music going on and someone on a stage leading everyone through dance warm-ups. It was pretty entertaining.
Before I knew it, we were all set to start. I felt pretty good for the first few miles.
I kept having to remind myself to run my own race and to slow the f down and quit following the crowd. Unfortunately that didn't work. But I was feeling pretty strong. I stopped to take a gel and some water at the 4 mile aid station. I remember at the 6 mile mark I was still feeling good and remember thinking at my previous two halfs how exhausted I felt at the halfway point.
I stopped again at the 8 mile aid station for another gel and water. And then by Mile 9, the wheels started to fall off. I started talking walking breaks.
Another stop at the 10 mile aid station for another gel and water. I told myself that I had only 3 more miles left. I could do this. And then I walked more. Ugh! I was so on target prior!
Mile 12 was the worst. Walk - jog - walk - jog - walk - walk - walk.
Finally I saw the finish, which helped me out a lot mentally and I was able to pick it up again.
The awesome thing about this race was that there were a lot of people out there supporting the runners. I saw tons of little kids with their dads along the course holding up signs supporting their moms. And there were tons more at the finish line. It made me smile to high five all the little kiddos holding up their hands.
I felt a bit dejected as I saw the clock read 2:20:XX when I crossed the line. But my Garmin read 2:17, which made me feel a tad better. We'll see what my official time is tomorrow.
Garmin splits:
1 10:23
2 10:22
3 10:24
4 10:06
5 10:36
6 10:23
7 10:18
8 10:16
9 10:39
10 10:45
11 10:37
12 11:11
13 10:38
.10 8:54 pace
2:17:55
10:30 average pace, which was exactly what I was aiming for.
I still have problems pacing. Either I go too slow or too fast. I really need to work on this. I was trying to find someone who was running a 10:30 pace, but I guess, like me, we all go up and down.
Another race for the books. I really liked this race. I can't wait to do it again next year!
Edited to add:
The official results came out.
Official time (gun time): 2:20:22 (Booooo!!!!) (10:43 pace)
Net time (chip time): 2:18:39 (Yay!!!!!!)
Age group: 142/275 (Man, women in my age group are fast!)
Overall: 694/1519
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