My first race reort- Cincinnati Flying Pig- long

Well it is in the books, I completed my first 1/2 marathon yesterday, not walking all that great right now, but I got my medal baby!!

The day started at 3am, waking to pouring rain and lightning, it wasn't a suprise since I had been watching the weather closely, but one can always hope the weather man is wrong. I got myself up helped prep for the day. My wife had planned to come to the race, but with the weather I let her know it would be ok if she passed on this race. My daughter was running as well so I wasn't going it alone anyway. We had a light breakfast an were on the road by 4:30am, I wanted to get to the parking area by 5 so we could be close to the start. I traded a few texts with saxman since he and his fiance were running as well and would be starting around the same area as we were but with the crowd and the fact that cell phones were left in cars due to the rain we didn't get a chance to hook up. As we got to the parking area the rain was done to a light mist, that of course changed as soon as we got out of the car and headed toward the starting area. The rain increased steadly and any hope of a semi-dry race went out the window, but the the excitement of the race was more than enough to balance out the poor weather. As we waited in our area for the start the rain continued with a few flashes of lightning, but the music was playing and my daughter and I were feeling pretty good. The announcements start and the horn is sounded and we were off....well the people up front were off it was about 5 more mins before we began to move, I comment to those round us that I thought this would be a lot harder, but this is a nice pace. Miles 1-4 were uneventfuly my daughther and had a nice slow pace going and all was well, than we hit the second bridge acroos the river and I told the kid I was shifhting down a notch and would meet her at the finish. I continued running until mile 6 than I planned on walking up the 2.5 miles to the top of mount adams. By this time my legs still felt good but my hips were killing me, but I kept going at mile 9 the 1/2 and full split and we halfers get to start down hill to the fini****ried to get back to a run a few more times but my hips were on fire and my left foot had gone numb so I kept walking. By mile 10 I was thinking, if I stop now I could borrow the kid's medal when I go back to work on Tuesday and noone would know, but I promised myself I would finish no matter what so I pressed on this burning hips and a left foot that went fron numb to shape stabbing pain with every step. By mile 11 I knew I would finish, but noticed I was passing no one and plenty were passing by me. A 70 year old man passed me at a slow steady jog, a woman at least 5 months pregant passed me with a friendly smile and a word of encoragement. As I approached the area where the 1/2 rejoins the full I started to think about running a again and when I was about 1/4 mile away I noticed a gift from the Gods, there was a group of people set up like a water station, but God bless them they had beer, now I haven't had a beer since surgery, but I figured since I had just cover 12.5 miles damn it I deservered a taste of a cold one, so I did and I am not sure what it was about the 2 swallow of beer in that cup but as I finish my last swallow I tossed aside the cup and ran the 300 yards at a pace faster than I started and with my hand held high I crossed the finish line. I felt a strong since of both relief that it was over and pride at the completion of a goal.

I am very glad that I took today off from work, because to say I am sore wold be an understatement of epic proportion, but to by suprise it isn't hips or by left foot, which hurt the most during the run, but the ball joint of my right foot that is causing the most pain...go figure.

Thank you all for your support, I know I would never have even tried to do this without the inspiration I see on thsi board everyday.

Robert  Taylor 

bib number:

18242  

overall place:

8590  

division:

M 40-44  

division place:

449  out of 465 

gender place:

3342  out of 3472 

6.8-mile:

1:39:36  

net time:

3:32:32  

pace:

16:14 

I KNEW you could do it!!!! Way to go bro... Congrats and recover well...

Congrats, that's awesome.

Thanks for sharing the race report.

It gets better as far as the pain is concerned.
I hurt pretty good after my first 1/2 marathon.
I did my second one a couple weeks later and had none of the pain I felt from the first one.

Congrats again!

Scott

GREAT JOB!
Your perseverence is admirable!  I hope I do my 1/2 marathon next month with the same guts!

way to go.  I ran the full and yes the beer people were awesome.  I know how you feel about the soreness.  All my freinds said it will be gone by Thursday. 

Again great job.  I will be back next year to run it again.  Hopefully to will be dry next years.

Congrats!!!!!! Awesome job. I have my first half in October and I can't wait

Congratulations!  You did it!  The first one is always the memorable one.
Rob

awesome job congrats!  mmmm beer.... it looks like homer was right!

Congrats !!! Maybe we can meet up next year when I have the guts to do it. I talked myself out of it because of Mt Adams. Are you going to do WPAFB in September? I am debating half or full but it will be my first either way.

 Congrats.  I wanted to do the Flying Pig but I had too much going on.  Maybe I'll do it next year.

Duane