Delaware 9th Annual Half Marathon Running Festival

Two weeks after a painful and gruesome half marathon at Ocean City that I literally limped across the finish line in 2 hours and 57 minutes, I decided to try it again at the Delaware half marathon on Sunday. My leg pains and orthodics were much better this weekend.  The weather was perfect early in the morning, although it got extremely warm later in the day.

I had decided to take this race at a liesurely pace and try to enjoy a better finish. I even was ready to try a 10-minute run, 2-minute walk. Those plans went out the window quickly.

I started the race and decided to follow the pace of a young couple who seemed to running at a nice stride. At four miles I looked at my watch (38 minutes) and realized I was running a pace that I couldn't sustain and there were some widow maker long uphill grades over the next three miles. I decided to go for it, and took the hills at the same pace.  At mile eight most of the hills were behind me and my clock read (79 minutes). The next three miles were a little bit of struggle because part it was a mix of downhill and flat.  The last barrier was a mile run uphill. By this time I realized that the hills were my friends. I crossed the finish line in 2 hours and 1 minute. Definitely a personal best, by more than 20 minutes. I have never ever run at that pace. It was also the first time that I was there to cheer in some of my younger friends. It was a good feeling, although my body is going to need a lot of repair over the next couple of days, so I switch over to the Gran Fondo century this coming weekend.

That's rockstar status right there!!!   Great race!

Sorry to hear about the Ocean City half, but it seems like you truly redeemed yourelf here. That is an awesome finishing time! And with hills too! Be proud!