Half-Marathon - 0, Michele - 1
on 3/18/13 10:14 am, edited 3/18/13 9:27 pm
Lots of great races this weekend, I thought I'd throw my experience out there. Despite a badly bruised toe on my left foot (dropped a ceramic coffee mug on it in the driveway while loading up the car to head out for the race weekend - wearing flip flops) I had a great race.
My day started in the very early morning hours getting up to eat and drink and try not to psych myself out. My husband dropped me off at the finish line so I could board a shuttle to the start at about 5:30 a.m. I stood in line with hundreds of others and spoke to a few. We loaded the bus which was looked like a trolley car and our driver was blasting "Three Little Birds." Loved it. Sitting quietly and noticing a blind man board our bus with his guide. He was running the full marathon. I was full of emotions anyway and Tyler (the young man) really affected me. I was overcome and couldn't stop my tears. I was (and am) so grateful to be healthy and able to run. He was really inspirational and I thought of him and his guide and the way he made me feel often over the next two and a half hours.
I got to the start with a few minutes until go time and I talked to a few people, a man who was running his 98th marathon, another woman who was doing her first as well. We were off! The first part of the race was so dark since we started at 6:15 but it was nice to see the sun come up. I stuck to my plan and ran a good race. At mile 9.5 I texted my husband to warn him that I was coming in to the finish and that he needed to get him and our two boys to the finish line. By mile 11 my stomach wasn't feeling great and I slowed down some. I had been running with two other women and we bolstered each other along and I dug deep and finished hard, looking for my family as I pushed as hard as I could to the finish. I heard the announcer call out my name and was elated. I hugged the two women I ran with and congratulated them before I wound my way through the drink, food and pizza lines. I whipped out my phone to find out where to meet up with the fam....uhh, they're stuck at a traffic light trying to get near the finish but did get to see me turn for the home stretch. Bummer. My guys showed up and I checked out my chip time 2:19:02, 10:37/mile, right where I was in training. I wanted to finish strong and under 2:30 but I was hoping the race day excitement would get me to 2:15 - maybe next time but for now, I'm so stoked :)
Hi Michelle..So happy to hear how ur race went, I know that you, me and another poster Nicole all ran this weekend! Loved your story about the race as well. Mine was very memorable, especially all the people you meet who are either running or volunteering. The part you told about the young blind man was moving to say the least...
I am going to be running a 5 Mile race this Sunday locally....Cannot wait to do another 1/21!!
Yours in Running,
Bill Mac
Yours in WLS Journey,
Bill Mac
Michele you did amazing!!! Congrats on the AWESOME time!!!!
First ultra: Stone Mill 50 miler 11/15/14 13:44:38, First Full Marathon: Marine Corps 10/27/13 4:57:11, Half Marathon PR 2:04:43 at Shamrock VA Beach Half-Marathon, 12/2/12 First Half-Marathon 2:32:47, 5K PR Run Under the Lights 5K 27:23 on 11/23/13, 10K PR 52:53 Pike's Peek 10K 4/21/13, (1st timed run) Accumen 8K 51:09 10/14/12.
