Yesterday I ran my 5th half-marathon (on 5/5... how coincidental!). I was pretty happy with my training. I had consistently run 3-4 times per week and had done an 11-miler as my longest run. The last two weeks, I've felt pretty fast, with my shorter runs being :30 - 1:00 faster than usual. So I decided to set a goal of beating my previous best: 2:26:26.
This race had pace groups, but they didn't have 2:25, just 2:20 and 2:30. I joined the 2:20 group and was ready to go! It was a beautiful day, 50 and sunny at the start with just a little wind. By mile 2, I was almost a minute ahead of my pace. DH and one of our friends were at the start, at the 2-mile mark, 6 mi, 8'ish, 9.5'ish and 11'ish. It was great seeing them out there. Around 8 mi I was starting to get sore in places but was still right on my original pace, still a minute ahead. At 10 miles, I was feeling the best I'd ever felt at that point of the race, even though I was slowing down a little bit.
11 miles in, my right ankle and left foot hurt pretty bad, but I was determined. I had been warned, but still, the hill at the 12.5 mile mark was a b!tch. No matter, I was on a freaking mission, chugged up the hill, hit the final dirt track and crossed the finish line in 2:19:29... 30 seconds faster than my goal and SEVEN MINUTES faster than my previous best. I was so happy. When I saw DH I ugly-cried on his shoulder. Then I drank a beer, stuffed my face with a burger and fries and laid in bed for most of the rest of the day..
CN: I beat my PR by 7 minutes and my goal by 30 seconds in my fifth half-marathon.
And now, pictures!
"You are made of win." -SopChick
Still here and still fabulous!