I almost have my legs back. My quads feel like someone grabbed a meat tenderizer and went to town with it. Sore. It is not the front of the quads but the outer side. Sure sign of me giving it my all. And if there was any doubt of that, anytime I took a deep breath yesterday even my ribs hurt. Darn it! It is such a great feeling.
My friend Momber (blogless) joined me for her very first Half. We were both excited chatting at the back of the bus all the way up to our destination. Once we got to the top of the mountain, we realized how cold it was so we tried to keep warm--for me an easier task since I could just cuddle to my personal heater--hubby!
The race got started about 10 minutes late, all the runners seemed anxious and ready to go. I really didn't mind waiting, I figured that we will have to run anyways so waiting a few more minutes won't make a difference.
When we finally started, the crowd was too much and I even got elbowed! My first reaction was to get pissed then I realized that the person probably didn't even noticed. Momber and I started off together and we stayed together for the first half mile but I felt that I could go a little faster so I told her that I would go ahead. We had trained together and we had agreed that during the race we would go each our own pace.
The first 7 miles went so fast. I took a couple of drinks from my bottle and I had taken a GU at mile 4. When I looked at Mr. G and it said that it was 58:XX minutes into the race, I felt exhilarated. I quickly did some math and I figured that even if I started running 10minute miles that I would beat my Ogden Half time. As I pressed the lap button on Mr. G, I saw that it gave me the average of that mile and I realized that it could help me maintain a certain pace. At that very moment, I gave myself the goal of getting to the finish line before 1:55.
As I ran the last 6 miles, I enjoyed the cheering from all the people around, especially the ones from the little ones. Some of the little ones extended their little hands to have their hands shaken. I shook them as I passed by, seeing their smiling faces made me even happier. I just ran and ran.
At mile 10, I simply said to myself, just a 5K left, you can definitely do it. You have done it before, you can do it again. I grabbed a water from the table and poured it on my head and kept going. People were starting to get tired and few of them had started to walk. I smiled and cheered them on, giving them a little bit of my energy.
At mile 11 or so, you could see the finish line, the route finishes in my regular running route so this was my turf I said to myself. I knew where all the potholes where and where the road was a bit more even. I ran and I started passing a few people. At around mile 12, I saw a guy who had passed me, he had an injury in his right leg and was trying to finish by limping his way to the finish. His effort gave me the inspiration I need to finish strong.
As I reached that last 1/2 mile, I gave it all I had, I pumped my arms and just concentrated on the big finish. My chest was hurting from the effort, my legs started to throb but I just kept going. I had to finish before 1:55. As I crossed the finish line and saw that Mr. G displayed 1:54, I felt completed for the day. I had done it! Mr. G also records my last mile and .1 at 8:39 mile pace!
My family found me and my little kidlets gave me hugs and kisses. My little Benny took my left over gatorade and drank it all.
Hubby had arrived awhile before me. His time: 1:36. May I mention that he did this without training. Yep. He is just so awesome at running :).
As we talked about the race at home, I couldn't help but feel proud of my time. Just last year at this time I started running and I thought that running 5 miles was hard, now, 5 miles are my easy runs and I look forward to running 13. Crazy times!
After coming home, I got a shower, ate some lunch and joined a couple of my friends whom were doing the Cache Valley Century. I wanted to do to another century on my bike, but schedule conflict made me have to decide between running or riding. Running won. However, I told my friends that if I had energy left that I would join them. I felt strong still after the Half so after lunch, I joined them for the last 32 miles. I call it my informal training for a future half ironman :).
TOU 1/2 Mile Splits:
Mile 1: 8:28
Mile 2: 8:28
Mile 3: 8:06
Mile 4: 8:22
Mile 5: 8:10
Mile 6: 8:34
Mile 7: 8:30
Mile 8: 8:57
Mile 9: 9:08
Mile 10: 8:53
Mile 11: 9:36
Mile 12: 9:57
Mile 13 and .1: 9:34
Bike Ride: 32 miles
Speed: 15.1mph