This past weekend, I set out to do something I’ve been attempting to do for three years – PR and break the 2 hour mark in the half marathon distance. Prior to Sunday’s half marathon, my PR in the half distance was 2:01 from 2011 – an IT Band injury also accompanied that half marathon and I’ve battled with the injury off and on ever since.
When I initially registered for the Louisiana Half Marathon back in the fall, I had in mind that it would be my “goal” race. I ran this race in 2013 and loved it. Since I was familiar with the course and the overall atmosphere of the event, I decided to make this one “it” with a backup plan of Rock N Roll New Orleans…which happens to be this upcoming weekend. I also didn’t plan on running any full marathons this year so I could give my IT Band a break and focus on this one half marathon goal.
On Tuesday of “race week”, I woke up with a sore throat. Just what I needed, right? I can’t tell you how much Airborne and Zicam I took, trying to knock out whatever germ decided to descend upon me.
By Wednesday, I wasn’t feeling better – I spent both Tuesday and Wednesday evenings lying around the house, trying to get some rest. When I started running fever on Thursday afternoon, I knew it wasn’t good. I had so much sinus congestion and pain, I just couldn’t take it anymore. After work on Friday, I decided to go to Urgent Care (which was huge for me because I’m actually really stubborn when I’m sick – I’m a nurse, what can I say?). Urgent Care was able to patch me up and by Saturday morning, I was feeling a little bit better.
Still, I had so much doubt in my mind about the race. What was I going to do? Just go have fun with it and enjoy the day? Start off trying to achieve my goal and hang as long as possible?
After scrolling through my twitter notification feed, my eyes landed on this interaction and thoughts began to formulate in my head once again:
Pace groups…what did I know about pace groups? Well, I already knew that Nicole and I attempted to stay with one during the RnR NOLA full marathon last year and failed. I knew someone else who once ran with a pace team and told me that their pacer allowed them to stop for water and a potty break, but that was for the full marathon distance. Hmmm…
I decided to sleep on it and determine how I felt in the morning. Well, race morning came around and so did a croupy sounding cough. What. The. Heck. I was down and out on myself but I stopped the negative thoughts right there. I registered for this race to achieve a goal and you know what? I decided to just go for it! If I had to drop back and slow down mid-race, then at least I tried. In the end, I wanted to be able to hold my head high, knowing that I gave it my all.
Around 6 a.m., Kayla and I met up with my dad in the hotel lobby. Our race was set to begin at 7 a.m. and we had a short 2 mile drive to the start line.
My first plan of action was to find the 2 hour pace team.
I got as close as I could but in hindsight, I should have moved in even closer. As the first wave of runners took off, the crowd moved in and that 2 hour pace sign moved even further away….
See what I mean? Great. I had visions of Rock N Roll NOLA all over again (bobbing and weaving through runners to keep up)…
Luckily, I was able to make my way back up to them not long after crossing the start line! (The 4 hour marathon pacer stayed with us until they split at mile 11.)
Our pace stayed fairly consistent through the first few miles considering the crowds. I remember that my first mile was around a 9:11 and I felt really good and hadn’t coughed at all (which was odd). I also knew in the back of my mind that I was going to have to do some catch-up work because I needed to stay around a 9 minute pace.
We crossed over a bridge on our way out of downtown and I remembered it from 2013’s race. I also remembered that mile 12 was somewhere around that bridge and if I wanted to finish strong, I needed to have enough left in my tank for the end of the race.
Throughout the next few miles, I stuck as close to the pacers as I could. I kept thinking, “if anyone can get me through this, they can!”
I had to laugh a bit when I heard one of the pacers holler “water on the right”! That meant water break, right? NO. It meant grab water and keep going! Okkk…so that’s how this was gonna be, huh? Nothing like a little powerade up your nose! For the remainder of the race, I alternated water and powerade with each stop. Thankfully, the temperature and weather were perfect for this race and I never felt as if I lacked hydration.
It was around mile 3 that I introduced myself to our 2 hour pacer.
His name’s Joe, he’s a fellow runDisney fan, and he’s from the south. Instant friends, right?
Photo credit
I loved that he had a GoPro on his pacer sign!
We approached Tiger Stadium around mile 5 and I couldn’t believe that I was still feeling great. Our pace picked up a bit and I remember seeing a few miles on my Garmin in the 8:50’s range. I choked down a GU (while running and without water – another first) which wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I’m so used to taking GU while walking and with a glass of water, so that feat was interesting to say the least.
Death Valley!
Surprisingly, I didn’t feel like death…well at least not yet, anyway….
You can see the two different signs for both races here – the half and the full split around mile 11.
At one point, Joe ended up with both the half AND the full pacer signs! Was that even possible? Haha!
After leaving Tiger Stadium area, we approached another favorite part of this race for me…the lake and the gorgeous homes that are around it!
It was around mile 8.5 that my legs began feeling like mush. The ball of my left foot hurt like crazy and I couldn’t wiggle my toes in any way to make it stop. I knew I had to keep going and just keep up the pace. I also reaaaaaaally wanted to blow my nose (I had tissue in my flip belt), but the act of locating the tissue actually took effort and I was way too worn out for any extra effort. A little cough/congestion also set in but I managed as best as I could.
Photo credit
I love this picture here because it just shows the drive and determination on my face. Music was playing and all I focused on was putting one foot in front of the other. “I CAN do this…I CAN do ALL things” was repeated over and over in my mind.
I took choked down another GU around mile 9 and I was shocked at how fast the miles were really flying by. The funny and inspiring spectator signs also helped the time fly by – one of my favorites read: “YOLO – So Run FASTER”!
I loved having my playlist on my iphone along with me. Need to Breathe’s “Keep Your Eyes Open” (which helped me so much during last year’s RnR NOLA Marathon) came on at the exact moment I needed to hear it. Somehow I found enough energy to keep up the pace. Never doubt the power of good music!
As we approached mile 12 and “the bridge”, I tucked my head and prayed that God would help me through. I didn’t want to see the bridge, I just wanted to focus on one foot in front of the other. I knew I was on target for my goal and I would be so mad at myself if I stopped. I was reminded of the bracelet on my wrist from Team413 – it simply read “Can Do ALL Things”. I wear this bracelet every time I know I’m going to push myself in a race and the reminder always makes a difference!
This was also the point where I put away my camera. I didn’t even take my traditional mile 12 picture…that goes to show you exactly how bad I felt. Not only did my legs feel like mush but so did my arms. I literally had NO energy left in my body. Somehow, I managed to tell Joe how I was feeling and he encouraged me to keep going. In my mind, I knew I had already been running for over an hour and forty five minutes straight (again, another first) – I only had a few minutes to go and I would be finished. The times were constantly counting down in my head – I started that process around an hour and thirty minutes.
As we turned onto the final road for the finish line, there it was. Only problem – it was about 0.4 miles away. Joe asked how far I started behind him and I told him not far. He told me to “go!” and go I did.
I could hear him hollering as our group neared the final chute, “2 hour half marathoners here! One fifty niners coming through!”
I heard my parents call out my name but all I could do was turn my head to acknowledge them. I couldn’t even muster a wave.
I remember checking my watch here because I felt like I still had so far to go! The official race clock said 2:02 and I wanted to make sure that wasn’t right!
Somehow (I have no idea how), I found enough energy to lift my arms and smile as I crossed the finish line with a half marathon time and official PR of 1 hour, 58 minutes and 56 seconds.
I did it….sick and all - one of the toughest things I’ve ever done in my life, mentally and physically. I couldn’t believe it.
As soon as I stopped running, my body swayed and I thought I was going to fall over. My body had this weird I just ran a full marathon stiff-feeling (which so wasn’t true). I started walking funny and it struck me as odd and hilarious all at the same time! I also finally had a chance to blow my nose. Ahh…that felt so good!
My next mission after crossing the finish line was to find Joe and take a picture with him. Without his guidance and pep talks, I never would have accomplished my goal.
Sweet, sweet glory. This still feels like a dream!
It took a while (because I was walking funny), but I finally found my parents. We took a few pictures, then walked back over to the finish line to cheer on Kayla.
Giving us a thumbs up as she passed by!
I could not have asked for a more perfect day. This truly was one of the best days of my life, one of my favorite races, and a day I’ll remember forever. This whole experience tops my list of my favorite moments, ever!
Somewhere throughout the journey, Joe asked how many in our group were running their first half – several of them were which was really impressive! Then he asked how many had five under their belt? A few did. Next, ten half marathons – I knew I had more than ten but couldn’t remember my actual number (isn’t that awful?). I counted today – this race was half marathon #19 for me! Crazy how far this journey has taken me over the years and I’ve loved (almost) every step! :)
I’m going to save the post-run party for another day since this is already long enough. If you stuck with me through it, I thank you!
I also thank each and every one of you SO much for your sweet words, tweets, texts, facebook/instagram messages, and prayers. It all means so much more to me than you’ll ever know. I love the community that is the running world and I am so grateful for all of you!!
<3
"Of course it's hard. It's supposed to be hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it. Hard is what makes it great."
-- Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks), A League Of Their Own
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Have you ever run with a pace group or pacer? If so, what are your thoughts on the experience?
