Surf City Half Marathon

I should've known it was doomed on Thursday!  I woke up Thurs. morning feeling like garbage!  I had a really bad headach and felt super dizzy.  I went to see Dr. Sharma and he gave me some strong antibiotics and told me lots of rest before Sunday, since I was registered to run the HB Half Marathon.  I followed the doc's orders and rested.  I woke up at 5 am today and got ready for my race, peeked out the window to see the rain coming down.  I forgot my bar (which is the only thing I can eat on race day) and ran on an empty stomach!  As the gun went off, I noticed that my chest was feeling a little tight, I think my body is still fighting this cold!  The rain never let up and I felt queasy at mile 9 (thanks to the race coordinators - there was no food on the course - usually there is an orange or a banana - nothing!).  I had to slow down my pace and drink lots of water.  I finally came to the 12 1/2 mile and Alison met me and we sprinted to the finish line!  My time is nothing to really brag about except that I did it!  I did it with the rain and wind!  I did it on an empty stomach (which I never reccomend doing)!  I did it with a cold!  I did it!  Here are my splits:

 3 mile:  26:34 (8:52 pace), 7 mile 1:13:06 (9:26 pace) and drumroll please- FINISH TIME: 2:09:07 (9:51 pace)

What was the best part of my race today.....Coming home and having my boys welcome me with their metals - they ran the kids race and got a mini-size of my metal!  They did great...they each ran 1 mile in the rain and said they had fun!  I am so proud of my boys!

 



 Okay, so I'm editing this because as the day has gone on...I have felt like any of you reading might think this was a horrible race!  It wasn't as bad as it sounds!  I ran with Jenni for the first 9 miles - Thanks, Jenni - I loved hearing Jenni laugh everytime a new song came on her mp3 player (her hubby made her a surprise mix and it kept me smiling hearing what was next).  The smell of the ocean was amazing as I ran up PCH!  It was nice to be out on the road pushing myself beyond my limits- it wasn't easy running on sponges (that's what my shoes felt like).  I love that I don't have 1 blister on my feet - thanks to Jodi who warned me to put glide all over my heels and toes to keep this from happening!  I love that Alison met me at the end and pushed me through the pain in my hips and knees to sprint across the finishline - Thanks, Alison for the great adventure!

 I love running so much and this was a great race - I think the whole food issue kind of spoiled it for me (along with the cold - as in sinus and ear infections, leading to lungs feeling like a smoker)!  But, I am looking forward to doing it again - pushing myself and trying my best to attain my goal of 13.1 in under 2 hours (I've done it once, I know I can do it again).  Thanks, Jenni - your blog post made me realize how much fun yesterday was and although it was pouring rain and windy...it was an adventure I am proud of!  You were a great running partner and I hope we can do it again!

P.S.  I missed my running partner, E, so much!  I can't wait to run Agoura's Great Race 13.1 with her in April!