After a 3 year hiatus, I am back to blogging. I'll get back to the girls after a couple posts, but here is one about running my first half-marathon.
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I couldn’t believe the race was finally here...13.1 miles. I had been preparing for 10 months for this, and now the moment was upon me. I had some questions and doubts, but mostly, I was excited…butterflies in my stomach wanting to jump out and get this thing started. I have heard that when running your first half (or full) marathon, your goal should be finishing. Period. Not finishing in a certain time, just finishing. Well, anyone that knows me, knows that wasn’t going to be good enough. Of course I had to set a goal…I set out to finish this race in “under 2 ½ hours”.
The day before the race, I (finally) made my music mix. It contained most of the songs from my 5k mix, but of course I needed a lot more songs – 4 times as many! As it always had been, music would be crucial to my success in running the race. I then received a call from my friend, Candace. An experienced runner, Candace would not be running City of Oaks this year, but said she would be at the water station at mile 9, and would run with me for a while, if I wanted her to. Of course, I said yes, thinking that I would need some encouragement at that point. I agonize a little more about my attire for the race…more layers, less layers? shorts or capri length? If I wear the shorts, I’ll have an extra pocket… Do I take my phone along in my pocket? My inhaler?
November 6, 2011. I didn’t sleep well enough, but I was up by 5:15 AM, and on my way to arrive at Mary Jane’s at 6 AM. My friend Mary Jane and her mom were going to walk/ run the half marathon. Our friend Tricia met us early to follow behind us and start the race together. Tricia had just completed the Boston half marathon a few weeks earlier. As we drove toward downtown Raleigh, 2 thoughts were on my mind – one, I wouldn’t run on-pace with either of these friends, but I fell somewhere in the middle. Second, I felt incredibly blessed by these friends (and my extended Lynn Rd. family) as I would have never known either of them if we had not transferred to Lynn Rd. Elementary. See, Tricia was the 1st grade teacher for mine and Mary Jane’s oldests…I am so thankful to have them as friends, and supporters in this race. We arrive and park at Cameron Village. We walk the short distance to the starting line at the NC State Bell Tower. Along the way, we make the necessary stop at the long line of port-a-johns. It is interesting to note the range of attire amongst the runners, and I am willing to bet that I was not the only one agonizing the night before. Everything from long pants and fleece jackets to shorts and tanks tops was seen, as well as a few that added some embellishments, such as pink tutus and a couple in matching “Where’s Waldo?” hats and shirts. As we approach the starting line, Tricia and I say our “good-byes” and “good lucks!” to Mary Jane and her mom. They head toward the back of the crowd, and I stay near the front with Tricia. I know I won’t be able to keep up with her but I figure that it will be nice to start together.
A few minutes later, we’re off. GO! Within about 55 seconds, Tricia fades into the crowds and I lose sight of her. I continue down Hillsborough St., and turn onto Ashe. I quickly realize that I have started too near the front, as runners whizz by me. But, I don’t care. My music energizes me, and I see friends, Ben and Kelty up ahead. They live 2 houses off Ashe, and have come out with their baby in a sling, to cheer on the runners. I spot Ben first, in his camo uniform, and then Kelty and Henry. I wave and keep going.
Candace had helped me with my training plan, and so I asked about the strategy for running the half…how often should I stop and walk (I obviously can’t run the entire 13 miles, right??) She says to walk through the water breaks. Okay. I can do that. Water breaks are about every 2 miles. So, I have gotten to about 1.5 miles, and I am burning up! I strip off my long sleeve layer and throw it on the side of the road (per my runner friends, this is what you do). I still feel hesitant, and since there is a cop watching nearby, I wait to chuck my shirt a little further down Western Blvd. First water break is right around the corner and I am feeling good.
I continue the run up a slight hill, through Boylan Heights and into downtown. It’s a beautiful day outside, and I feel alive. After completing a little over 3 miles, I notice the “2:15” pace group pass me. I was little surprised that I had been running faster than “2:15” up until this point, but also encouraged about my goal of “2:30”. I was on track. Miles 4 and 5 passed by uneventfully. About mile marker 5, one of Rob’s co-workers, Karen, was volunteering and cheering runners on. It was encouraging to hear someone cheer me on by name. Now I faced the big hill, up Glenwood Ave. (well, it looked big at the time). Good music kept me pumped up, and when I reached the top, and turned onto Peace, I realized the incline was not leveling off just yet. Almost as if on cue, “Eye of the Tiger” came on the iPod. I could do anything at this point. I kept going towards Cameron Village, knowing that I would see Rob and the girls, cheering me on, soon. As I approached, I kept searching and searching. Where were they? The 10k finish line was to the left, so maybe they’d be on the right. No, still not there. Okay, water break…I’ll walk through this and then find them. I just started running again when I saw them up on the right. Rob runs out beside me for a minute, takes some pictures, and runs back to the sidewalk. I turn back to look at the girls…they are blowing kisses and I blow some back. Yay! My family is there. I will see them at the finish line.
The next 2 miles are probably the hardest of the course. Still a bit hilly, and I am getting tired. I don’t know if I can make it to the next water station before a walking break. I decide to walk for about 30 seconds before starting again. Weird thing is that my hips hurt more on the restart. Maybe stopping and starting is not a good thing. Up ahead I see what I *think* is mile 9 water station. Yay! Candace will be there. I search and search, but I don’t see her. I keep running, and after I pass the table, I realize that not only was Candace not there, but I forgot to get water. Shoot! I am now heading down Hillsborough St., under the 440 beltline, with nothing ahead but boring terrain. I approach mile 9, feeling a bit defeated and hips starting to feel quite sore. I slow down to a slight jog, and then see 2 people literally BOUNDING across the median from the other side of the road, waving their arms. It’s Candace and another good friend, Christine. Hallelujah! Just the encouragement I needed. They quickly come along side me and start running. I told them I missed water the last time (which was mile 8.5) and Candace grabs some for me at the next station (mile 9.5). We run to the turn-around at the fairgrounds and start heading back down Hillsborough.
At this point, I have turned my iPod volume down a bit. Christine’s chatter is a good distraction from the hip pain and how much further I have to go. Mile 10. Okay, a 5k left – I can do this. Candace is paying attention to my breathing, encouraging me to take deeper breaths and telling me to breath slower every few breaths. We continue like this for a while, and I am a bit surprised they have stayed with me as long as they have. It dawns on me that, just like I support women in childbirth as a doula, they are my “running doulas” - providing encouragement, distraction, and supporting me to finish the race.
I see the sign for mile marker 13. So close. Christina Aguilera’s “Fighter” comes on the iPod (yes, a bit cheesy, but it was played in boot camp, and reminds me of how much I have pushed myself thus far). I turn up the iPod and start my sprint to the finish. Christine and Candace started slowing down, allowing me to go through the shoot at the finish on my own. As I approach, I am wildly searching for Rob, the girls, my mom. Where are they?? Aren’t they going to see me finish?? As I approach the shoot on the right side of the street for half-marathon runners, lots of bells and whistle start going off. What is going on?? At the same time I cross the finish line, the first full-marathon runner enters the shoot on the left. Wow, he’s twice as fast as me!! I quickly receive my medal, am adorned with a silver Mylar blanket (for warmth), and before I know it, Christine has her arms around me, tears streaming down her face. Her excitement and emotions make me start to grasp the moment and I tear up. I’ve done it!! I completed a half-marathon! And just ten months ago I could not even run! WOW!!! So, where is my family?
I still don’t spot Rob and the girls. I remember my phone in my pocket (one benefit of a “dumb” flip-phone – its small size), and call Rob. “Where are you? I’m done!” Rob, “What? You finished? We missed you?” Once we reunite, all is explained. They were right there at the bell tower. The girls were playing . According to my pace at the 10k mark, race predictions were that I would finish about “2:40”. So, Rob let the girls play and then they got over by the course about “2:30” to watch for me. I scolded Rob, “Don’t you know me? I SAID I was going to finish UNDER 2:30”. Official finishing time: 2:28:55.
