Paradise Coast Half Marathon

I didn't actually set any goals for this half. It was so soon after Ragnar that I wasn't sure what my legs would allow me to do, despite my awesome runs this week. So my goal was simply: run it. Really run it. Ragnar has taken some of the easy-going attitude out of my runs lately and has reminded me that pushing myself can feel really freaking good.

So I went into the race knowing I'd push myself and embrace the discomfort. I also kept in mind a question recently posed by Kristina over at Blog About Running. Some studies suggest that starting slow is best, while others say that starting fast will win you a faster over-all time, even if you slow down in the end.

Pre-race: the crazed look just comes naturally. I wore the BondiBand to keep my ears warm. It worked!

This morning it was 48 degrees before race time. This was a definite reprieve from last week's brutal heat, but it was a totally different kind of pain. Matt and I arrived at the venue around 6:25, which gave me just enough time to use the bathroom and mentally prepare myself to freeze for the first mile of the race. (I warmed up nicely at that point, and by the end - even though it was only 60 when I finished - I was uncomfortably warm.)

The full moon was still high and bright when we began, but of course you can't really see it in the pic.

A little after 7am, off we went! The course took us through a beautiful community in Naples; having just run a half through my parents' golf community, I was excited to have gorgeously manicured lakes and topiaries to distract me.

Meg and I ran into Rachel, another teacher at our school who was running her FIRST HALF EVER today. So exciting!

Excited to get going!

Meg left me in the dust not long after this picture was taken. Speedy!

I decided to gun it in the beginning and see where it got me.

Around mile 4, when I ate my first Clif Bloks, I was beginning to feel the pain of the fast start. My legs were tired!

In the past, feeling tired this early would have completely shut me down. I would have walked, felt stupid for taking an unplanned walk break so early, and thrown the rest of the race. But my mind is a better friend these days, and I refused to listen to any kind of negative self-talk.

Pretty much every photo I took was wobbly or sideways, so here are some pictures from the race's website.

Another from the website.

The ONLY passable picture I took during the race.

At this point, I changed over from music to the Savage Love podcast. I needed a distraction if I wanted to keep pushing the pace. It worked! I was able to keep my pace a little more comfortable without slowing down too much. I knew by mile 6 that I was heading for a PR, and I refused to let up on myself.

A change in tunes helped me get back on a steady pace. From this point on, the positive splits show where I ate/drank.

Matt met me at mile 7 for a quick photo, and then I was in for the homestretch! The route was a nice loop, so once we were back on familiar ground I felt my energy rev back up.

Mile 7, still happy!

My splits are all over the place, but I couldn't be happier!

I noticed a girl tagging behind me, and she apologized. "This is my first half, and I just really like your pace!" We struck up a conversation and ran most of the last two miles together.

Almost there...!

8/20 AG, 184/351 OA, chip time 2:11:38!

The last half mile was on gravel, which I didn't love, but when I saw the clock I knew I'd made it and all the struggle was worth it. I kicked in the last of my energy to beat 2:12, and I did.

Finally at the finish!

I PR'd by 4 minutes. I never thought I'd be able to break my previous PR. It took over a year to do it, but I did! I just needed to change up my training and my mentality to do it!

I cried a little after I crossed the finish line. I was just so happy to finally have broken that PR.

Elated.

Matt and I found Meg at the massage tent. She had met her long-term goal of beating 2:00, coming in at 1:56. We both enjoyed the free massages, and then it was time to go home.

The Tiger Tail: my new favorite torture device EVER.

All smiles with our shiny new PR's!

I really do credit Ragnar for the success of this race. Learning to embrace discomfort, knowing I can do more than my mind thinks I can, realizing that (relative) speed is still something I can achieve, remembering the feeling of a great race...All this fed into my determination to just kick butt today.

And yes, this was my first race of my new age, the race I ran in honor of my birthday, and I couldn't have asked for better. Best. birthday present. EVER.

ABK