So I get up at 6am, have my coffee, and leave the house a little before 7. The race started at 8 and wasn’t that far from my crack den.
I eat a granola bar (190 cal) around 7:15 and then grab my bib. It was a good thing I wasn’t there any later because it was a little chaotic.
I dropped my goodie bag off at my car, visited the blue stinky boxes twice and then lined up at the start.
We started on time and right away I felt tired; I’m not sure if it was because I wasn’t in the mood to race, sleepy tired or what, but I told myself to keep pace as long as I could and then I could lollygag the rest. (This never happens, but it’s a good way to trick yourself to keep going. And if you’re slow on the uptake like me, you can do this every single race and you’ll never catch on!)
Passed the 5k at 22:22, surprisingly faster than what I thought. I alternated between feeling like, I could run this pace forever and I’m going to have to stop and rest or else I’ll die.
I hit the 10k at 45:xx and told myself to hold on until halfway and then I could slow down.
I took my only gel at mile 8, around 58 mins in. I was running with a few other women which kinda motivated me to keep up since I was still vacillating between This is so easy! and I could throw up right now.
Mile 11 at 1:20:xx and hurting big time.
I made it to mile 12; 11 seemed to take forever, and then suddenly the finish line appeared. I felt like I should have kicked a lot sooner because the finish snuck up on me.
I heaved it to the end and finished in 1:35:00, 7:15 pace, a new PR; 5th in my age group, 19th woman, 182nd overall.
I don’t know what to think of this race, as shown by my perplexed and super sweaty face. The whole race I either felt really good or like I was going to pull a DNF.
Going in I felt a little out of shape since I haven’t raced in a month and haven’t done a single long run since Vegas. I am going to crap myself in Phoenix…
I grabbed a couple energy bars, chips, and orange from the post-race expo and headed home. (I’m not doing a race REVIEW since I’ve already done one, but they had great post-race snacks: donuts, muffins, cookies, fruit, drinks)
And now since we’re going to be home for the next 6 days before Phoenix, it’s time to go play with my puppy and my doiburger husband.
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{ 49 comments… read them below or add one }
Congrats on the new PR! You are super speedy!!
Also, I love your eyebrows. Weird, I know. Eyebrows are something I notice, though. Lol.
wow!!! congratulations on a new pr! that’s so amazing. i can’t believe that you pulled out that kind of pace when you were feeling so-so the entire time. you are bionic
Why are you so modest? That PR is incredible! I’m running my 4th half in Marc, and have 1:40 in mind… but I may be reaching for the moon? I wish you were there to pace me. Want to drive to Chico March 5th? hehe
your 10% off coupon code doesn’t work!
hmmm thats no good. it was on a flyer we got in our race bag. sorry about that!
Wow! That’s an incredible time!
I totally know that feeling of just feeling kind of… “bleh”. Funny enough, that’s usually when I run my fastest races. Perhaps I just want to be over as fast as possible?
New PR’s are always good. Better than a DNF or puke fest anyway. congrats!
you’re a mutant.
That is an AMAZING time! I’m dreaming of a 1:48-1:50 sometime soon so we’ll have to see. I’ll have to channel some of your inner speed demon to help me out!
Great job! Congrats on the PR!
Dang that’s fast!! I’m hoping for 1:45 in my next, though I know that’s a stretch. I feel like miles 1-8 are always easy, miles 8-12 are impossible, and the last literally flies by.
Great race! Congrats on the new PR!!! By the way, I literally just bought a spibelt yesterday..no lie. Oh well. haha
I just crapped myself when I read your time… Not what I expected. Freakin awesome time woman!
Can I tie a rope around your waist and leash on in AZ?
I was going to ask the same thing. What’dya say, SR?? Pull us along??
Congrats on the new pr!!!!
Congrats on your PR!
Awesome time on your half! : )
Nice PR ~ told you some serious butt-kicking would happen today.
Having other women there also spurs me on to run faster. Perhaps I’m just bitchy, but it’s satisfying not being able to see any other ladies in front of you. Not that it exactly happens to me very often, but the thought would be nice.
I love how you half hated this race and still manage to PR. Freaking.rockstar.
Way to push through it, girl! I will keep your advice when I run my first half in a few weeks!
Good job!
I’m not surprised, because: a. your legs are probably not too tired since you took it “easy” this week (I use this term loosely), and b. you felt like crap half of the time because you were pushing your comfort level – it makes sense!
Good job!!!
Awesome job!! Way to go!
Congrats. Great time!
You are sooooo fast! Congratulations!!!
Congrats on the PR! That’s amazing
Congrats on your new PR! 7:15 pace, wow!
NICE! I dream of being as “fast” as you! Can’t wait to hear about Arizona Rock N Roll. I am dreaming about flying out in 2012 for my 30th.
Great Race.
I can only imagine what you could do when you are feeling on your game!
Wow, that’s freaking amazing. That’s close to my 5k pace, but there is NO way I’m running that pace for 13 miles. I want to DIE running 7 min miles for 3 miles. Congrats!!
Geez! You felt like poo all race and run a PR! With running you never know! Good luck next week in AZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow! You’re so fast! Congrats on the new PR.
How do you look so glamorous after running 13.1 miles? Amazing.
Nice work girl! You rock!
That half was my first half ever (last year). If I had been paying better attention I would have ran it again this year. Whoops.
Wonderful post! Pics were coolio. Haute skirt.
blue stinky boxes, haha too funny! That is exactly what they are! Congrats on the PR!!! I love these recaps, especially when they end with good news!!
Congrats on the new PR! I love those races where you’re confused as to whether you’re going to vomit on the pavement or sprint a little faster-keeps you thinking about what the hell is going to happen!
Great job Sarah!! You’re going to do great in AZ!!
Great PR!!!! Just wondering – Have u ever ran with a hydration belt? I’m considering trying one out but am not sure. What’s your take on them?
You are the one and only thing that inspires me to get outside and run! (well, jog mostly).
x
WOOHOO a ne wPR…….CONGRATS!
crap! i just bought a spibelt 2 days ago! i coulda used that discount!
Way to go! I’m doing my first half in April and just want to FINISH it!
Question: when you run anything other than a race, just on normal days, do you bring your phone with you? I’m trying to decide whether I want to just use my phone for music or get something small like an iPod shuffle.
Sounds like a great race!
I have been so behind on blogs – I didn’t you know you were doing this one too! I ran it as a training run – I had only run 11 miles 2 weeks ago so I knew the last two miles would be brutal. Nevermind the incessant looping. I ended up 1:52:11 and I was content but the course showed .1 short for me.
Awesome job! Maybe those workouts on the janky treadmill are due some credit? Or not!
Congrats on your new PR! I’m impressed by your mental game. It seems like whenever I’m not feeling it in a race I psych myself out then I give up – I’m going to try your method next time and see if that helps. Nice work!!
Wow! Congratulations on your PR in this split-personality run
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