half marathon recap.

13.1 miles.  {check!}

Just rounding the last corner to the finish line!

My bib!

This was my 2nd half marathon, and I was so excited to run it.  Training went really well.  I started the last week of December and the most I ran was 10 miles... so I was a little nervous for that extra 3, but I made it!

With the time change springing us forward an hour, 4:45 a.m. (which felt like 3:45) was an early wake up call.  We had to be at the race by 6:30, and I wanted to make sure I ate early enough so I didn't get sick.

My sweet mom came over the night before and stayed the night with me (TL had to work) to take me to the race in the morning.  I know it was early for her, too, but we had a great night out over a big italian dinner!  Yum!

All my gear ready to go the night before ;)

With more than 5,500 people running the race, you can imagine how crowded it was!  The first mile was really hard... dodging people in every direction.  My first mile was my slowest, at about 10:30.

From there, I took off.  TL met me and waved just after mile 1, and I was so excited to see him I almost started crying.  (dork, I know)


After seeing him, I fell into my pace.  I tried to slow down so I wouldn't get tired in the end, but I felt comfortable at about 8:55 for the first few miles.

Mile after mile, I just kept getting quicker.  I averaged 8:45 for about 5 miles - then at around mile 9, I stepped my pace up to the 8:30s.

Mile 11 came quick, and it hit me hard.  My legs started getting tired and I was really thirsty.  But I knew I could do those last two miles... it's all a mental game!

Coming back into the stadium for the finish was so much fun.  I picked up my pace again when I heard the crowds and finished as strong as I could.

Official finish time: 1:54:37.  My overall average was 8:45 min/mile.  My goal was to finish in under 2 hours... and when I finished, I was so happy :)  I ran my first half in 2:08:10 back in 2008.

I couldn't wait to see TL, he was waiting and taking pictures at the finish line!

With friends/runners Leslee & Shelley.  Leslee surprised me with my first 13.1 sticker signed by professional athlete Frayed Laces!