Another PR bites the dust….

Miss 1:34:35

Sunday morning I was Miss 1:34:35 – Sunday afternoon I was Miss 1:32:52

Saturday night before the race my husband asked me what my plan was and what my half marathon PR was. I said I had no plan because I wasn’t sure if my legs were going to give me 7:30s or 9:30s. After I reminded him of my PR he said – oh that’s fast – I don’t think you can beat that one! It’s little things like that, that motivate me. He didn’t discourage me. He encouraged me to prove him wrong.

Sunday morning my alarm went off at o’dark thirty. This was the least prepared I have ever been for a race and I was actually running late. Something I NEVER do. I’m anal about being on time or early for places. I think it’s an important quality. I called my mom to inform her that I was running late and she reiterrated my sentiments of feeling totally unprepared. We headed into DC and I was pleased to find out that the start of the 1/2, was where the St. Patty’s Day race I’ve run a couple of times started. So we found a great spot on the side of the street and walked down to the start. We ran into Charlie’s mommy and daddy(they were also running the race) and had just enough time to hit up the port-o-potty’s before lining up at the start.

I moved my way towards the front and ran into Linday Foley. One of my *heros* This woman is twice my age and can kick my butt any day in a race. She makes me excited for my future – I don’t worry one bit about getting older. I turned to my left side to get in a little stretch and the runner next to me was bib #818. I smiled. It was in that exact moment I knew I would pr.

My splits were 7:01, 6:56, 6:51, 6:58, 7:02, 7:01, 7:00, 6:56, 7:07, 7:10, 7:08, 7:02, 7:03, and a 1:31 – for a total of 13.23 miles according to Monsiuer Garmin. Was it a fast course you might ask? NO. It was three loops – which I actually didn’t mind. However there were about 5 or more turns each loop that were dead turns. Dead turn meaning – you are running down the street as fast as you can and you have to stop dead in your tracks to turn back the opposite direction. This breaks your stride. Then because there was also a 5K going on at the same time – on the same course – you started to literally run into walkers on your second loop. It sort of started frustrating me that the walkers of the 5K and the 1/2 were not aware of their surroundings and were completely not moving over for any of the runners. I was forced to waste precious energy to weave in and out of these people. I wanted to yell – but you can’t very well yell at someone wearing a cancer survivors shirt in a race that is raising money for cancer. So I kept my mouth shut and just told myself that everyone else was dealing with the same conditions I was.

I was the 14th overall female and I had fun. My mom and Charlie’s mommy cheered for me everytime we looped back and they saw me. Random spectators on the side said “you go girl!!” As I sprinted to the finish I was elated at my performance. I ran over to Charlie’s mommy when she finished and said – *I love us!! How much fun is it running a 1/2 marathon on a Sunday morning instead of being hung over from the night out at a bar?!?* Don’t get me wrong – I love a good night out sometimes. But being that I’m a mom – the running lifestyle works for me.

I don’t miss out on happy hours – because I don’t go to them period – I’m at home making dinner. I don’t miss out on going out to bars/clubs/concerts because I have a long run the next day. I’m in bed anyways so when my alarm goes off at 4:50 so I don’t mind getting up for a long run. I don’t have to rush to work in the mornings because I stay home with my kids – this leaves me room to get a run in.

Introducing….Miss 1:32:52

P.S. My new Saucony Arm Warmers ROCKED!! I highly recommend getting arm warmers – keeps your body cooler than a long sleeve shirt – but warmer than just wearing a tank/or short sleeve shirt.