As many of you that read this already know, I chose the half...Much of this had to do with my body, but it also had to do with my mind...After the marathon I spent the next couple of weeks a little burnt out, but wanting to continue to push badly...
Up until a week ago, I still thought I may still do the Whole...Then a training run of 13 reminded me that the half was the way I needed to go..So at 4 a.m. this morning, I awoke and got the family together(with Vanessa of course helping me), and we headed to Seattle with 1 goal...Break 2 hours and set a PR.
From the beginning the day started out perfectly..Arrived in Seattle..NO TRAFFIC, then again who else is driving from Silverdale to Seattle at 5 in the morning...Got a parking spot in a parking ramp, and low and behold find out that our spot is, no kidding, 2 minutes from the starting line....and the Port-a-Potties...As many of you know that have followed my weight loss and running, this(the port-a-potties, are key...and they did not fail me this morning before the gun went off:))
After my good luck kisses and hugs from my cheering section, I headed to the start line...Oh...I forgot...Today I decked myself out in a "AWESOME" outfit....Santa Shirt, Santa Socks, MY USA Shoes, Green Shorts and Green Hat....You that know me really well, can agree that I was channeling my inner Chris Kringle and Clark Griswold..
The Gun went off at 7:30 a.m. The only negative thing I have to say at all about this race is the first 3 miles...and only now 2 years into serious running can I complain about it...Back when I first started running, I figured you just ran to finish...When you came up to someone you pause and wait, wait for an opening etc. Patience, Patience, Patience....That is for the birds and for folks trying not to set a PR or a goal of any kind other than finishing...I was that person, I am not anymore...So what do I have to complain about...Those folks that pay no attention to their surroundings and stop in the middle of the road, move side to side talking to their friend...jumping out of the race to hug a loved one, but not watching for others around them...Call me insensitive.....but the first three miles of my race today were spent on sidewalks and weaving in and out more than a drunk at Beef Days(shout out to Solon, Iowa)..Weaving in and out, so I could achieve my PR...
In that first three miles I barely caught Vanessa and the kids waving as I sprinted by passing them on the sidewalk...
The next 10.1 miles? AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING...2 years ago when I did this race, I hurt, and I hurt bad at the end...the hills killed me, the downhills killed me and most of all my extra weight killed me...
Today, the roles were reversed...I killed the hills, drove down the downhills, and rejoiced that the weight is gone...and gone for good, because races like this remind me of why I have worked as hard as I have...
So some funny, motivating, and not so funny sidenotes from the race...
1) The runner at mile 12.75 who collapsed...Anyone that works that hard deserves to finish without incident..but sometimes the cards do not work out that way..Here is hoping he is OK and that he tackles his next race...
2) 2 hour pacers...there was nothing more motivating then catching up to the pacers(they started 6 minutes before me) and watching the distance grow, and grow, and grow between us...
3) The 13 year old girl whose parents wrote on the back of her shirt..."You are being beat by a 13 year old girl" Hilarious, but will not lie, as I watched all of those around me as she passed us, not one of us did not kick a little harder...I think she did beat me...
4) The Santa outfit got some cheers..."Go Santa" "You go Santa" Loved it, and appreciated it...
5) Domino's Bread Bowl Pasta...Come on, do you think I would make that mistake again...If you have no idea what that means, read the Marathon Blog below...
6) Kings of Leon...Added to the Playlist this time...Loved it...Along with the new tune by Jay-Z and Alicia Keyes...
7) Getting the call after the race from my Dad, and him informing me that I was running in the 99 age category...Guess they may have not read my reg form correctly...or last minute registrations did not all get in the computer yet...Whichever, pretty funny...
8) The feeling running the course this year, compared to 2 years ago...I can not possibly put into words the difference in my mind as I went the 13.1 Again I felt like I belonged..
9) The call to Vanessa after I crossed the finish line..."You are finished"..."Yes"..."Already" "Yes" "Shoot, we missed you"....I would have loved them to see me finish, but knowing it was because I ran faster than they thought I would, that caused this, makes me happy...
10) My family...Again, Vanessa and the kids were out there with bells and whistles...Cannot wait till the day that we can all run one together...
So what's next..Look for an updated race calendar soon...and enjoy the pics...the few that we have...because of the crowded ness and the quickness of the race...We got a picture from before and way after at home.....Oh, and by the way...PR was attained...1:52:14..Breaking my old PR by 13 minutes...
