More Magazine/Fitness Magazine- Half Marathon NYC
My very first half marathon! DONE! Let me just say that 13 miles is long and 13.1 miles is even LONGER!!! Yes, it's the .1 that will get ya. I can't say that this race was hard, it wasn't easy but I honestly didn't feel like I was going to die and the thought of giving up didn't enter my mind like it did on the long run we did at home. I kept pushing and when I finally crossed that finish line, I cried!
Saturday night we headed in early, ordered Carmins pasta and rested for the big day. All day Saturday I pushed water, I just drank and drank any water I could get my hands on. I also did indulge in some breads and other yummy carbs! I laid out my race day outfit, pinned my bib on my shirt, put the timer thing on my shoe, made sure my watch was out and my ipod was charged. I was in bed early and actually able to sleep. I woke up at 6m a little nervous but jumped in the shower to wake myself up, got dressed, made myself a PB&J sandwich and drank my energy drink. Once we hit the lobby, it was time for a quick picture and a last restroom stop. Tummy didn't feel to hot, but I thought it was just because I was nervous. OH GREAT! Grabbed a cab (yes, we took a cab to go run!) found our spot and started to warm up. We aren't the fastest runners, so we were actually in the very back and when I say the back I mean, right before the walkers! I was okay with this, after all this was our first half. We waited, waited, waited and waited until we felt rain drops. CRAP! Luckily it only lasted a few drops, 8 am rolled around and we were off. Well, we weren't off, we walked for about 12 minutes before we even hit the starting line. Jen, Liz, mom and I stayed together for all of 3 minutes. The first walk break and mom and I were left alone. We were okay with this. I really wanted them to do their best time possible. Mom and i stuck together, alternating our running for 3 minutes and walking for 1 minute. Then we see the first Hill! It slowed us down but didn't stop us! At about 4 miles, we hear this bicycle coming through, yelling to move aside, runners coming through. I turn to my right to see two women side by side running as fast as they could. WHAT, they are almost done and we aren't even half way through. We pushed on. Oh, there's another hill. This was a long one. I honestly thought it would never. ever. end. We walked it. Yes, I walked the hill and I wasn't the only one. When we hit the 6 mile stretch there were crowds of people all holding signs and cheering us on. Just what I needed. I really felt great. I felt great until we hit that long hill for the second time. At about 9 miles I felt weak. I finished my pack of jelly beans, grabbed some water and pressed on. At 10 miles, I was limping. My left leg hurt so bad it was hard to walk. So at 11 miles, I picked it up and just ran, I ran without stopping for a mile. I then saw my Aunt, who had already crossed the finish line but was coming back to get us. We tried our 3/1's and sometimes ran longer, sometimes walked longer until we hit 12.89, then they wanted me to run it out. So I tried until I hit 12.98, I stopped and said I would run when I saw people! At 13 miles, I picked it up for the last .1 up a HILL! Yes, the last stretch to cross the finish line was up a hill. The crowd was cheering me on and I made it! I crossed the finish line and completed my first ever half marathon. 13.1 miles!!!!!
If you have ever told yourself that you can't run, that you would never ever be able to run 2 miles let alone 13. I HIGHLY recommend you get outside and RUN! It was the best feeling! I am already looking forward to my next one.
DISTANCE: 13.12 miles
TIME: 3 hours and 14 minutes
Average pace: 14:59
I'm not proud of my time, I'm just happy I finished.
Saturday night we headed in early, ordered Carmins pasta and rested for the big day. All day Saturday I pushed water, I just drank and drank any water I could get my hands on. I also did indulge in some breads and other yummy carbs! I laid out my race day outfit, pinned my bib on my shirt, put the timer thing on my shoe, made sure my watch was out and my ipod was charged. I was in bed early and actually able to sleep. I woke up at 6m a little nervous but jumped in the shower to wake myself up, got dressed, made myself a PB&J sandwich and drank my energy drink. Once we hit the lobby, it was time for a quick picture and a last restroom stop. Tummy didn't feel to hot, but I thought it was just because I was nervous. OH GREAT! Grabbed a cab (yes, we took a cab to go run!) found our spot and started to warm up. We aren't the fastest runners, so we were actually in the very back and when I say the back I mean, right before the walkers! I was okay with this, after all this was our first half. We waited, waited, waited and waited until we felt rain drops. CRAP! Luckily it only lasted a few drops, 8 am rolled around and we were off. Well, we weren't off, we walked for about 12 minutes before we even hit the starting line. Jen, Liz, mom and I stayed together for all of 3 minutes. The first walk break and mom and I were left alone. We were okay with this. I really wanted them to do their best time possible. Mom and i stuck together, alternating our running for 3 minutes and walking for 1 minute. Then we see the first Hill! It slowed us down but didn't stop us! At about 4 miles, we hear this bicycle coming through, yelling to move aside, runners coming through. I turn to my right to see two women side by side running as fast as they could. WHAT, they are almost done and we aren't even half way through. We pushed on. Oh, there's another hill. This was a long one. I honestly thought it would never. ever. end. We walked it. Yes, I walked the hill and I wasn't the only one. When we hit the 6 mile stretch there were crowds of people all holding signs and cheering us on. Just what I needed. I really felt great. I felt great until we hit that long hill for the second time. At about 9 miles I felt weak. I finished my pack of jelly beans, grabbed some water and pressed on. At 10 miles, I was limping. My left leg hurt so bad it was hard to walk. So at 11 miles, I picked it up and just ran, I ran without stopping for a mile. I then saw my Aunt, who had already crossed the finish line but was coming back to get us. We tried our 3/1's and sometimes ran longer, sometimes walked longer until we hit 12.89, then they wanted me to run it out. So I tried until I hit 12.98, I stopped and said I would run when I saw people! At 13 miles, I picked it up for the last .1 up a HILL! Yes, the last stretch to cross the finish line was up a hill. The crowd was cheering me on and I made it! I crossed the finish line and completed my first ever half marathon. 13.1 miles!!!!!
If you have ever told yourself that you can't run, that you would never ever be able to run 2 miles let alone 13. I HIGHLY recommend you get outside and RUN! It was the best feeling! I am already looking forward to my next one.
DISTANCE: 13.12 miles
TIME: 3 hours and 14 minutes
Average pace: 14:59
I'm not proud of my time, I'm just happy I finished.
Nicole, we are so proud of you that you are part of the 13.1 club of probably 1% of the whole world's population. It wouldn't have mattered if you took the whole 4 hrs. to run it---you accomplished it. Again, WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWe Love You,
Cat and Nicki