1/2 Marathon in Review (Talladega 21000)

 

So on September 16, 2012, I finished my first 1/2 marathon.  I mean, if  you had asked me in March, 2012, if I would run a half marathon ever in my life, let alone this year, I would have said "Heck NO!"  Seriously, I just wasn't that into running.  But, I completed an obstacle course in April and was so pumped about the challenge that when a runner friend said, "Hey, let's do this (this being the Talladega 21000)" I said, eh, why not?  So I commenced training, I guess around late May or early July.  I was very fortunate to have a friend who had done 1/2 marathons before and triathalons and marathons to push me along the way. 

Training wasn't too rough, if you don't mind getting up at 4:15 a.m. and running in the dark during the hottest part of the year!!!!  I mean, really, could I have picked a worse time to start training?  I don't mind the getting up at 4:15 a.m. part.  I do that anyway.  I have two small kids and a more than full time job so the only time I usually get to work out during the week is at 4:15 a.m.  I was also very fortunate to have a husband who understood the challenge and my commitment to it and encouraged me along the way.  And of course, as soon as I mentioned it to our crazy running friend, he was all in (that's us next to a car at 'Dega)!

Anyway, when race day came, I was a bundle of nerves.  During training, my last few runs of 10 miles were good but the last long run I had before race day was 11 miles and it was horrible (no, I never ran a full 13.1 during training).  During that horrilbe 11, I had cramps in both sides and my legs just wouldn't loosen up - I thought I would never be able to run 13.1 if 11 was like that.  Then the Tuesday before race day (a Sunday), I ran 5 miles on seriously hilly terrain without socks (because I had left them at home), and had ginormous blisters on the arches of my feet.  Brilliant!!!!  So I was unsure if I was actually going to make it to the finish, both mentally and physically.

Well, the planets must have been in alignment and God must have heard my prayers because I did make it and I finished in 2 hours and 13 minutes (10:10 per mile pace). 

When we first started, I struggled to keep a slower, steady pace as people raced past me.  I am seriously competitive (bet you could not have guessed that!) so it was all I could do to hold myself back.  But I just reminded myself that they would be walking later and I could make up time later once I found my rhythm.  Well, the first 3.5 to 4 miles were tough.  My legs just would not loosen up.  It usually takes about 2 miles for my legs to warm up but this was different, this was just plain pain.  Finally, though, the legs felt fine and then I was cruising.  The scenery was great too, always changing so you didn't get bored running a loop, and they had quotes from the movie Talladega Nights posted along the way which gave us all a good laugh.  I found my rhythm about mile 6.  I wish I had started out a touch faster but with my legs behaving the way they were, I think I was lucky not to be walking!  Well, as time went on, I did start passing all those people that had sprinted out of the starting gate.  It felt great!  When I came out of one of the tunnels from the pits, my husband and son were standing there.  I think that was probably between mile 10 and 11.  It was so encouraging to see them there cheering me on that I think I even picked up my pace some.  I cannot describe the feeling when I finished.  I was just so thrilled and excited.  I felt a little worn out but I didn't feel overly exhausted or like I was going to hurl.  It was totally awesome!  I mean, the boys beat me but, who cares!  I finished!

 

Some things I found helpful -
(i) good music - I listened to K-Love on iheart radio on my phone during the race, I varied my music during training;
(ii) cardio tracker/trainer - I used it during training to know my pace and used it at the race to know my distance - there are tons of free ones out there;
(iii) eating right the entire week to two weeks before race day - I did tons of research and got out of the "I gotta lose weight right now" mindset and into the "I need to fuel my body correctly for this race" mindset - I also experimented with meals and what worked for me during my long runs during training - food can really mess you up on race day;
(iv) hydrating myself for 3 to 4 days before race day;
(v) supportive family and friends;
(vi) a good training plan (you can find free ones all over the net);
(vii) a running buddy that will keep you accountable when you don't want to train.

I would highly recommend the Talladega 1/2 marathon for anyone wanting to run one and I will probably do it again next year.  It's not a boring loop and they actually make it a lot of fun!  My husband has his first 1/2 marathon in a little over a week.  Seriously, when the heck did we become runners????