"MOM"entarily Out of Order: A First!

Today was the day of my very first half marathon. I have been very anxious about this race for over a month, which is very unlike me.  I am usually pretty laid back about these sorts of things (running). I had been having small panic attacks this last week that I hadn't experience in any prior race (quick heart rate, shaking hands, etc.).

I woke up at around 3:00am this morning and tossed and turned for an hour before I was able to get back to sleep and then I didn't want to get up when my alarm went off at 6:00am. I volunteered to help out with some early morning day-of-race registration. It was a good decision. It kept my mind busy and unable to think about how nervous I should be prior to the start of the run otherwise I might have had a full blown panic attack!

I met up with my running buddies and we started out the run together at a pretty quick 8 minute pace for the first few miles. I realized that even though I could run that pace I couldn't do it for all 13 miles and that I was wearing myself out quickly so I slowed down and found my groove. As a result of being toward the front of the pack in the beginning and starting out fast I spent the rest of the race having people pass me but I was okay with it (though I didn't love it).

Now running on my own (each member of our group went on to run at their own pace) I settled in to a more reasonable speed for me. I felt a lag of energy after having exerted myself the first 3 miles (which I did in 24 minutes) but here's where the training paid off. I knew that as I stuck with it I would recover my energy and probably even have some at the end. For the most part the course was flat and took us through some really beautiful scenery. Volunteers were at specific mile markers offering water, Gatorade, and Gu. It was so nice to have them out their cheering us on and offering much needed moral support.

My confidence increased when I reached the half way mark and I knew I would be able to finish without having to walk or stop. However I then seconded guessed myself when the final back road we were on seemed to last FOREVER. It messed with my perception of the total distance. I didn't realize that we would be running 8 1/2 miles out and then turn around and do 4.6 miles back to the finish. In my training we would either go half the distance out, turn around and run back, or run the distance straight through one way. Of course once I hit the turn around point and had less than 5 miles back to the finish I was pretty happy.

I spent three days prior to the race really carb loading to ensure that I would not hit the proverbial "wall".  I did hit it on a training day and it was not fun. This time I didn't feel like I hit it but there was a section, right around mile 9 or 10, where our course had a steady hill that had to be dealt with while maintaining my current pace. Normally I avoid hills if at all possible but with this one I knew I was strong enough to take it on without losing momentum. It actually felt good to maintain my pace while using some force to do so and then to be rewarded with a nice flat surface afterward helped me to increase my speed slightly. It empowered me. I physically felt really strong and capable.

As I came into the final loop I was happy to see one of my buddy's cheering me on (she finished a good 15 minutes before me).  I spotted AH and Beeb as I entered the track for my final loop. Beeb hopped on the the track with me and we ran the final lap together. (Mr. B was handing out water to the finishers.) I had a woman next to me who seemed determined to pass me and I was just as determined not to let her. As a sprinter in my former running life this is an area I excel at, and now combine it with the strength my legs have from all the distance training and I was ready to kick it into high gear and finish well in front of her. At one point, as we rounded the last corner, Beeb shouted, "Mommy you're going too fast for me to keep up." It's nice to know I've still got it after all these years!

2 of my 3 running buddies. (#3 is in California celebrating the return of her husband from an extended business trip (3 months) with her kids at Disneyland)