It's official. I've now run two 1/2 marathons, and so over the course of 6 months I have completed the equivalent of a marathon. My thighs are still screaming after the Marine Corps Historic Half, so I think I have an idea of what I might feel like after running all 26.2 miles in one fell swoop - hospitalized!
The conditions for the USMC Historic half were great at the start: overcast skies and a light mist, with temps in the 50's. I was happy to avoid heat-stroke and sun-burn. However the skies let lose twice on the runners and we had quite a downpour. I joked with my fellow runners: "If it ain't raining it ain't training!" It certainly didn't slow down the course as the winner broke last year's time by 2 minutes. I also beat my previous time by 5 minutes, coming in at 2:09:47. I had an asthma attack around mile 4 and dropped everything on the ground from my hydration belt bag. Thankfully the runners behind me didn't run me over as I stopped to collect a variety of things: driver's license, cash, tampons (YES - UGH!!) and the really important rescue inhaler. It's not every race that you find some chick stopping, turning around and grabbing things off the course - ON A DOWNHILL!! So, thank you to my fellow runners, and SORRY!
My Ipod didn't care for the rain, and conked out on me twice. I was able to get it restarted and hten the earbuds kept floating out of my ears on all the water running off my head. Just as we got to the base of the hardest climb the Ipod quit for good, so I kept singing Rihanna's "Pon De Replay" through my head all the way up 'hospital hill'. I made it to the top without walking but the pain behind my knees that had nagged me for most of the run got worse and I walked about a 1/4 mile. I got to the last water station and realized that the pain was probably just aching from my very soaked and cold running pants. I figured running my legs would keep the muscles warmer, and get me done and inside the Convention Center faster so I picked up the pace, hit the last, small hill, passed a few people which boosted my spirits and crested the hill. I saw the giant American flag and the mile marker: #12. Oh. I have 1.1 miles to go. Ok. I can do it. We rounded the last corner, and the wind, a very chilly raw wind, hit us in the face. Great. Marine's must special order this stuff. Well, I've lived in Pennsylvania and Alaska, so I've run in the wind and the rain before. I can do this. And the faster I do this, the sooner I'm done. So I picked up the pace and kept on. This has to be the longest last mile in the history of 1/2 marathons though. It didn't seem to want to end. I could finally hear the announcer, but I still couldn't see the finish line. Oh, is that it way off in the distance?? Yes, it is. But I'm still more than a quarter mile away. Oh. Come on legs you can do it. That's what those shoes say, "Just do it!" I finally crossed the finish line and there were my friends, ready to hold me up! Yea!!! Legs, you can take a break now.
Oh, and legs, don't worry. I won't register for another one of these for at least a couple months. The next one will be in October in Pennsylvania. I'm sure the weather will be better.
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