Southern Slim-Down

I guess I’ll attempt a race recap.  I always think of things to write during the race then promptly forget it all as soon as I finish.

The first couple of miles I spent just trying to figure out what I was doing.  Mile 2 my ankles were hurting but I just told myself it would pass.  Sure enough, by mile 3 I was feeling good and it was time to shed the jacket.  I was getting hot!  So I tossed my gloves at the second water stop and tied my jacket around my waist.  I was in full race mode!

Miles 3 through 6 went by kind of slowly, and at about the halfway point stuff started to hurt.  Specifically my hips and calves.  I don’t normally have calf issues, so that was weird.  I was worried they would cramp, but they never did.  

The last five miles went quickly, and I had some pretty good butterflies going during the last two miles.  I was going to finish a half marathon!  One girl that I had been talking to mentioned that she was trying to get home by 10, and that was my first inkling that I might finish in under three hours.  I hadn’t been looking at my time, so I checked it then and sure enough, I was 2:17 in with about a mile and a half to go.  I got really excited then!  I knew there was a nice hill at mile 12, and I took some extra walk breaks during that last mile.  I didn’t want to be dead at the finish.  I was able to run up that hill and finish strong.

This race has fabulous support!  Water/Gatorade stations every half mile, GU at mile 6, Gummi Bears at the last station (I think).  Note to self, don’t take the gummi bears.  I kept choking on those stupid things!  I took water at the first stop, then Gatorade at the next two, but the Gatorade seemed to upset my stomach so I stuck to water after that.  At mile 6 I took a GU, but I hate those things, so I sucked down about half of one and washed it down with water so I didn’t have to taste it.  I also carried some chews, so I had plenty of energy.

The pizza at the finish was great, but the best thing was cheering with my fellow fitblrs FOR my fellow fitblrs.  What an awesome experience.