Charleston Half Marathon

I was still licking my wounds a little over the past weekends half marathon performance, but really just tried to focus on having fun and pushing myself. The trip would include the Fowler clan with Heath and Addison along for the ride. We hadn’t done a group trip like that in a while and I was excited for some fun. The group even watched Addison Friday night and let me and Heath have dinner like a real grown up couple! 

Heath’s plan race morning was to see us at the start and try to see some of the course and then the finish line. This man can spectate like no other, and all while keeping Addison entertained! Morning of we all rode together and had our typical drama and laughs that make racing with them so much fun. We finally find the portajohns and there isn’t a soul in line! Can you believe this! I even took a picture, truly the craziest thing I’ve ever seen at a race. I peed like 4 times just because I could.

The night before everyone discussed what their goals were, and Susan asked me what time I was shooting for. I told her that last week I had hoped for 1:50 but that wound up in a disaster so I again wasn’t quite sure what I was capable of. Training won’t tell you this when you cart around a stroller on your long stuffJ. Forrest told susan to start out at 8:30 pace and just see if she doesn’t blow up. I told her I’d be game for that ride if she wanted to run w/me. Plans in place we started the race excited and ready to go.

Within the 1st mile, I lost a gel down the back of my leg and this was after I lost one at the start of the race. Good thing I stashed one more in a place that wasn’t going anywhere. Mile one along the waterfront it was me, Susan, and Regina all running together. Truly priceless, this never happens in a race and it was a picture perfect moment for me. The miles passed pretty quickly for me, Susan entertained me with a few stories . . . I may have fussed at her a little bit for constantly looking at her garmin. Mile after mile though, I was in the groove. The groove she’d programmed me for. It was kind of crazy really, I’d look at my watch and mile after mile our average would range from 8:28-8:29. I really didn’t even look at my watch but once a mile. We saw spectators, dogs, the ocean, and by mile 11 I was ready. I was ready to see what push I had. I didn’t look at my watch but I tried to step it up just a little. I just wanted to see what I had. Mile 12 I was still pushing but starting to feel it. I’d occasionally yell to make sure Susan was right behind me, and she always responded. In fact, I think her response at one time was, I’m still stalking you. Finally, I see the finish line. Forrest is there yelling us on and I don’t have much of a final kick to give. Susan on the other hand bumps it up a notch to finish 1 second ahead of me. We both finished 1:51, with my garmin saying the course was a little long. Either way, I was so happy. I was happy for Susan who had yet another PR, and it was great I was part of it again. I was happy b/c I was able to push myself again. I like to see what I’m capable of, it doesn’t always work for me but just knowing I gave it my all is all I can ask for right now. I guess that’s a post pregnancy PR. 

The rest of the clan (Forrest, Lisa, and Regina ) had great finishes, with Regina finishing 2nd in her age group. Heath was awesome to be out there in the cold. He even managed to take video of us finishing, I just wish I’d seen him! Addison is becoming an old pro at spectating, I just hope it continues once he becomes mobile! 

Two half marathons back to back weekends, very different finishes. I have 3 races in February saving the best for last, Thrill of the Hill trail marathon. Thanks to the peeps that keep me going, and extra thanks to the sponsors who keep believing in me even after having a baby.

Written by

Vivamus vel sem at sapien interdum pretium. Sed porttitor, odio in blandit ornare, arcu risus pulvinar ante, a gravida augue justo sagittis ante. Sed mattis consectetur metus quis rutrum. Phasellus ultrices nisi a orci dignissim nec rutrum turpis semper.

No Comments Yet.

Leave a Reply

Message