First Half Marathon Recap

[soveryexcited]

So, it didn't go as I had hoped.

Last weekend I ran 13.1 miles (very similar course) with a time of 2:01. I felt super strong and fast and so I was pretty excited for the race and hoped I could come in below 2 hours.

I got there plenty early and stretched a little bit. The gun went off and everyone charged out. My first nine splits were:
9:30, 8:49, 8:47, 9:08, 9:16, 9:07, 9:13, 9:29. I've been fending off a chest cold for the last week or two and I was hacking away from the get go. I'm not a great spitter, so instead of spitting out the phlegm I was just swallowing it back down. Bad idea. I started to feel nauseous  with all of that crap going into my stomach around mile 7. There were a couple times when I was coughing so hard that I thought I was going to barf. Not good. Mile 9 I hit a wall. Physically, mentally and everything inbetween. The rest of my splits were: 10:19, 10:44, 9:46, 10:54, 11:33. I started having to walk most of the last four miles. I was so upset. I haven't felt like that before actually. I felt like a total failure as I walked and everyone flooded by me. I saw the 2:15 pacers run by and I just wanted to crawl over to the side of the road and die. My body wasn't working; my IT band started to hurt, and my feet and ankles were just blocks. It was awful. It felt like I was never ever going to finish the race. My final time was 2:14, which was below my C goal of 230, but it was heartbreaking for me after doing so amazingly well the weekend before and feeling so strong. Somewhere around mile 11 is where I called my husband sobbing. Ugh. I saw about three people being taken away by ambulance which surprised me a little bit... is it pretty normal for people to be needing so much medical attention during a half?

I realized a couple of things. I will taper properly next time. Not run 13.1 miles the weekend before. Doh. I will run twice the week before the race to work out any weirdness. I will eat properly the day or two beforehand. Last night was not a good dinner night in that I didn't eat anything of real substance. We were out of town at my parents house, so it was hard, but I think I felt really bad because I hadn't eaten enough the day before.

It was a good lesson, but it still sucked.

Oh well! There is always next time!

[katinthehat]

It's not a bad race if you learned some lessons from it! But I'm sorry it didn't go as well as you had wanted

[kams]

I'm sorry it wasn't a great day today. But, you know what - I think you are absolutely primed to run a sub2 half and feel good the whole way through. THe things you would do differently next time will absolutely make the difference.

Congratulations on finishing despite it all!

[cinco]

Sorry it wasn't your day, but congrats on your first half marathon!

[MrsE]

Everyone has good races and bad races. My first half wasn't what I was expecting either, but I had a fabulous PR with my second! Congrats on your first half! You finished and still had a great time! You should be proud.

[runaways]

I'm sorry it didn't go as well as you'd hoped. That actually sounds really similar to my first half experience. I have no evidence to back this up but I really think that first time races at any significant distance are just hard for most people. You don't know what to expect or how your body will react to the distance in a higher stress situation than training runs. I bet you'll be able to cut a lot of time off on your next one just from experience.

[jchokie79]

I'm frustrated for you but I still think you did awesome! On my best day, I would be thrilled with a sub 2:30. You should be very proud of yourself for running a Half Marathon, that is a big deal! Congratulations!!

[Wines Not Whines]

I'm sorry your race didn't go as planned. I think you're primed for a big PR next time!

[sassystace]

Sorry it didn't turn out as hoped! Still a PR (Great job!) and lots of experience gained for your next half.

[skwcm80]

Sorry the race didn't go as hoped, but congratulations on finishing. That is a huge deal.

[shauni27]

GREAT job on FINISHING your first half, even though it was so hard! And remember the important things--you learned a lot and your are now a HALF MARATHONER! So exciting! I am sorry you had those awful experiences during your race (that happened to me during my last half and I was so disappointed in myself that I cried through most of the race) but just know that when you run another one it will be easy in comparison

[D2M]

Most people would have quit if they had to deal with bad knees, nausea and a hacking cough. Huge kudos to you for finishing and congrats on tackling your first half. I agree that you are absolutely primed for a strong finish at your next half!

[D2M]

Most people would have quit if they had to deal with bad knees, nausea and a hacking cough. Huge kudos to you for finishing and congrats on tackling your first half. I agree that you are absolutely primed for a strong finish at your next half!

[amesmarie]

I'm sorry you had a disappointing race. But Congrats on finishing your first half. That's an amazing feat!!