My First Half Marathon!

[sweetiesparkles]

I did my first half marathon race this Sunday. It was the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon and Half Marathon. I followed the training plan from Jeff Galloway, long distance runner/Olympian that advocates walk-run intervals to reduce fatigue and increase endurance. It especially helps new runners (like myself) and runners who are recovering from injury complete any race distance.

The temperature at the starting line was 62°, sunny, and a little humid. Normally that sounds awesome but we have had mostly 40s for training weather in the past few weeks. Our Wisconsin winter was also very cool. Many times I was running outdoors in layers upon layers.

My goal for my first race was just to finish upright and need no medical attention, including IV fluids or a bucket for puke.

I started out running a little faster (11:30) because the crowd was excited and I was too. I was glad I had Runkeeper on my phone cause I saw my pace and knew that I needed to slow the pace down. My training runs were done at about a 14 minute mile so although the 11:30 minute mile looked okay, I knew the heat would catch up with me. (2 minutes slower on training runs was my plan.)

I saw an older man struggling a little bit in the 1st mile because he was running and walking without a strategy. I told him I was doing 1:1 intervals and he kind of tagged along with me for the entire race. The man had planned to drop out at mile five because his knee was hurting but because the intervals were working for him he finished. That made me feel good that I was able to help someone even though I was doing this race for the first time. (He was an experienced marathoner/triathlete battling a knee injury and was old enough to be my Dad...)

Along the route, I noticed some people were dropping like flies. Someone was getting IV fluid at mile five, people had cramps, and a woman was puking in a garbage can at mile eight. I ran with a handheld so that was awesome because I could take sips of water whenever I needed to. Every water station I would dump cold water on my head and that really helped. It was getting to 70 by then and again, although that seems great for some people, we did not have that type of weather here this year. Today for example, it is about 48 this morning.

I felt good until about mile nine when I started drinking tailwind. Normally tailwind sits great with me but they were handing out bananas at mile five and I had just eaten a whole one (I was nervous during breakfast so I did not eat as much as I should have.) I think the sugar was just a little too much so I backed off the tailwind and just consumed water. It could have been nerves too. My stomach was great after that.  

My strategy was to run conservative 1:1 intervals until mile 11. When I got to mile 11, I decided to run until the finish line. That was awesome! I felt great! For a first time runner to have negative splits meant the world to me.

Going through Lambeau Field was fun, but I've done it a few times before in 5K's and I'm also a season ticket holder. I did get a great picture though so if I learn how to PIP I will do that.

I finished the half marathon in 2:58:30. Average pace: 13:37/mile. As stated above, my goal was just to finish but once I got toward the end, I wanted to get a sub 3.  I had dreams of doing a 2:30 but realized a few weeks before the race that it was unrealistic. I just wanted to feel good.

Recovery has been great! No soreness because the training plan I used (Jeff Galloway) had me run a 11 mile, a 12.5 mile which I turned into a half, and an and a half marathon distance before I completed the race. I never felt anxious about the distance or anything.

My husband and my daughter took their bikes and met me at a few points along the route. That was awesome to see them and they took a few "first half marathon" pics.

Looking back, would I change a thing? Probably not. I loved my first half marathon experience. I have plans to run some shorter races this summer and a relay with friends in the fall. I realize I am not a super competitive runner, just a leisurely runner who would like to do a few races per year. This race was fun and yet challenged me.

For people just starting out, remember that Forward is a Pace. Fast or slow, we all get to the finish line if you train smart and train hard. It's not just a 5K, it's not just a 10K, every race you can learn from and grow.  Celebrate your victories!

Last year at this time I was completing my first 5K after years of inactivity and now I am half marathoner!

[jamalynn]

Congratulations!!!

[jene]

Congratulations!

[bostonmichelle]

Congratulations!!!!

[itsme]

Congratulations!! When you say 1:1 that's one mile running and one walking or is the 1:1 minutes? Just wondering since I have a half in two weeks and plan to run the entire thing but I know I may not be able to and need to be mentally OK with walking.

[kams]

Fun! Congrats!'

[fuckyourcouch]

Congrats!

[Mushe]

Congratulations! I'm so glad that it was such a positive experience.

[libbygrl109]

Congrats! Glad you had a great experience!

[thom]

This is really wonderful! You were smart and strong. Congratulations! Nice work on running the last 2 and getting a negative split.

So nice you could also encourage and help the older guy finish.

[sassystace]

Great job!

[sadlebred]

Congratulations!

[shellfish26]

Congrats! Awesome job finishing AND reaching your time goal!

[cinco]

Congratulations! You've come so far in the last year!

[shauni27]

congratulations! You should be so proud of yourself!!

[labbie]

I love this recap! So glad you had a great experience, finished in great shape and beat your goal time on top of all that.
Congratulations on your first half!!

[Deleted]

Congratulations! Well done half marathoner!

[irene adler]

That's awesome! I have a lot of cousins who run this, and someday I will make it back to join the fun

[trigal]

Well done!!

[mandiespharm]

Congrats! Nice recap!

[moreace01]

Congratulations! Sounds like you had a great experience.

I'd love to run through Lambeau! How fun!

[jchokie79]

Congratulations on your first Half Marathon! How awesome you were able to help someone else out, I would've felt great about that too!

[shell24]

Congratulations! Great job!

[sweetiesparkles]

May 20, 2015 0:05:03 GMT -5 @bluesky said:

I need to run with you!!

Where do you live!? Lol.

[sweetiesparkles]

May 19, 2015 12:46:27 GMT -5 itsme said:

Congratulations!! When you say 1:1 that's one mile running and one walking or is the 1:1 minutes? Just wondering since I have a half in two weeks and plan to run the entire thing but I know I may not be able to and need to be mentally OK with walking.

Yes, 1 min run, 1 min walk.  Could have changed to 2:1 based on race pace but I really wanted to stay conservative during my first half.  So glad I did--at the end most people around me looked dead and I was passing everyone.  

If you follow an interval like this, it is super important that you start the intervals in the first mile.  People will pass you then but you will meet up/pass them at the end.

Make your first 1/2 something you eould want to do again--don't exhaust yourself!!

[juliabug]

Congratulations on your first half!

[hurricanedrunk]

Yeah for finishing your first half!

I just finished my recap of the Cellcom full and saw your post!! What a fun race!