It was amazing! I have never been to such a huge and exciting race.
A friend and I headed down to San Diego Saturday morning to pick up our bibs and hit the expo. It was a lot of fun and we sampled everything and watched some of the elite's as they were getting interviewed. I bought my 13.1 sticker because I had no doubt I'd finish whether I hobbled across the finish, crawled, or ran. I needed to get that 13.1!
On race day my stomach was all sorts of jacked up from nerves. We woke up at 3 and headed out to get to the parking garage by 4 and got to the start line around 5. The half didn't start until 6:50 so my stomach had over 2.5 hours (my wave didn't get on the road until 7:30) to disagree with me. This was my friend's 11th (I think) so she was super calm and chill. During that wait we met a group of people who were all about running RnR races and one bought the tour pass which allows him to run all the North American RnR races and so far he's run a few. Unfortunately I didn't get to see the elite's start because for both the full and half starts I was in line for the restrooms. There was a 92 year old lady who ran the full and landed the world record as being the oldest to run a full. Again, I was stuck in line at the restrooms so I didn't get to see her take off. Stupid stomach mad me miss a lot that I really wanted to experience.
So, finally we get into our corrals to start and we got to hold the corral number. I was in corral 24. Oh my goodness it took forever to actually get to the start line (40 mins). I had signed up at a 3:00 finish because I wanted to start with my friend since I didn't know what to expect with a biog race. I figured I'd finish around 2:40-2:45 based on my pace for longer distances on my regular runs so I wasn't too far off on starting at the 3 hour group. Off we went at 7:30 and for the first 1/2 mile I was with my friend then I started to pull away and pass the others around me which were in corral 23. So many were already walking which surprised me. I didn't expect to see walkers until a few miles in. At this point I start taking it all in and realize that I'm actually running half marathon. I started getting teary eyed and and choked up but then I pulled it together and started to focus more. I kept looking at my watch to see how my pace was and I was surprised I was in the low 11s and high 10s. I kept telling myself I need to slow it down since I thought I'd be at no less than a 12 the entire way. I kept going though because I felt fine.
There was so much crowd support along the entire route. People with hilarious signs, cheering us on, some handing out shots, people in costume, and bands at every few miles. We had people honking, handing out paper towels, candy, drinks etc. The entire time I was taking it all in and reading the signs. They were cracking me up. At mile 2 I passed the 3 hour pacers. I get to mile 3 and I'm thinking "OMG, I have 10 more to go. How am I going to do this?!" Then I answered myself, "You've ran 10 before you can do at least 10 then if you need to walk it's OK." Self motivation and the crowd support along with seeing the other runners do their thing gave me the push I needed anytime I started questioning myself. I got to 6 and thought well crap, a 10k. That's my normal distance so I can make it to 7. Oh, got that, now on to 8, just one more mile and so on. The whole time I'm steadily passing people. Very rarely did anyone pass me so I was feeling good about that. I passed the 2:45 pacers somewhere between mile 6 and 8.
Jump to mile 8 and I am feeling amazing! I'm going strong under an 11 minute mile and enjoying everything around me and still passing up tons of people. I have my music playing and it's hyping me up. I'm getting lost in it. I decided to take a pic of the 8 mile marker and post it to FB. I felt great and then I start thinking, "Aha, I CAN do this." Then came the 8.5 mark and a short steep hill. I look at it and see everyone walking and think "Oh shit". I don't run hills ever. I purposely don't. I hit the hill and am killing it all the way up and passing everyone still. At the top I started feeling the running getting to me and I'm losing steam. Just after 8.5 I see a runner down. The medics were already there and another runner was trying to shield the downed one from spectators. That got to me and I had to get lost in the music and signs again.
At mile 9 we met up with the full marathoners and watching them helped pick me up. They were at mile 22 and going strong. They were passing us up like nothing and didn't even look like the run was phasing them. I was in total awe. I got to mile 10 and (the longest distance I had ever run at that point) and although I was struggling by that point I was still holding a steady pace and I told myself I had just PR'd distance and I only had 3 more miles which should only be 30-ish minutes left to go. I got to 11 and was really really feeling it and of course another hill. This one was not as steep but it was long. I started to see the photographers around here so I started to pose for them. I don't know how you guys do the jump shots but all I could muster was some sort of peace sign and a big smile. I would have tumbled and ate it had I tried to jump. I was busy sucking on a Gu packet trying to get the energy to keep running and not walk. I hit mile 12 and took another picture with my phone to take my mind off running for a bit. That helped since I was still pushing myself to keep going. One more mile. Just one more mile I was telling myself.
I slogged through the last two miles at my fastest pace (10:35 & 10:49). That last half mile though took forever. When I saw the 13 mile marker I picked it up. I was sooo close! That last .1 took forever too but I finally saw the finish and hauled it passing everyone in sight. It being downhill helped. I had a huge burst of energy and went through that finish line blazing hot. I was in a little bit of shock and a daze walking through taking pics after the finish.
Official finish was 2:25:25.
I waitied for my friend to finish and then when we were headed out we ran into that group we met at the start of the race. We went to lunch with them and discussed our next RnR race together...Vegas?
I was so surprised at my finish time. According to my watch I was at a 10:54 average with my fastest pace at 7:04 (thanks hills and probably the finish line surge). My average for the last 10k I did 2 weeks prior was 10:36 and that was half the distance. I couldn't believe I kept up that pace for so long. I really expected to be at an average of 12:30 or so.
I forgot to mention that I regret not having signed up to run in memory of someone. My MIL died from leukemia a few years ago and it didn't even cross my mind at the time I signed up that this race supports that charity and I should race for her. All that didn't hit me until I was running and saw special bibs some people wore on the backs of their shirts that said they were racing in memory of someone. I choked up a few times during the race thinking of MIL and being upset with myself for not having signed up for that option. It was extremely difficult to run and gasp for air while I was choking up. I had to calm myself down. I also was so happy for the ones that wore the survivor bibs.
You did such an amazing job!! I'm so glad you had a great experience. San Diego was my 1st & 2nd full. It was a different course back then (2010 & 2011), but I really enjoyed it! Congratulations!
This is an awesome race recap. I'm sorry for your pre-race tummy troubles but holy cow you CRUSHED your first half. You should be so proud! Congrats, half-marathoner!
Thanks everyone! I am still in shock that I was able to hold a pace similar to my 10k for 13 miles. I'm still super stoked about the race.
I started running 7 months ago and never dreamed that I could and would run a half. Before that I hated running so much that even running a 5k for fun was nuts to me. Why would anyone run for fun? Then I ran a few 5ks, then 10ks, and now a half. Totally addicted. I'm now that person I used to think was crazy.
Can't wait to clean off a spot on my window and put that sticker on.
Congratulations! I really want to run that one someday, and you make it sound great!
I don't have any other halfs to compare it to but I highly recommend it. The entire 13.1 miles has spectators and I was never bored. The community really gets involved and cheers you on. I think there were 19,000 runners this year.
buffaloeggs.blogspot.com 2016 Races: Hop Hop Half Marathon 2:05:09 Pac Crest Half Ironman 7:13:40 9/10 Aluminum Man Oly Tri 11/27 Space Coast Half Marathon
Congratulations! I have my sights set on my first half in the fall and your race report is really inspiring!
Aww that's awesome to hear! The distance can seem so daunting and even up until race day I was questioning why I signed up. After though I had this huge high and am still riding it. Definitely do the fall half!!