Really long quarter marathon recap

[bluedaisyus]

Well, I made my first goal just by getting myself up and out of the house before 6am on Saturday. That was actually what I was most worried about on Friday, that I would oversleep, lol! I met up with my running group at a hotel downtown in plenty of time. I was so nervous I actually forgot my headphones in my car, but I had plenty of time to walk back to the garage and get them without feeling rushed. I wore my team shirt and had my purple jacket on before the race. I also had my black and purple shoes and a purple wristband on along with my black RoadID because I knew I was going to leave my jacket with the team gear check and wanted to represent for Pixy and ZB.

We all walked down to the start together, which was PACKED. This was my first big race, I've never run one that had corrals and wave starts, but it was really smooth getting in and I was able to find some of my friends who were in the same corral. I was cold during the walk and waiting to start, but as soon as we got going I warmed up really quickly.

The race had a 5k, quarter, and half option. All of the courses started together, then the 5k turned off and things thinned out a little. I was doing 3 minute run/1 minute walk intervals, which was my plan for the whole race. Luckily some of my running group pals who were running the half were doing the same thing, so I stuck with them until the courses split around 2.5 miles. I actually felt like I could have started out a little faster but I also know that I'm not the best at pacing myself, especially at the beginning, and there were some pretty good hills so I didn't want to burn myself out right at the start.

I hit the turnoff and was on my own, so I just tried to keep up my pace. It was really cool because our bibs had our names on them and there was a lot of crowd support so all along the way there were random people calling out my name and cheering me on. I think I was somewhere along that first mile after the split when I cried for the first time (yes, it happened more than once). I came up on a woman with a shirt that said "run today, chemo tomorrow" and I thought about my dad and his prostate cancer diagnosis, and my friend's daughter who's going through chemo, and the strength of this woman out there, and of Pixy, and just all the emotions of the race and everything leading up to it.

The courses merged back together and I was really happy with how smooth the transition was joining back up with the half runners. I kept up with my 3:1 intervals, except for the water stops I hit on runs where I walked just long enough to grab a cup and then picked back up again. I was actually surprised when I hit the 5 mile mark, I was feeling good and knew that I was on track to hit my goal finish time. It sprinkled a bit after that, but it felt good. Around mile 6 we split again and the quarter course turned a corner right onto a big long hill. That was the first run interval I didn't finish, I made it about 3/4 of the way up and then just had to walk. We rounded the last corner and I knew I was almost there. I just pushed it in to the end and crossed the finish line at 1:28:47, a little ahead of my 1:30 goal. It felt so good to be done and get my medal.

I checked my RunKeeper splits and I was so thrilled that except for that last .55 I had perfect negative splits. Every single mile was a little faster than the last, and even the last bit was still faster than the first 4 miles were.

I was meeting some friends and picking up my gear bag at the tent for the store that sponsors my team, which is the same store that provides the pacers, and I ran into osulori there. It was so awesome to hang out with her, she is so nice, and we had parked in the same garage so we walked the half mile or so back together. It was just such an awesome experience overall and I'm so glad I did it, and even though I would have been happy even if I had fallen short of it I'm so proud of myself for coming in just under my goal time. I'm feeling super excited for my first half marathon in October!

[shelbyann]

Congrats! And I am jealous that you got to meet osulori - how fun!

[enfuego23]

Awesome race report! Super proud of you, glad you had a great race!!

[cole]

Congrats! Great job

[bostonmichelle]

Congrats! Awesome job on your race.

[gncorman]

Congrats!!!

[gt7301b]

Congrats, great recap!!

[jamalynn]

Congratulations! Great recap!!!

[shauni27]

congratulations on a great race!

[boston340]

Congratulations on your race - it sounds like a fun day for you!

[Deleted]

Congratulations on the race!

[runblondie26]

Congrats on surpassing your goal! Very cool you got to meet osulori (a congrats to you as well!)

[thom]

Congratulations on your awesome race & hitting your goal! Bravo.

[breezy8407]

Congrats!

[sassystace]

Great job! So what half are your planning to run (I'm guessing Columbus half (if so good choice!))?

[marcyiam]

Congratulations!

[bluedaisyus]

Thanks everyone!

enfuego23 we were saying we need to have another GTG!

sassystace yup.

[sassystace]

May 5, 2014 11:39:43 GMT -5 bluedaisyus said:

Thanks everyone!

enfuego23 we were saying we need to have another GTG!

sassystace yup.

Yep, I'd be up for GTG.  I'm excited for Columbus this fall--I'm planning to run my first full marathon.  I've done the half there two years in a row--super fast and fun race!

[enfuego23]

May 5, 2014 11:39:43 GMT -5 bluedaisyus said:

Thanks everyone!

enfuego23 we were saying we need to have another GTG!

sassystace yup.

Yes!! I'm in for another GTG:) 

[Deleted]

Congrats on a great race and time!  Cap City was my first big race too. I love it!

[osulori]

I'm so glad I got to see you, and that neither one of us had to trudge that longass walk back to the parking garage by ourselves!

[justemily]

Congrats!

I ran the same race (1/4) and had a good run as well!