Country Music Half Marathon Race Report
Gary and I left Lexington around 11:30am. On time, for once. We got to Nashville, went straight to the expo and were in and out in less than an hour. We even got to see Denise Austin up close and personal. Now that's not someone you see every day. We escaped the expo just as the lines started to form.
Off to the hotel. Oh dear. After hours spent on travel websites and hotels.com I picked a total crapper. It smelled worse than my feet after a marathon, and the noise from the highway was deafening. (I know I'm complaining, but I actually slept on the floor of the bathroom for a few hours to try to get some rest and relief from the noise) I even put the empty bags from my Luna Moons on the pillow next to me so I could smell the sweet smell of blueberries instead of rancid feet.
We woke up in the morning to some pretty serious rainfall. (this is the last complaint of this report, I promise) It was expected, and it also looked like it wasn't going to last the entire morning. After taking the shuttle to the start line, and waiting in the long line for the potty, Gary and I met up with Jill in Corral 4. It stopped raining! A few anxious minutes later we were off. I was glad to have found Jill as we had planned to run the first 11 together. Then she and Gary would split off and run the rest of the full marathon.
I felt comfortable with our pace for the first few miles, but at mile 2 I realized it was because it was around an 8:30 pace. A little slower than I planned, but I felt like I could make it up. I really enjoy running a race with my friend and husband. It makes the miles go by a lot faster. We walked 30 seconds through each aid station and I was feeling great until mile 8 when Gary told me I was no longer allowed to walk through the aid stations. I heard this as "you're off pace, pick it up, no more fun". It was what I needed to hear because I did have a goal of 1:45 in mind. So we picked it up until mile 11. Gary and Jill went to the left and I went to the right. It was a little sad to see them go, but I was SO grateful not to have to keep up with the two of them for another 15 miles. I only had 2 to go! I kept seeing the flag for the 1:45 pace group getting closer and closer. I told myself I'd be happy with 1:47, but each time we turned a corner the flag seemed that much more reachable. I really think I gave the race my all, and I think I ran smart. I guess I could have run faster in the beginning, but I like the way I ran, and still reached my goal. I crossed the finish line in 1:45:18.
The crowd support was fantastic, and the bands were great. The course was a little more rolling than I expected, but it helped me to really enjoy the downhills. I highly recommend this race to anyone, first timer, or not. After I got through the finish line, food, etc. I headed to the marathon finish line which is just a few steps from where I finished. I picked up my gear and realized that the car was probably pretty close to where I was and set out on a search that only took a few minutes. One huge benefit to running a half marathon compared to running a full marathon is that you can actually move around afterwards. I got to the car, changed my clothes and headed back to the finish line to watch the finishers and wait for Gary and Jill. The convenience of the race, and gear check, and parking for this event was all really great.
Gary and Jill came through at 3:46. A PR for Jill by 6 seconds. I don't think she was too pleased, but considering she ran with me for a few 7:30 miles during the first half I think she had an awesome race. She is going to rock Chicago. The fact that Gary can run a marathon on a whim and run 3:46 is absolutely amazing to me. How do I get to that?
Splits from my watch:
mile 1 - 8:26
mile 2 - 8:28
mile 3 - 8:26
mile 4 - 8:09
mile 5 - 7:46
mile 6 - 8:11
mile 7 - 8:17
mile 8 - 8:08
mile 9 - 7:32
mile 10 - 7:30
mile 11 - 7:50
mile 12 - 7:57
mile 13.1 - 8:38
Actual race splits:
5k - 26:13 (8:27 pace)
6 mi - 49:28 (8:14 pace)
10 mi - 1:20:54 (8:05 pace)
13.1 (finish) 1:45:18 (8:02 pace)
Off to the hotel. Oh dear. After hours spent on travel websites and hotels.com I picked a total crapper. It smelled worse than my feet after a marathon, and the noise from the highway was deafening. (I know I'm complaining, but I actually slept on the floor of the bathroom for a few hours to try to get some rest and relief from the noise) I even put the empty bags from my Luna Moons on the pillow next to me so I could smell the sweet smell of blueberries instead of rancid feet.
We woke up in the morning to some pretty serious rainfall. (this is the last complaint of this report, I promise) It was expected, and it also looked like it wasn't going to last the entire morning. After taking the shuttle to the start line, and waiting in the long line for the potty, Gary and I met up with Jill in Corral 4. It stopped raining! A few anxious minutes later we were off. I was glad to have found Jill as we had planned to run the first 11 together. Then she and Gary would split off and run the rest of the full marathon.
I felt comfortable with our pace for the first few miles, but at mile 2 I realized it was because it was around an 8:30 pace. A little slower than I planned, but I felt like I could make it up. I really enjoy running a race with my friend and husband. It makes the miles go by a lot faster. We walked 30 seconds through each aid station and I was feeling great until mile 8 when Gary told me I was no longer allowed to walk through the aid stations. I heard this as "you're off pace, pick it up, no more fun". It was what I needed to hear because I did have a goal of 1:45 in mind. So we picked it up until mile 11. Gary and Jill went to the left and I went to the right. It was a little sad to see them go, but I was SO grateful not to have to keep up with the two of them for another 15 miles. I only had 2 to go! I kept seeing the flag for the 1:45 pace group getting closer and closer. I told myself I'd be happy with 1:47, but each time we turned a corner the flag seemed that much more reachable. I really think I gave the race my all, and I think I ran smart. I guess I could have run faster in the beginning, but I like the way I ran, and still reached my goal. I crossed the finish line in 1:45:18.
The crowd support was fantastic, and the bands were great. The course was a little more rolling than I expected, but it helped me to really enjoy the downhills. I highly recommend this race to anyone, first timer, or not. After I got through the finish line, food, etc. I headed to the marathon finish line which is just a few steps from where I finished. I picked up my gear and realized that the car was probably pretty close to where I was and set out on a search that only took a few minutes. One huge benefit to running a half marathon compared to running a full marathon is that you can actually move around afterwards. I got to the car, changed my clothes and headed back to the finish line to watch the finishers and wait for Gary and Jill. The convenience of the race, and gear check, and parking for this event was all really great.
Gary and Jill came through at 3:46. A PR for Jill by 6 seconds. I don't think she was too pleased, but considering she ran with me for a few 7:30 miles during the first half I think she had an awesome race. She is going to rock Chicago. The fact that Gary can run a marathon on a whim and run 3:46 is absolutely amazing to me. How do I get to that?
Splits from my watch:
mile 1 - 8:26
mile 2 - 8:28
mile 3 - 8:26
mile 4 - 8:09
mile 5 - 7:46
mile 6 - 8:11
mile 7 - 8:17
mile 8 - 8:08
mile 9 - 7:32
mile 10 - 7:30
mile 11 - 7:50
mile 12 - 7:57
mile 13.1 - 8:38
Actual race splits:
5k - 26:13 (8:27 pace)
6 mi - 49:28 (8:14 pace)
10 mi - 1:20:54 (8:05 pace)
13.1 (finish) 1:45:18 (8:02 pace)
Labels: country music marathon, half marathon, race, race report, running
posted by nikki at 2:09 PM
2 Comments:
good job nikki! looks like you set a good pace for success.
Way to go, Nikki. I came to your report through Gary's Pig report which I found very informative (as well as his coaching blog--20 mile runs vs. shorter runs etc.). Anyway, nice race, way to run smart and reach your goal. This reminded me of my HM PR, a race I was very disappointed in at first but later realized it was my best race ever b/c it was smart. Disneyland Half 2006, I was so ready to go for 1:40, although my overarching goal was to break 8:00 m/m for 13.1 miles, but I got into the wrong corral, spent the first 5K in the park jammed within a swollen mass of confined runners and came out of the park at 28 minutes (8:30 pace). Instead of panicking, I set off on the wide roads of Anaheim running easily at 7:40s or 7:30s, vey doable for me then. At MP 10, at 1:21:30 (8:09) I had closed the gap some and then it was time--I surged and did a 23:05 last 5K and PRd in 1:44:18 (7:58). It was much slower than I wanted and I walked away feeling let down but later after reflection, I said, It was my bst race. Reading your report, it unfolded the same way. Congrats. Gary obviously was a great help but you did the last two miles on your own and brought it home.
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