Crystal Coast Half Marathon 2009

After I couldn't run the Last Chance half marathon, I was really upset. I had worked so hard and trained specifically for a half marathon and now I wouldn't know what I was capable of. So I consulted with Coach and talked with Dave and chose the Crystal Coast Half Marathon in Morehead City, NC two weeks after the Last Chance race. This allowed me to train for another week and then taper for a week.

Thursday, Dave and I left Columbus and traveled to Virginia. And on Friday we finished up the trip. I picked up my packet on Friday and ate some lasagna in the hotel room. Yes, our hotel room has a little kitchenette. It's a great hotel. This morning I woke up and was feeling less nervous and anxious than I had been about Last Chance. Although, I was awake several times last night thinking about the bridge I was going to have to cross. If you don't already know, I have a huge, physical, phobia of bridges. It is real and it is debilitating.

As soon as we headed out of the room, it started raining, A LOT. I mean it was pouring. Look at this picture from the registration tent:

And here I am pretending to look happy that I was racing in the rain:


But, you've got to do what you've got to do, so I laced up The Green Dragons and headed out for a short warm-up.


Then it was time to line up for the race. The wheelchair races were first and then we got to start just two minutes after them.




The race plan was to ease into the first three miles and then let it fly. Well it didn't quite happen that way. I started fast and stayed fast.

Mile 1: 7:12
Mile 2: 7:21
Mile 3: 7:20

Between miles 2 and 3 I was feeling BAD. My stomach was all tied in knots and I felt like I couln't breathe. I worried that it was going to be a long day, but I also reminded myself that it takes me a LONG time to feel good in a race and to just be patient.

Mile 4: 7:23
Mile 5: 7:43 (up the bridge)
Mile 6: 7:21
Mile 7: 7:28

Mile 7 was when I started to feel in my groove. Sure I was turning 7:20s before then, but I felt like I was breathing like I was sprinting and just couldn't get in control.

Mile 8: 7:32
Mile 9: 7:38
Mile 10: 7:28
Mile 11: 7:58 (up the bride on the other side)
Mile 12: 7:36
Mile 13: 7:40 (boy was I feeling exhausted)
Last 0.1: 0:49

Unofficial time: 1:38:36. That's a PR by over three minutes!!! THREE MINUTES! I loved wearing the racing shoes and I loved that not once did I go over an 8:00/mile. The rain actually wasn't that heavy for most of the race, and the temperature was just perfect for me--mid 50s.

I finished 8th overall (women) and finished 2nd in my age group (30-34). I received a medal for finishing and a hat and $15 gift card to a local running company for my result. I'm going to hit the store on the way home on Monday.

And now, it's time to celebrate. :)