Houston 1/2 Marathon

SAD PANDA.  I was disappointed not to PR.  I felt fit until a week ago, pre-food illness, and I trained HARD over the past few months.  Instead of besting my previous best, however, I rolled through today's cool and awesome finish line with a 1:36:19.  My PR from my hot and humid Labor Day VA Beach 1/2 marathon is 1:35:23.  Today stung.

But hey, even the pros didn't PR!  It's HARD TO DO (i tell myself)!  :)  I felt okay at the beginning and at mile two I shockingly passed a jogging Joanie.  At mile 6 as my bonk started (I didn't eat as much as usual last night or over the previous 4 days b/c I still feel a little sick) she passed me back with authority.  This was, of course, until just after the nine mile turnaround when she turned around again and ran back towards me after seeing a friend she wanted to run with.  She was out for a stroll this morning!

From around six miles on I was grimacing b/c my legs burned a little and I was bonking.  My race also did not consist of even pacing.  I had a "just under 8 minute mile" in there around mile 11, but the damage simply doesn't look so bad (to me) b/c I had a lot of earlier miles at 7 min/miles.  The last three miles I told myself to HOLD IT TOGETHER/PULL IT TOGETHER.

The highlight of this race for me was the final stretch where you turn onto the same long finish that the trials competitors used yesterday.  Today there were US and Texas flags lining that stretch and it was awesome to run through those.

So it was what it was.  Immediately post-race, a time I usually do not want to eat, I beelined for the race breakfast and had eggs and bread and sausage.  Audrey.  Food.  Need.  I got my sweet WOMEN'S-SPECIFIC finisher's tech tee and headed back to the hotel where results were already on-line.  This race was pretty great in the organization department.

I probably won't be back next year-we chose Houston b/c the trials were going on-but I will be at other 1/2 marathons and I will continue my fight for every second of speed :)

Comments

[Stuart]

You got the target in sight, no doubt you will hit a bullseye!

[Danielle in Seattle]

What bad luck. You know you had that PR in you. You still did awesome considering you were recovering from food poisoning!