Foot Traffic Flat Half Marathon 07/04/11

The race has come and gone and I'm really happy that I completed it!  At one point during the race I really didn't think I would as I started to have hip/thigh pains around mile 6 or 7.  I couldnt' believe it! What in the world ... I thought I was ready! sigh ... let me back up to the beginning ...


Bib number and race shirt

3 a.m. Who wakes up at 3 a.m.?!  The birds weren't even up yet and my cats just rolled over, covered their eyes and went back to sleep.  I lifted myself out of bed, took a shower and put my running clothes on!  I ate a small bowl of oatmeal while double checking I had everything. 

Garmin ... check
Visor ... check
Bib number ... check
Water with Nuun ... check check
Tutu ... CHECK!!!!

I made my way to NW Portland to catch the shuttle bus at 5 a.m. and actually arrived right when they started loading, so I boarded the bus and a lady took the seat next to me.  I kept hearing the surrounding conversations and it appeared I was in East Coast territory.  Even the lady sitting next to me was from somewhere back East.  She told me her goal was to run a half marathon in every State.  This race in Oregon today would be #36.  I told her this race would be #3 for me if I had the same goal!  (Wow....it's true! 1st California, 2nd Florida, 3rd Oregon!)

It was shaping up to a beautiful morning with clear skies and the sun already making it's way up, which meant it was gonna be a hot one ... no shade from clouds today!  East Coast Lady asked me if the mountain she was pointing at was Mt. Hood.  I said no, that's St. Helens, the volcano that erupted in the early 80's.  She said she really wanted to see Mt. Hood cause she had no time for sight seeing.  She had just arrived the night before and was leaving right after the race.  Wow!  I told her Mt. Hood was behind us, and then the bus turned to head north to Sauvie Island and I looked out the window.  I exclaimed "There it is! That's Mt. Hood!"  I think I really made her day that she actually got to see it.  Finally we arrived to the drop off spot, unloaded from the bus and wished each other luck in our race.

I found my running group and noticed that we were all antsy to start.  Not only that, but it was a bit chilly that morning.  Though the sun was out, the breeze and early morning weather kept us jumping and rubbing our hands together.  One lady, Linda, was even wearing a long down coat!  We huddled together, took a group photo and waited.  They had the marathoners start at 6:30 a.m. and we cheered them on as they took off.  Soon, it would be us doing the same.  Some made last minute potty stops, bag checks and watch checks in preparation.



Me stylin in my tutu and color coordinated Zensah compression leg sleeves!



Galloway Running Team!



Waiting for the race to begin

 And then. ... GO!!!! The race began.  One of my running buddies, Bob, and I kept in pace with each other.  Using our 30:30 run, walk, run ratio that we've been training under.  After about a mile I looked at my watch, wow, we were keeping just above a 12 minute mile pace.  A bit fast, but we both felt pretty good, so we kept going. 

Here's a few things you should know about Sauvie Island.  This is where the huge corn mazes are in the fall and it has vast farm land.  Running around this island I thought would be really cool to see all the beautiful scenery.  Yeah, no.  It got somewhat boring after awhile.  Julee from the running group told me weeks before that the course was boring ... she was right.  At the beginning of the race there is quite a bit of shade which made it really nice, but also the wind was pushing against us.  BUT! when you get around the 2nd or 3rd corner and head towards the finish line the shade disappears.  Nada.  Zilch.  Full on sun in your eyes and making it even hotter. 

When I started to feel the hip/thigh pain I voiced it to Bob and we somewhat slowed down our pace, but were still going a bit faster than training.  This is most likely the culprit.  Weekly track sessions of faster speeds are only for about 2 miles.  This was 13.1 miles that I needed to endure.  Finally I told Bob to go on and that I would be taking longer walk breaks.  I just wanted to finish.  My goal of completing in 3 hours would have to wait till the next race.  I just HAD to finish!  I kept trying to give myself pep talks and repeat encouraging quotes I had read and think about the strawberry shortcake at the end, but the negatives had definitely made their way back into my thinking process. 

About mile 9 I realized that I only had 4 more to go and an hour to do it in to make my goal.  I calculated in my head my previous race and training times and thought maybe, just maybe.  But now I was mostly walking, so I put that thought away.  Candy, another running buddy, caught up to me and we walked together for a bit.  About mile 12 she ran ahead and I cheered her on as I continued.  I kept getting closer and was still making good time.  I saw the finish line and knew I could do it.  I gathered all my strength and ran to the finish! 

I came across the finish at 3:04!  I didn't meat my goal, but I did PR! which is absolutely amazing!  I was happy and was greeted by my fellow runners and we all enjoyed delicious strawberry shortcake to celebrate.  My first dessert since March and it was the best thing ever!


best strawberry shortcake EVER!!!

Foot Traffic Flat Half Marathon medal ... it's made out of a recycled bike chain!

Making my way back to the shuttle bus, I sat and sent texts to family and friends letting them know I was done.  Got back to my truck and headed for home, where I relaxed for the rest of the day.  Through the pain and tears, I had finished my 3rd half marathon which is also the 2nd one I've done this year! 

Next race ... Disneyland Half Marathon in September 2011!