4th of July Half

Sorry I know I left a little teaser post yesterday about the 4th of July Half Marathon so here is the full report from a nonrace. Thursday night after a fun picnic with friends and kids I got home telling Matt I was not excited about the race, I had no idea what running I could do, how much and if it would result in more stupidity and injury. I knew there wasn’t a PR in sight but I just wasn’t exited to get up at 4am to run. So we were off to sleep, alarms set early and ready to take what the race threw at me!

As always the morning was rushed, we got there with limited time and found the long port-a-potty line. I drank my UCAN and waited. Just as we were done I heard “30 seconds to race start!” We headed to the back and waited, I didn’t want to get caught up in the emotion of racing and knew my best approach was a late start without focus on pacers and others around me. This was a strange start, no watch but I had music. My only goal was to run comfortable and walk if it hurt, okay and I was hoping a sub 2.

I ran whatever pace felt good, the hills felt great! I soaked in every minute remembering exactly how this part of the course felt the past 4 years: how I suffered on the nasty hills at Mile 6 last year, how the downpours started at Mile 7 the first year, how it was so hot/humid 2 years ago the race was cut at Mile 5. I was thrilled as I passed the halfway point and still felt great, I skipped through my iPod to the good songs (time to update my playlist!). Mile 9 and I saw a friend who was running the relay, chatted for a little then pulled ahead. Mile 10 passed a friend volunteering and had to stop myself from pushing the last few miles. Soon I was at Mile 12 and high 5ing O! Just a little to go…and I cross the bridge and then the finish line! 1:52:xx on the clock, so maybe 1:50??


I checked time final results and I was shocked! 1:48:16 and even better a negative split for the first time ever!! First half avg 8:17 pace, second half 8:14 pace! Oh my gosh I ran a negative split, a comfortable race and enjoyed it! I then looked and realized that 1 year ago when I was still pretending like I wasn’t injured I race 1:53 on this course. 


Comments

  1. Awesome Jen! Negative split, comfortable and enjoyed the run...that's how a race should be run :)

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    1. Thanks Jill! I was so happy considering how running has been :)

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  2. WOW! Totally impressed!!!! :)

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  3. Great job Jen!!!! A comfortable race is the best kind!

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  4. That's awesome! Great job on the finishing time! Do you think not wearing a watch had anything to do with it? I'm thinking about running my next half watch-less because it always psyches me out but I also don't know if I can handle that!

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    Replies
    1. Without a watch it was much easier to focus on how I felt not pace. Unless you have a real time goal I say run without.

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  5. WOW way to go....and I need to really update my Ipod too....its been too long. Nice job!

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  6. Wow really impressive! Nice job
    Confessions of A Mother Runner

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