1. The weather was perfect: about 50 degrees and cloudy. There was a slight breeze most of the time.
2. The first 10 miles: I was averaging a 9:39 min/mile until then. See The Ugly for the remaining 3+ miles.
3. My legs: the shin splints I battled during training did not bother me during today's race. My legs felt pretty good during the race although they did get a little tired towards the end. Of course, after the race is another story. I wasn't quite sure I was going to be able to make it to the car but eventually I got there.
4. My husband: he learned his Mini lesson last year and refused to run it again. So instead, he did everything he could to help my run go well. He picked up my race packet earlier this week, got up before the sun on race day, waited 3 hours for me to finish the race, and drove me home.
The Bad:
1. The track: I really enjoyed running around the track last year. This year, not so much. The back straight-away seemed to take forever. And there was little breeze inside the track (I had heard about this from runners in prior years but didn't think this was an issue last year). Plus there was no music over the speakers on the back straight-away. I finally noticed the music as I entered turn 4 but then it was only hip-hop - wth?
2. The crowd while running: I thought my race this year was a lot more congested than last year. Maybe it was because I started further up in the corrals and I was around more people actually running my pace.
The Ugly:
1. The last 3 miles: this is where my lack of training hurt me. My body felt good but that little voice in my head just kept telling me to stop and in the end, I walked. Mile 11 took me over 12 minutes. I tried to run the last mile+ but I still ended up taking a short break.
2. The post-race party: all of the participants (39,000) and their family and friends are supposed to meet up and celebrate in a relatively small park downtown. Needless to say it gets very crowded and after running 13.1 miles, my patience wears thin and all I want is a shower at home.
By the Numbers:
Total Time: 2:12:41
Overall Place: 13,157 of 30,147
Age Division Place: 880 of 2,529
Sex Place: 4,689 of 15,849
5 Mile Split: 49:18
10 Mile Split: 1:38:27
2008 Mini Time: 2:19:01
Half Marathon PR: 2:08:21
Mile Splits:
I think you did fantastic! You run a great pace....I'm really going to have to train if we run together in the fall...I am no where near a nine and a half minute mile!
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