I am here to write this post, which means I didn’t get lost somewhere on the course. Despite feeling like I wanted to die at times (OK, so that’s a bit dramatic) I survived and am very happy with my overall experience!! First, I must rewind to the day before the race. I was so jazzed to venture to Seattle, because I was able to meet MEGHAN!
If only her co-blogger Rebekah came too!
This unbelievably gorgeous gal (seriously..she was a babe) KILLED the FULL marathon and has a shiny new PR tucked into her back pocket!! Way to goooo M! We got lunch at The Veggie Grill, because I am obsessed and like to drag all my blog friends there. I had a blast with this girl, and we chatted as if we were long time friends. I love blogging!
ONTO the race!! 3 AM came quick, but I was able to roll out of bed and get all my stuff together. I was running with one of my longtime friends, and she was picking me up around 3:40. I got my coffee and we hit the road!! We got to our parking spot EARLY, just how I like it. This left lots of time for bathroom breaks and photo ops.
When you let someone else take your photo, 90% of the time it comes out blurry. OH and it was cold.
7:30 came and we were off. Now let me just say..my friend up there..on the left…is a bit of a speedy-gon-haul-ass. Her pace is at least an entire minute faster than mine for most runs, but I ended up running with her for the first 4 miles. Finally, when I looked at my watch and saw I was running sub 9 min miles I knew I needed to calm down. I didn’t train for this race, and if I kept up this pace I’d never make it. I gave her my blessing and she took off. She ended up owning this race and finished about 15 minutes before me.
The first half of the course was fine, I felt OK..not great..but OK. I hit mile 7 and my hips suddenly felt like they were carrying 10lb bags of sand. UGH. I was way too far from the end to feel like this. This is when I knew the remainder of the race was going to be almost 100% mental. I had to push..hard. This is also when the hills really started to show their ugly faces. Damn you hills, you killed my hips and lower back!
but I don’t wanna!!!
I ended up walking..A LOT. In fact I was shocked by how many OTHER people were walking as well. I have to admit I was easily influenced by others walking. I walked some of the hills that I just couldn’t fathom running up. In all reality it wouldn’t have been running anyway, more like an injured looking mouse hobbling away from a fox up the hill.
The course was stunning, and I wish I would have appreciated the scenery more instead of focusing on my legs aching. We ran though woodsy trails, neighborhoods, and over the city. I felt like I was on top of the world at one point. My Garmin lost satellite around mile 4 so it was completely off, and I was convinced my time was going to be awful. I was shocked when I finally made it to the finish and saw that my time was 2:15, a 10:19 pace.
I walked a lot, I didn’t train, the hills kicked my ass, and my legs felt like lead…but somehow I still managed to complete a half marathon FASTER than two of the three previous half’s I trained for. This time is 6 minutes slower than my PR, but I have NO complaints and I was more than jazzed about my finish.
After the race I was walking like I just gave birth. My legs were like jello and any stairs I saw were quickly cursed at and made me want to cry. I sucked it up though, because I was on my way to Mighty-O to get myself some DONUTS! Will run for donuts..
Overall I would say this race was a success. I’ve run a handful of race in Seattle, but this course was one of the prettiest. I would love to do it again next year..with proper training of course. Despite feeling like I was dying for 1/3 of the race it still went by fast and I earned my medal, and I destroyed an apple fritter.
Q: How do you refuel after a long workout? After regular workouts I like to eat a healthy meal, but after a race I love to eat poison sugar! DONUTTT.
Blissfulbritt 