First Half Marathon - 1:55:46

OK, that is not the official time, but I started my watch when the gun went off, even though it took me about 20 seconds to get over the line. There is still a lot up in the air, but as you will see in the picture that yes in fact that is me (in the white and black) crossing the finish line, and there is the clock..... what more can I say? Whoooooo Hoooooo!!! (OK, so you can't quite tell? Click the picture I uploaded it in full size so there would be no question) I will put a picture up in a little bit when I was walking out the door so you can see the same black and white - that will be proof for sure since nobody else wears white and black.

First off, I have to start with the weather, we couldn't have asked for better weather. It was a little humid but you couldn't tell because with the 50 degrees and cloudy skies it was just perfect.

I started the morning at 6:00 AM, that is one of the good parts to a local race, I didn't have to sleep in a hotel, or get up really early to drive. The drive took me about 5 minutes.

I had a cup of coffee, a half a banana, half a piece of wheat bread, and a small cup of Oatmeal..... oh yea, and some more water.... like I haven't drank enough of that over the past 24 hours!

My wife got up to give me a good luck kiss, even though she is not a morning person. She decided that she and the kids would get there to watch me finish since it wouldn't be a whole lot of fun to see me stand in a pack and then have to find something for she and the kids to do for ALMOST two hours.... not two hours - but ALMOST two hours. :) She took a picture of me as I was headed out the door. Watch on arm, cell phone and license on my arm, and gu in my pockets. I was ready to run!

The other beauty of a local race was that it didn't take long for me to find some people I knew. This helped me pass the hour wait I had till running time. Some of them were running the shorter races, but at least two people I knew were also running the half.

Well, to get this part out of the way since I am SOOOOOO excited and thankful for this. My ankle didn't give me one bit of trouble, not even a twinge the entire time!!!! Not a peep from the legs, ankles, or feet the entire race other than being just flat worn out in the last few miles.

I started the race back in the pack a little bit trying to force myself to take off slower. Well, that was my first mistake. It took me quite a bit of dodging to get around the slower runners which was quite frustrating. The first mile I felt like I was crawling, I was just sure I was going to see at least a 10 minute pace by the end of the first mile. Imagine my surprise when the watch said 8:20, and that was with 20 seconds to cross the starting line. CRAP! I did what I didn't want to do, I started too fast! Well, the past is the past and I did my best to just try to get into a comfortable cruising speed that I could maintain throughout. I just kept at what I thought was a comfortable pace, and the second mile came in at 8:11. Now I knew my body was just messing with me and was going to get the good laugh at the 10-13 mile mark.

I continued on with the first half of the race and felt really good, I opted for water at all the stops that I took anything. I used my first gu at about mile 5 1/2 as I was coming up on the water stop. My first 6 miles had been at an 8:30 pace, a full 30 seconds faster than what I was shooting for.... but I still felt good. I knew I would pay for it at the end of the race though.

I made the half way turn and knew I was under an hour, not just under an hour, but well under an hour. I was elated! I used my second gu about mile 9, and things were still going good. My pace started to decrease in mile 10 as I figured it would since I had not run the first half where I should have. It was closer to the pace where I needed to be for the Sub 2 so I knew it was still well within line of my goal.

Mile 11 was a difficult mile, it was one of the three hills that were the worst of the entire race. These were the hills everyone was talking about. They don't seem near as bad when you drive them... go figure.

Mile 12, and mile 13 absolutely killed me. After running the race I had so far I was not ready for the hills in these two miles. I ended up having to mostly walk up the 2 hills, one in each of the last two miles. I just didn't have enough to get me to run those two hills. I guess this is why everyone I talked to that had run it before had told me it was a difficult course and that the hills were a killer..... because they were! I didn't recognize any of the other hills, they were there but didn't bother me, but these last three were enough to do me in. My pace showed it in these last two miles especially where they were 10:11 and 9:53 respectively. Now, does it bother me that I had to walk these hills? A little, but not enough to keep me from being elated and wearing my medal with honor!

Coming up over the hill they threw me for a loop. I saw the starting line and was excited, it is almost over! Well, at the beginning of the race the start/finish line were at the same place. But once the Half Marathon and 10k were run they got it ready for the 5k. To do this they had to move the starting line up. So, when I saw the starting line and was happy I was almost done, I found out that they had moved it and I still had another .2 to go.

My legs were tired and felt like jelly, but as far as pain the only pain was pain of actually running a half marathon, not of injury. Muscle pain feels good after a good hard run!

At the finish line, my wife, and kids were there to cheer me on. They brought me a towel and my son gave me a hug. My wife and daughters pulled away when I tried to give them a hug. When I got back to my car I noticed I had a little bleeding as is common amongst us men with perky and well defined pectoral muscles - how do you like that explanation? :) When I got home my one daughter said - yea I noticed that but I didn't want to say anything because other people were around. :) I am happy to say as I sit here typing the worst pain I am experiencing is pain from my nipples :)

Well, that is the story of my First Half Marathon...... and I am pumped!

My splits can be found on my log

Update: The official results are in. The results on their website and active.com point to the 2007 results so I am not sure when that will be fixed. The race results for the men were in the Gwinnett Daily Post this morning and show me at 1:55:48 and 186 out of 280 men, and 242 out of 448 total finishers. I was 32 in my age group.

30 comments:

  1. Way to go, Tim! I had a feeling you would blow the doors off this race and sub 2 hour. Well done! Congratulations on an awesome race, my friend! Enjoy the success!

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  2. Tim!!!! That's amazing; you didn't just finish but were sub-2, fantastic! Congratulations, and thanks for sharing - it sure helps those of us who are struggling to become runners :)

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  3. Tim,

    Fantastic job!

    I am also proud of Lisa, Brady and the girls getting there to welcome you in!

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  4. That is a fantastic time! :) Well done!

    Bet your family are really proud of you :)

    Marathon next? :)

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  5. What a great race, Tim!! You rocked it!! Hope you're celebrating!!

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  6. thats so awesome! What a great run! That motivates me to keep pushing. Keep up the strong work!

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  7. Congrats! next time don't forget bandaids over the nips.

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  8. Awesome Tim!!!
    Sounds like you did great!!!

    Congratulations.

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  9. Oh yea... I forgot... at distance running, BodyGliude is your best friend.

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  10. Wow! You are an inspiration! Great raceand sub2 to boot!

    Congrats

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  11. Thanks all for stopping by and the comments. The community and support is what helps and sure makes this a lot easier. To see others going through the same thing helps to see the goal in the distance. I can only hope to do the same for others!

    Next time I will know and be able to put some of the nip-tips into practice! :)

    The official results are in and I have updated this post to include links. My official time was 1:55:48 (I was only 2 seconds off)

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  12. Congrats!! It's a good feeling ;)

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  13. Well Done! Big Congratulations are in order. Will we be seeing you out at the ING Georgia, making us all look bad? I too set a personal best today with a long run through the neighborhood - some 12 miles. Not nearly as fast though. Take a few days off then keep up the good work!
    This Man Runs

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  14. Mike - yea, I am turning my sites on the full now :) I will do more Half's before that time I am sure.

    Doc - Yea, I am planning on going down to the ING Half. Not sure about making anyone look bad though :) I have a friend that is running the full. We ran the Peachtree Road Race together.... or should I say.... we started together. :)

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  15. Congrats Tim! Simply Amazing! You are THE Traineo icon because you are such an inspiration to many members.

    IF you ever want to travel to the BIG Chicago Marathon, let me know. (Since you have family in Michigan, they can travel to see you.) I plan to do that one this year, as long as my 1/2 in May goes as expected. I know you were happy just to finish, but I know you are extremely ecstatic that it was sub 2. Congrats again! Great explanation on the pectoral muscles. That is the only thing I hate about long runs and races.

    Fred-Chicago

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  16. Congrats Tim! Prayers went up for you from Chiang Rai, Thailand! I'm looking forward to running my first 1/2 marathon... Thanks for the wonderful post!

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  17. Congratulations!! I'm so glad your ankle held up. And you did a fantastic time for your first!

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  18. Tim, you da man!

    Good race, you were smokin it.

    Sorry I missed you, I was under orders to get home ASAP, (In-laws are down from Plymouth Ma.).

    What a cool race.

    I like body glide.

    -Brian

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  19. Tim that's awesome--congrats on a great first half marathon! You set a pretty high bar for yourself but I'm sure you will go on to do even more great races.

    Oh you mentioned starting behind the slower runners--IMHO that's a good strategy. I've seen way too many races where people 'jackrabbit' out only to start walking a mile or so into it. It can be frustrating to be behind the slowpokes but I use that time to get warmed up, get into my "groove", etc. Even in a 5K, I take the first mile slow then kick it in a bit.

    Again, awesome race!!!!

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  20. Woo-hoo! That is awesome! I knew you would do well! Sorry to hear about your pectoral muscles. ;) I forgot to mention that to you. Girls generally do not have that problem. :) Anyway, congrats! Love to you and the fam!

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  21. Yay, Tim!!!! Well done and what a great time:)

    Wonderful race report:) Can't wait to read all about your marathon:)

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  22. Congratulations, Tim. Great commentary about your run!

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  23. Congrats TIM! WOOO HOOO,a sub 2 hour run awesome! Don't forget to get your medal engraved!!!! Hang it and your pictures in a shadow box and hang it on the wall, you deserve the recognition!!!

    way to GO!

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  24. Thank you all very much for your comments, I appreciated every one of them!

    I have not posted in a few days because I have been working 10 - 12 hours a day and just haven't had a chance to.

    I took a couple days off and went out for just a 2 mile run this morning. I will post soon about why only 2, as there was a reason.

    Thanks again for all your comments and your support!

    Tim

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  25. That's Awesome!!! I've been traveling so I just got to this. But, you came in right about where I came in for my half last year. Way ahead of your goal. Awesome job!

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  26. Tim, congratulations on an awesome race! You certainly shouldn't feel bad about a few walk breaks considering you came in UNDER two hours. That's a sweet time.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog, too. I'm running my first 26.2 later this year, and will get a couple of half-marys in, as well.

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  27. Hi Tim! I found your blog from Google I was looking for the Run the Reagan race medal (I'm trying to fit it into my schedule for 2010). I also have a request. I'm trying to build a searchable website for race medals. http://www.bonusbling.com/ It's just in it's beginning stages but would you mind if I used your Reagan medal? Thanks either way. :) Dana

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  28. Dana - Thanks for stopping by!

    If I understand correctly you want to use the pic? If that is what you want to do - sure go ahead.

    Thanks!

    Tim

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  29. That's Awesome!!! I've been traveling so I just got to this. But, you came in right about where I came in for my half last year. Way ahead of your goal. Awesome job!

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  30. Best wishes! One of my goals for 2013 is to run both a half marathon :D



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    The Sub 4 Hour Marathon Blueprint | Sub 2 hour half marathon

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