Hey guys! First of all, thanks for all the well wishes and good luck's toward my half this morning! It definitely boosted me up big time.
Let's rewind back to yesterday...
My Business Man and I headed down to Columbus in the late afternoon, and picked up my race packet at the expo. Nothing too exciting to report there. We checked into our hotel and headed off to find dinner.
Fortunately for us, our hotel was literally minutes away from one of my most favorite places in the state of Ohio - Easton Town Center. Yes.
We ended up dining at California Pizza Kitchen for some delicious carbs. I ordered the BBQ Chicken Pizza (the same thing my Business Man wanted), but I made him order something else. Because who orders the same exact dish as their dining companion? So he ordered the Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken Pizza. (Same exact thing plus pineapple.) Haha. We are two of a kind.
We skipped over the shops (for the time being, no worries, we came back later) and headed back to the hotel around 8pm to tuck in for the evening.
But not without eating cookies in bed. Carb loading to the max.
The alarm clock went off bright and early at 5:30am this morning for a 7:30am race start. Which is somewhat funny because that is the normal time the alarm goes off for a run before school. So no big deal. (Well, for me. My Business Man? Probably a different story. He was great though! Positive and excited all day long.)
I ate my breakfast of champions. (Once again, in bed. I see a theme here.)
And got suited up.
Around 6:15am we left for the race, which was an 8-10 minute drive away. Traffic was perfect until we got to the exit ramp. Cars were backed up for probably 1/2 to 3/4 mile on the exit ramp! It was crazy.
By 6:50am, we were at least off the ramp. (Just barely.) I didn't know how to get to the start, but when I saw another woman jump out of her vehicle and start running, I got out and followed her.
We made it to the start corrals and it was mass chaos. People everywhere! When we got there, I was near Corral E and needed to get up to Corral A. Yikes.
I wormed my way through and got to Corral A without about 15 minutes to spare. Did a few leg swings and got in place!
And here's where I made the best decision of the entire race - I ran with a pace team. I had never done that before, and it made this race fantastic.
I lined up with the 3:05 pace team, which would put me at a 1:32:30 half. (The half stayed with the full pretty much the entire race, except for the last 0.1.)
And then the race began. The weather was perfect - 45*F, a little bit of wind. Nothing crazy.
The first several miles flew by. I just stayed with the pace group, and didn't have to think at all! We were maintaining a good 7:02-3 average pace. It didn't feel super easy, but it definitely felt do-able.
I went through the 10km in 43:36, a 7:02 pace. I tried to eat some sport beans around miles 6 & 9, but I just do not like eating while running. I can't stomach it. The gels are even worse. I only got down about half the pack.
We kept truckin' along, and the miles went by so fast! I started to get fatigued around mile 9, but it wasn't too terrible... I knew the pain would come at some point, and I was ready to deal with it. Besides, you can do anything for 30 minutes. (Or so I told myself.)
Once we got to mile 11, and I could see that I had less than 15 minutes to go, I decided I'd try to pick it up the last 2 miles, and leave the pace group.
And pick it up I did! I averaged 6:44 pace for my last two miles. I sprinted in to the finish, and hoped for a sub-7:00 pace.
Official time: 1:31:26, 6:59 avg <--- 4.5 minute PR!
Overall place: 230/9929
Gender place: 31/6188
Age group place: 9/881
As you can guess, I am over-the-moon excited! I hit my A goal (just barely), and am so happy. This runner's high will last me several days, if not weeks, I'm sure...
Sadly, my Business Man missed my finish! There were so many people out on the course (17,000+) and my choice of black top with black shorts was not the wisest for standing out.
As for the Columbus Marathon/Half-Marathon, it was an awesome event. Well-organized, TONS of supports on the course, music every 1/2 mile. I absolute loved it, and would recommend it to anyone. The shirts are pretty sweet, too.
So that's that! Next task... take a few weeks easy, let my knee heal up (and work on some hip strengthening), and decide on a spring marathon! Whooie!
 |
Let's rewind back to yesterday...
My Business Man and I headed down to Columbus in the late afternoon, and picked up my race packet at the expo. Nothing too exciting to report there. We checked into our hotel and headed off to find dinner.
Fortunately for us, our hotel was literally minutes away from one of my most favorite places in the state of Ohio - Easton Town Center. Yes.
We ended up dining at California Pizza Kitchen for some delicious carbs. I ordered the BBQ Chicken Pizza (the same thing my Business Man wanted), but I made him order something else. Because who orders the same exact dish as their dining companion? So he ordered the Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken Pizza. (Same exact thing plus pineapple.) Haha. We are two of a kind.
 |
| Yummy pizza. |
But not without eating cookies in bed. Carb loading to the max.
 |
| That was a salted caramel chocolate chip cookie. Delicious. I need to re-create it. |
I ate my breakfast of champions. (Once again, in bed. I see a theme here.)
 |
| Only drank half the coffee. I'm not that crazy. |
 |
| No I did not race in those flannels. They were my 'throw-away' pants. That I left in the car because it wasn't even cold at all at the start. |
By 6:50am, we were at least off the ramp. (Just barely.) I didn't know how to get to the start, but when I saw another woman jump out of her vehicle and start running, I got out and followed her.
We made it to the start corrals and it was mass chaos. People everywhere! When we got there, I was near Corral E and needed to get up to Corral A. Yikes.
 |
| People climbing over fences! |
 |
| Glad I didn't have to do that. |
 |
| So many people! |
I lined up with the 3:05 pace team, which would put me at a 1:32:30 half. (The half stayed with the full pretty much the entire race, except for the last 0.1.)
And then the race began. The weather was perfect - 45*F, a little bit of wind. Nothing crazy.
The first several miles flew by. I just stayed with the pace group, and didn't have to think at all! We were maintaining a good 7:02-3 average pace. It didn't feel super easy, but it definitely felt do-able.
I went through the 10km in 43:36, a 7:02 pace. I tried to eat some sport beans around miles 6 & 9, but I just do not like eating while running. I can't stomach it. The gels are even worse. I only got down about half the pack.
We kept truckin' along, and the miles went by so fast! I started to get fatigued around mile 9, but it wasn't too terrible... I knew the pain would come at some point, and I was ready to deal with it. Besides, you can do anything for 30 minutes. (Or so I told myself.)
Once we got to mile 11, and I could see that I had less than 15 minutes to go, I decided I'd try to pick it up the last 2 miles, and leave the pace group.
And pick it up I did! I averaged 6:44 pace for my last two miles. I sprinted in to the finish, and hoped for a sub-7:00 pace.
Official time: 1:31:26, 6:59 avg <--- 4.5 minute PR!
Overall place: 230/9929
Gender place: 31/6188
Age group place: 9/881
As you can guess, I am over-the-moon excited! I hit my A goal (just barely), and am so happy. This runner's high will last me several days, if not weeks, I'm sure...
|
| So happy! And cuddled up with my space blanket. |
As for the Columbus Marathon/Half-Marathon, it was an awesome event. Well-organized, TONS of supports on the course, music every 1/2 mile. I absolute loved it, and would recommend it to anyone. The shirts are pretty sweet, too.
 |
| Love the blue. |
Comments
@Talen - yes.... haha. I tried to figure out how to put in a reference to that but did not have the wits tonight. :)
@Jess & Have Your Way - thanks!! :)
and, THANK YOU, for echoing my exact thoughts about people ordering the same thing when you go out to eat. It's just not done!
I also chuckled when I read that part where you said you can do anything for 30 minutes. It's kind of a saying Jess and I have as well for running. It helps when we are not in the mood to finish miles or do a second run, etc. :)
So stoked for you! Can't wait to hear what's next!
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