I will start this race report by saying, I probably should NOT have done this run! I did not train anywhere near the way I should have. In fact, I didn't even get a chance to run for about six weeks prior to the race. Oops! However, I'd paid for the damn thing! I debated a while about whether or not to even try running. As soon as I talked to a friend who was also doing this race (her first half, along with her husband), I figured, maybe I could do it. Couldn't hurt that badly right? I've run a half marathon before. So, I knew what I was getting into. Plus, I'm not *completely* out of shape (like if I'd not run in a year or something....) So, I figured I'd give it a go.
So, I worked it out with my friends that since it's a point-to-point race, they would park their car at a friend's house at the finish and I would drive us in the morning to the start. Here are Beth C. and I before the start. Please keep in mind that approximately 60 minutes earlier, I was sleeping! Plus, it was below freezing. I know I look like total carp.
We walked the half mile or so up to the start (along with Beth's husband). We squeezed into our numbers' corral and tried to keep warm! They started the race in two waves. Ours started at 7:12 or so. By this time, the sun had started to come up thankfully. Once we got to the starting line, I immediately lost sight of Beth and Ian. There were lots of people and I was just trying not to get stampeded. That was fine, since I knew they would be going a little faster than I was, and I wanted to just zone out a little and get into my groove.
The first mile went ok. I had some asthma crap, which I took an inhaler puff for. In fact, the second mile was ok, as well. By the third mile, I had to start doing some walking. I was able to run a mile or so and walk a bit (a few minutes- not sure how far really). I tried to stop and stretch along the way, as well. I could feel my hips getting tight. By mile 7, my knees started aching. I knew this was my typical "shoes are completely shot" ache. Unfortunately, I still had 6 more miles to go! Due to this, I walked much more than I would have normally. My breathing, etc, was fine, but I wasn't going to injure myself to the point where I wouldn't be able to run for a while.
There were lots and lots of hills in those final miles. Normally they wouldn't have been more than a challenge really, but I definitely was walking the hills.... I was happy to make the final turn and see the finish line! Of course, in the final minute, I was passed by the men's marathon winner. That was a bit depressing! Oh well, either way I was finishing!!! At that point, that was all I cared about. I made my way over to the food tent and then found Beth and Ian where we'd planned to meet. We walked over to the car and they drove me back to my car.
Unfortunately, in all that, I didn't do my normal post-race stretching and could feel myself getting stiffer and stiffer as the minutes passed! By the time I had to walk up the stairs to my apartment, it was almost impossible! Coming back down them a couple of hours later to go spend Thanksgiving with my parents was also fun. I found that if I was moving, it wasn't as bad. Only after I'd been sitting a while did it get tough to stand again. This lasted through Saturday!
I was able to get out for 2.75 miles on Sunday, though! At exactly 2.5 miles, the knees starting aching again. I finished up the last bit, but iced them when I got back home. I went out again on Tuesday. Same ache right at 2.5 miles (luckily that was the end of my run!!) I definitely know I need replacement shoes, so I haven't run since then, while waiting on them to show up at the running shop. Let's hope they are there tomorrow!!! If so, then my next run will be Tuesday. I have one hour of tutoring to do, but after that can run. Or I might run straight after work. I haven't told him that we can reschedule to 4:15 so I may take advantage of that to run in the warm sun. Might be able to pull it off.
So, lesson learned? Proper training is a good thing, but that I'm not entirely incapable of getting though it if necessary! Next up is the Georgia ING half. That's March 29th, so I have plenty of time to train now. NO slacking!
