FIRST HALF MARATHON COMPLETED; WHAT AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE!!!

Well, I woke this morning at 4am, got myself ready doing the normal pre-race stuff, and headed to my friends house at 5:15am, to drive into Queens together. By the time we got in there it was 6:15am. We parked about a mile away from the start, as they were closing roads from 7-10am and did not want to get stuck there. So, by the time we got to where we picked up our bibs, it was 6:50 for a 7am start. Got our bibs and chips. We all had to potty, so we got on line. OMG, at least a 100 people deep, but thankfully it was moving fast. LOL As start time approached we watched the race start, and we're still waiting to us the porto-potties. Now any of you bloggers out there that have had children, you know you have to pee before a race. LOL so we stuck it out and waited. At 7:05ish, people started coming by yelling if you don't get to the start in 4 minutes we are pulling the start mats and you won't be able to run the race. Thank God we were next in line for the potty, and we did our 'thing', and sprinted to the start. As we crossed the start matt, I looked back and sure enough they were pulling them up. Not like cutting it a little close. LOL

But the upside was, there was no crowd, we just ran the race. As with most of these NYRR races, it's not when the gun goes off, it's when your chip crossed the start and finish. So, we started at 7:10. It was cloudy and grey, and very hot. After the race my husband said the humidity was 95%, YIKES!!! (actually according to the site stats, it was 87% humidity) At about mile 2 we started seeing people in front of us, by mile three we were in the crowd of the race, but it was never stifling (sp??), and never had to zig-zag. Basically it was a pleasure.

My friends and I kept about an average 9 minute pace for the first 7 miles. It was hot, and it was hilly at times, but I felt great!! At mile 7 one of my friends had to use the porto potty (was having stomach issues), and his girlfriend said she was going to stop and wait as her knees hurt from the hills). They both told me to go on by myself. Up until then, I was running with them. They are experienced half marathoners and offered to drive me, so I didn't want to run ahead. I know it's a race, but since I was running it as a training run, I thought I'd do the politically correct thing. But since they stopped and I was now running alone, I sort of took off. My body felt great. I took the next 4 miles at about an 8 to 8:30 pace, and I really felt good, but man eventually the hills caught up with me. LOL Guess I should have just stayed at average 9min pace. Oh well.

At about mile 10 the sun came out and it really got hot, and I was thinking I feel good, but if this was the marathon, I would still have 16 miles to go and there was no way I could do that. LOL At this exact moment, I run by this volunteer who must have been reading my (all us runners) minds, cause he was saying "come on runners, you're doing awesome, you won't remember this race, because come marathon day it's going to be 50 degrees, and you will blow today's time out of the water" It was so funny. Gave me a little inspiration, and I kept going.

By mile 11, I was starting to feel it, I didn't hurt but I was HOT, and my legs were getting tired, but I kept plugging along, saying one more mile, one more mile. Before I knew it the finish was in site and I was able to give it a good sprint the last 300 yards, and I crossed the finish line at 2:01:33. a 9:16 pace. I still can't believe it!!!!!!!!!!

Got home, took a cold bath tub, got kids ready for their soccer games, went to them (2 HOURS OUTSIDE IN THE HOT HOT BLAZING SUN) both kids did awesome!! Then had a wonderful dinner at my in-laws and just got home.

Looking forward to going to bed and sleeping in. LOL

Hope to have more of the stats tomorrow, but for my first half marathon race, I'm VERY pleased!! and I feel like I am totally ready for the Staten Island Half on October 12th!! Pray for cooler weather. LOL

Next race for me, the Cow Harbor 10K race in 6 days. Bring it on....


OFFICIAL STATS FROM THE NYRR.ORG WEBSITE:

NYRR Grand Prix: Queens Half
Distance: 13.1 Miles
Date/Time: Sept. 14, 2008, 7:00 am
Location: College Point, Queens, NYC
Weather: 73 deg., 87% hum, wind 7 mph


Bib # 3138
Gender/age: F43
Distance (miles): 13.1
Finish Time: 2:01:33
Pace Time: 9:16
Overall Place: 1,394 (out of 3,054 people)
Gender Place: 343 (out of 1,173)
Age Place: 36th (out of 115 women ages 40-44)
AG Time: 1:53:29
AG Gender place: 266
Age-Graded%: 58.0%


When I woke this morning my legs felt a little sore and heavy, but 2 hours later, they feel OK. Guess my muscles just had to wake up. Taking today off and might do a very easy run tomorrow.