This year, a lot of people asked me if I was going to do Rock n' Roll again, and I said no. I signed up for the Nike Women's, on October 19th, and this was two weeks before that. Also, I ended up moving on October 4th, and the race was the 5th. It would have been very hectic to run Rock n' Roll the same weekend as moving.
But then I felt a little regret. I was already training and ready, right? And I hadn't done a flat course since last spring, I was totally going to PR, too! I couldn't resist. So I did a bad thing and bought someone's bib (it was cheaper than signing up last minute for ~$130!) and ran! So I was Christi rather than Sarah, technically... but hey, I'm happy I could take part!
So, moving happened. Moving was, of course, overwhelming, but I'm loving my new apartment and roommate. More pictures of the new place, once it is fully set up, soon to come!
I woke up on the morning of the race, a bit sleepy but ready to go! I had my bib and clothes laid out and ready to go, and managed to pull myself together. I actually wore the same shirt as last year - a purple tank top, perfect for a hot day. A was nice enough to drive me to the race, although a bit cranky when we hit traffic near an exit. I was able to hop out of the car soon enough, and walk/jog over to the gear check as a warm-up. Gear check was well-organized and efficient again this year, so I did that, hit the port-o-potty line, then warmed up a little more before heading over to the corrals to start.
Because of the huge number of people doing the 10k and Half, there were 21 corrals - that is, 21 waves to start the race! It was crazy!
My wave, 14, (I was supposed to be in a later wave but pushed up a little, oh well!) didn't start until around 8:30, after the first wave started at 8. It was a bit slow out of the gate, as most people in corral 14 were at a little slower pace than I was trying for, but eventually, I was able to weave a little and speed up to where I wanted to be. I started out with a pace around 9:45/mile, which is pretty comfortable for me.
The first few miles weren't too bad. I saw my friend Mary, who was watching between miles 3-4, which definitely gave me a boost! It was definitely warmer than I'd prefer when we started, but didn't get too uncomfortable right away. I made sure to stay prepared this time, after the last super hot half marathon fiasco, with carrying my own water (with NUUN for electrolytes) and wearing a hat to keep the sun off my face.
There were also a ton of cheerleading squads, bands, and children along the route. It really does keep me going when the crowds are cheering a lot! I definitely high-fived a lot of cheerleaders, small children, and random people. There was even a guy handing out donut holes to runners - I did not partake, but they looked delicious, of course!
San Jose Sharkie also showed up :)
I was excited when I got between miles 7-8, remembering where my parents were cheering me along last year! It was fun to remember last year, as it was my very first half. Seems like such a long time ago!
So the course weaves through the Rose Garden neighborhood in San Jose, a very pretty neighborhood, around miles 8-11. I remember those miles being looooong last year, and it didn't feel quite as bad this year, although it started to get HOT. Up into the 80's! But this race was definitely better equipped for the heat than the one I did in Sacramento. First of all, there were 7 water stops rather than 5, including 3 in the last 5 miles or so. That made a huge difference! And there were many more people out with hoses at the water stops, spraying us as we ran by, as well as some unofficial "water stops," offering water to runners from their front lawns. That was much appreciated! In any case, I definitely slowed down between miles 8 and 12.
By the time I got to mile 12, I got really excited - almost done, heading into the home stretch with a huge crowd! It was amazing having everyone there cheering us along. It also reminded me of last year, when a woman from my running group was in the crowd, and found me and ran with me for a bit along that last stretch. I was even MORE excited to find the finish! The volunteers handed us water (amazing), cold towels (even more amazing), and our medals! This one was pretty sweet, a bear with a beer opener. Hooray!
My overall results were the following:
Time: 2:11:11 (PR)
Pace: 10:00/mile
Place: 3082/8265 (Gender: 992/4206)
I met some of my running friends after the race to take pictures. Everyone did pretty well, and agreed that it was definitely hot for an October race! (Pictures to come... my friend has not uploaded yet!)
I then got brunch with some other friends, one of whom had completed her first half marathon! Goblet-sized mimosa (x2) made me a happy person.
So, another one is in the books... and I've improved my time nearly 15 minutes between last year and this year! Feels good!
See you again soon for an update on the Nike Women's Half!
No comments:
Post a Comment