My First Half-Marathon

Yesterday I ran my first half-marathon. I made a goal at the beginning of the year one of my goals was to run a half-marathon. Thank you to the running group I am a part of, I quickly found one and signed up. I had full intentions of training during the year, but things happen and I ultimately did not.

I had done a day of Ragbrai in June and did some good work on my knee that kind of put me out of service for a few weeks. Anyway, I ran a few miles here and there this year, nothing like I planned. Two weeks before the half I did not run at all and the Friday (two days before) I ran 6.28 miles. My longest run ever.

I stretch, foam roll and do yoga regularly-ish, so I was hoping that and my mental abilities would allow me to make it through. The day of the marathon came and I was pretty neutral. I harp on my siblings constantly to not have a negative attitude going into things, and they reminded me of that. I took their advice and stayed neutral and even a little positive.

The morning of I rode down with a group and basically stood around and until it was time to run. We got lined up and not sure where to go, I went with two friends behind the 2:20 pacer. All three of us passed that pacer pretty quickly and were on track at 10-minute miles for the first two miles. I was already well ahead of what I figured I would be.

Somewhere around mile 3 I pulled away from my friends. I can usually find a pace that feel comfortable and that's what I tend to stick with for my runs. I did that here, but nervously as I had only run just over 6 miles and that was not a typical run. However, I got in a comfort zone and stuck with it.

I caught up to another friend who was running and stuck with her for a few miles. We were actually pacing each other very well and then she rolled her ankle. Honestly, kudos to her for finishing. I am not sure I could/would have. We ran together a few more miles and she didn't complain once. Again, well done! Somewhere around here I decided I was going to try to get a sub 2-hour time.

Around mile 6 or 7 I ended pulling away from her and according to my Strava data, I consistently improved from mile 10 to the end. Mile 10 was 10:21 (this included a bathroom break I didn't pause for and somewhere around the area I left my friend) to a finish of mile 13 at 8:11. Mile 6 is when everything started to really hurt. Everything from the waist down, basically. I was expecting this has I had done really no training.

I knew if I could get past mile 8 I would be fine. I started picking up the pace, getting more sore with each step. I got to mile 10 and kept thinking, "Now I'm at two point whatever..". Knowing that if I got those points I would be down to one point something and so on. Miles 11 and 12 hit and I was dead. My breathing finally started increasing a lot and I did not have headphones in. Annoying.

My lower body was exhausted and I wanted to stop more than anything. I had already double the most I've ever ran in my life. My plan was to pick up around these miles, especially 12. I thought I had for sure slowed down immensely. As I came around the last corner I saw the finish line, and my family. I started sprinting as fast as I could and didn't stop until I crossed the finish line.

My body immediately continued hating me. I had never experienced such soreness in my lower body. It was worth it. Another yearly goal was checked off my list. I got a very good time (2:03:25) with very little training and had exceptional splits after mile 7. I didn't achieve the goal that I made in the middle of the race (lol), but I did well and will achieve a much better one next year.

My goal for next year at this same half-marathon is sub 1:30:00. Depending on what I see from my training in the next year, that may decrease in time. Huge thanks to my friends that motivated me, ran with me and let me tag along!

-B