Sunday, March 18, 2012

Notes from The Half

Pre Race:
Oh man, after a night spent tossing and turning due to nerves, I was not feeling confident in even finishing this race.  I am so so so competitive, and if I wasn't going to beat my time from two years ago (1:56) it seemed like there was no reason to do it.  Phil kept reminding me that we were just running to finish, not to win anything.  

OK, we can finish, I can handle that.

I cooked a yummy Belated St. Patrick's Day post race meal (steak and Guinness pie) and we got dressed about five different times because we couldn't figure out what to wear for the weather.  It was sunny and high 50's.  We decided on the simple shorts and tee-shirt route.  We decided well.

Our friends and co-workers came over to drive to the race with us, and my awesome parents came to watch the kids.  After some sun screening and number pinning and nipple taping (ahem), we were ready to go!
 Jen and Matt
Two of the smartest and nicest people I know :)

 After driving around for a while, we found a good parking spot and took some pre-race pics.

The Girls:
 OK, I'm 5'6" (and a half) - so you can imagine how tall Jen is!

 The Boys:
This was Matt's first race, he was such a trooper to train it in wicked fast time in order to run with us.

The Girl and Boy:
We walked down to the starting place and decided to use the potty.  Well, everyone had decided to use the potty, so we snuck into the chapel and said hello to Jesus, and used the friars' bathroom.  I figured that they serve the poor and we were poorly prepared, so it was kosher ;)

Jen and Matt lined up with the 10 minute milers and Phil and I decided to run with the 9 minute milers.  We took off right on time with the other 3200 runners.  About 2 miles in my hips started to hurt (thank you 5 babies!) and we were running a little too fast (8:30ish minute miles).  
We ran by Team Hoyt:
And I thought, hips, you are healthy enough to run, get over yourselves.  Seriously, how could you not be inspired by this father and son combo?

Mile 3 started the first big hill, and we slowed down a bit.  Around mile 5, my friend Ann-Marie was there cheering us on, which helped a lot!  Then we were near the park, and I was looking for my kids, thinking they might be there to cheer.  I was disappointed not to see them, then Phil reminded me that there was no way that my parents could have driven them all there.  We forgot to leave the van keys.  Whoops!  Onward we charged.

Miles 7ish through 11ish were all by the water, and you could smell the ocean and see the blue water, it was so nice.  The ocean breeze slowed us down a little, but I honestly couldn't have gone much faster anyway.  I was definitely holding Phil back a little, but he wanted us to stay together.  Whatta guy :)  

We talked a little, didn't listen to any music, just watched the spectators (who were an amazing support) and kept on keeping on.  We would say thank you to all of the kind people cheering for us, high five the little kids, and read the funny signs people had made.  So much to be thankful for!  Except for the spectators who were smoking as they watched us run by.  Hello, not cool!  We signed up for a race not lung cancer!

Despite all the support, I could feel my pace slowing little by little and instead of 9:20 minute miles we were running just over ten minute miles.  But I was strangely ok with just finishing and told Phil not to let me know what mile it was or how fast/slow we were going.  Actually it wasn't strange at all considering how I prayed for peace and patience the first half.  God is good!

At mile 12 we heard a loud "Hi Phil and Colleen!" from another friend and co-worker, Nicole, and then ran by Fr. Rich who had just gotten out of Mass and was in front of his church.  We yelled hello to Fr. Rich and he shouted back his hello as well as "I'm not going to run with you this time!"  Those two cheerleaders got us over the last huge hill and towards that finish line. 

As soon as we turned the corner at the end, we sprinted for the finish and crossed with a time of 2:06.  Ten minutes slower than two years ago, but I'm just glad it's done!  We grabbed some orange slices and water and our medals, and waited for Jen and Matt to finish.  They raced to the end with a time of 2:11.  Yup, we nailed it.

 Post Race:

And now I am super sore and all lactic-acidy (that's a medical term, right?) so I am going to go drink some more water and lay in bed.  

And chant my new motto: 
Never again

:)

20 comments:

  1. Well done guys thats a fantastic goal to meet well done!

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  2. That was a great race story. I LOVE the ending...never again. Hilarious. I am the opposite of competitive. I did a 3K last fall and this gal wanted to beat me so bad...I let her. It was close to the finish line and I could hear her just trying so dang hard behind me...I was like...this person might die trying to beat me. I will save her the trouble.

    Great story. I really enjoyed it!

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  3. So happy for you! You just had a baby for Pete's sake and you have five kids and a job. You did great! You might even inspire me to run a half one day...maybe...

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  4. Great story. Congratulations!! You've inspired me to get my running shoes back on.

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  5. Great story. Congratulations!! You've inspired me to get my running shoes back on.

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  6. Fantastic! nice job, guys! :)

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  7. Hi Colleen! I found your blog through the world of Catholic-mom-blogs and love it! Way to go on the half!!
    My husband and I both graduated from FUS too, it's a small Catholic world :)
    http://timeflieswhenyourehavingbabies.blogspot.com/

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  8. Great job!!! It was great seeing you at the finish. I was looking for you both over by the Zoo but we missed you :)

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  9. Good for you! I've always wanted to run one of these... but I'm okay with sitting at home reading about you folks running. :)

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  10. yeah! way to go little mama!

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  11. You know that new motto of yours is a lie! I say that after every everything hard- moving, going through labor, Lent... ;)

    You guys are awesome. Congrats!

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  12. Just had to check in before bed and found you had posted. Thought of you all day and what a brave woman you are...now that I've read all about the race you def. are my running hero! Way to go! I'm thinking if I do a 5K with any grace that it may be about all I can do. haha.

    'Never again'....ha! Yup, until next time.

    Hope you are getting some much needed rest and a good night's sleep.

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  13. YEAH!!! Great way to re-cap the race! And never again....ha, I'd bet you on that!

    Isn't is so great to have the crowds! Minus the lung cancer supporters!

    Sounds like you had a great course. I am going to do a half in a couple of weeks with my sister and a friend....so fun to have people on the course with you. How blessed to have your hubby stick with you too!

    Awesome job Mother Runner 5!

    PS. I just saw an e-mail notice pop up from you...great minds!

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  14. I'm telling you- the slower you run, the better I look.
    'Cause 10 minute miles?
    Yeah, that's my RACE PACE!

    Running with me in October will be like skipping through a daisy-strewn meadow, with unicorns and fairies gently massaging your back while you keep a lumbering, graceless clod like me company.

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  15. I am so happy for you all...this is quite an accomplishment!
    You must enlighten me on the nipple taping. :0

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  16. Awesome job Colleen!! Was thinking of you yesterday while running.

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  17. Hi Colleen!! Every now and then, i pop in here to see how you all are doing. Glad I did, so interesting reading about your race, Youre such a great writer!
    I am so impressed with you running that race,... wow I ran the 5k last year and thought I was going to DIE! It took me 33 minutes, hehe...
    Oh, and your daughter looks just like you!!!
    Anywho, take care love!
    Michelle

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  18. I'm SO So so sosososoosososososoososo ...so proud of you my friend. I'm also so envious... in a good way (is there a good way to be envious?) of you. 5 kids and amazing! YOu always inspire me. I'm proud of you for being so "balanced" in your perspective. I just counted the miles on my fingers and got tired just thinking about it! I'm so proud of you! ...really!

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  19. I'm SO So so sosososoosososososoososo ...so proud of you my friend. I'm also so envious... in a good way (is there a good way to be envious?) of you. 5 kids and amazing! YOu always inspire me. I'm proud of you for being so "balanced" in your perspective. I just counted the miles on my fingers and got tired just thinking about it! I'm so proud of you! ...really!

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