So…I ran a half marathon on Sunday morning! I wasn’t training specifically for it, but about 3 or 4 days ago, I decided to go for it and just have fun with it (<–I realize that probably sounds crazy to my non-runner friends!)
Thank goodness for Daylight Savings because the race started at 7 am. I woke up at 5:30, ate a bowl of oatmeal (my go-to), and my dad and I headed out at 6. We made it just in time (i.e. I was literally jumping over a fence at 6:58 to get to the starting line!)
My plan for the race was to just go by how I was feeling. I knew that it wouldn’t be my fastest half marathon since I’d been running mostly just easy miles this semester, but I knew the distance was doable since I’d still been doing 35-40 miles per week. I’d run four half marathons before this, and all of them were after I finished a cross country season and was in peak shape. I had no idea what kind of time I could run or how I’d feel…
But I felt a lot better than I expected! During the race, there were a couple times when I thought, “This hurts…I’m never doing this again!” and “Why do I do this to myself?!” but 10 minutes after the race, I was already thinking about signing up for my next one 🙂
I finished in 1:35 (7:15 avg. pace), so even though it was a few minutes slower than my PR, I was really happy with my time for where I am fitness-wise right now.
Things that worked for me:
-An awesome playlist
-Carb-loading! One of the best parts about running long distances. Two days before and the day before the race, I had French toast, pasta, and lots of other forms of carb-y goodness.
-Drinking tons of water in the days leading up to the race
-The weather. It was 35 degrees at the race start so I wore shorts and a lightweight long sleeve shirt, which ended up being perfect.
-No expectations for myself. I put zero pressure on myself and so it ended up just being FUN! (Don’t let my face in the above pictures fool you.)
And after the race, I got to see my running buddies, Kristen (left) and Riley. It was Riley’s first half, and they both rocked it!
My dad ran around the course so he could cheer for me at different parts of the race. He’s amazing!
I’m going to take it easy for a few days, and then I’m thinking about signing up for another half marathon that’s in 3 1/2 weeks! It’s an addiction, I tell ya 🙂
Questions:
-What’s your favorite race distance? Or are you one of these people?
My favorite is the half marathon, for sure.
-What’s your perfect racing temperature?
Even though it’s cold at the start, I think about 40 degrees is perfect for me to run the fastest!
Hey, what is that hanging around your neck? How did you place
Congratulations on your great race! I do love half marathons, too, because (for me) it takes some additional training to complete it successfully which makes it feel like an accomplishment. But I do enjoy 5K’s, for the fun run without the training commitment.
I live in Maine and this fall weather in the 40-50’s has been perfect!
I love how half marathons don’t take hours of training every day but are still a really good challenge! I love the 40s-50s fall running weather, too- can it stay like this all year?!
Great race!! I am a runner but mainly marathons. I am itching to do another race but a full marathon feels way too long. I am thinking of signing up for a half since I have never done one. I just need to decide which one! How long do you take each training block?
Hi Mattie! That’s impressive that you skipped halfs and went straight for the full! I’ve actually never used a training plan because I’ve always just done my half marathons after I finished a season of cross country for school. Runner’s World has some good training plans that friends have used, like these: http://www.runnersworld.co.za/training/beginners/half-marathon-training-programme/
But there are obviously lots out there!
Fall half marathons are the best! I am running on this weekend and then accidentally got roped into doing another one 3 weeks later with friends. Seems crazy to other people though! You should go for the one in 3 1/2 weeks and soak up this fall weather!! Congrats on a great race!
Hey Erin! Thanks so much and good luck on both of your half marathons!!! I agree, the fall weather’s so perfect for racing. I’d do one every weekend if my legs (and wallet) could handle it 🙂
That’s a great finishing time for the race, especially since it wasn’t a race you were training for. Congrats!
Thanks, Tina! Wow, I just checked your blog out and it’s awesome that you’ve done 15 marathons and 7 halfs just in recent years. Good luck in your upcoming 50k!
Dang girl! You are FAST!!! Way to go!!
Thanks so much, Sarah!!
(hey i’m totally creeping 😉 )
thats an awesome time! but i cant believe 35/40 is your ideal weather!! I did a 10k this weekend and it was ~45 before it started (also cloudy and grey) and i was FREEZING! i think my ideal temp would be 55-60 🙂