For 2 days prior to October 20, I began to wonder what on earth I had been thinking (or drinking!) to sign up for a 13.1 mile race. My coach Lisa reassured me I would finish, and I knew i had already trained at 11-12 miles, so logic said I was ready. And, I was a bit excited too.
Tony dropped me off at Coolidge Park at 0630, and I promptly joined one of the long lines for the port-a-potty. It was very cold. I think in the upper 30's. And of course I was wearing a skort, since I don't yet have leggings to run in.
I wasn't sure where to join the line at. I simply stood off to the side about 3/4 of the way back in line. When the race started, it took what felt like forever to actually start moving forward. It was fascinating. I've never been in that big of a crowd before. What an experience. The race began in the dark, and running across the Market St. Bridge was poetic.I almost stopped to take a photo, but I didn't. Mist rising up off the river, the lights on the bridge; it was so beautiful it was magical. After crossing to the south side of the river, we circled around the Aquarium and started an out and back journey on Riverfront Dr. The turnaround was at mile 3, and honestly those 3-4 miles went by very fast, because I was busy watching all of the fast runners running back towards town. Shortly after I made the turn-around, I caught up with a lady about my size. I asked her if this was her first half marathon. She said it was her 49th. What??????? 49??? It was actually supposed to be her 50th, but the race she was supposed to do a couple weeks prior had been canceled due to the government shutdown and the race ran thru a federal park. She is a university professor in Texas and she loves to run half-marathons. Talk about inspiring!
We parted company at the bathrooms, and shortly afterwards I came upon an elderly man. He was doing a light jog/walk. Seriously. Even SLOWER than me. I asked if this was his first half, and he said "Lord willing I'm doing the full, but I'll see how I feel at the turn-off". He went on to tell me that he had raced in hundreds of half and full marathons. REALLY??? These people are crazy!
By mile 5 I was by myself and was happy to see my friend Kristin at the aid station. She kindly took this photo:
Kristin took me to my first two Chattanooga Triathlon Club meetings last fall. She kind of spear-headed this insanity 😜. After mile 5 it was up and across the Olgiati bridge. Beautiful beautiful beautiful.
Mile 6 found us winding thru the north shore again and thru Coolidge Park, and up onto Veterans Bridge. It was on Veterans bridge that I reached my first goal. I knew I could run 7 miles, so when I saw this sign, I threw a little party!
From there I did a lot of walking. I wanted to finish the race feeling wonderful, and the previous week when I had run 12 miles I experienced quite a bit of pain in my hamstrings and calves. At the risk of sounding like a whiny butt, it was very painful!! I had never experienced pain in my muscles before, and I was a bit paranoid of it happening again, thus my reason behind walking much of the last miles. Also, I might add that miles 8-10 were the most boring miles of the entire race. Just a flat stretch out Amnicola Hwy. I spent these miles alternating walking and running, and texting. Yes. Texting. 😂
Mile 10 was the turn-off, where the half-marathon turned onto the Riverwalk to head back to the finish, and the marathoners kept going. I was completely happy and pain-free and enjoying walking/running with another lady I met who recognized my Swimbikemom visor and shirt. She reads her blog too. Small world. Somewhere around mile 11 my friend April met up with me. She wasn't in the race, she was just out running on the riverwalk and was kind enough to run me in the last two miles. Run. Ha. It was mostly walking at that point. All walking? Probably.
Before I knew it, I was back to the Walnut Street Bridge. I knew I could run the remaining bit, so I quickly texted
My coach and told her I was at the bridge. And she texted back that I needed to put the phone away and run! So I did. Across the bridge, onto The north shore, then into Coolidge Park for the finish. The first familiar faces I saw were DeAnn's boys. They were looking at me as if they were trying to decide if they knew me. I stopped and said "I'm Jimmy's mom!" and Jack said "I knew it!" and went running ahead to his mom, who was awesome to get my finishing pics. Thankyou so much DeAnn!
And so, I finished. 3:24 was chip time. And you know what? That is slower than slow! I trained a little faster than that. But so what. I finished!! A half-marathon!!! Go me!!! It was a wonderful experience and I'm already signed up for my next one. Crossing the finish line, my eyes filled with tears and I experienced the same emotions I felt at the triathlons. I have been obese and sedentary for so long, and now I'm finishing a half-marathon. Wow. I'm beyond happy. I'm thankful, grateful, exuberant.
And this concludes my race report for
my first half-marathon. It definitely won't be my last!
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