Wednesday, April 16, 2014

CheapRunnerRhoda’s Run for Retina Recap

Posted by Anonymous

Wow, say that title 10 times fast!

Good morning friends! It's Wednesday!! More than half way through the work week as Friday is a Holiday!

Let’s go for round 2 of the Run for Retina ½ marathon recap.

Saturday night we all went to go out to our fav local hole in the wall pasta joint, but got turned away as our party of 6 was too big. So we ended up at another pasta place. It was alright but I would have still preferred our first choice.  Regardless, I still had spaghetti and meatballs.

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Sunday’s ½ did not start until 9:15 and the starting point was only a couple minutes from where I live so it was very nice, to sleep in my own bed and not have to get up super early!

I picked my sister up at 8:30 and we were down to the starting area by 8:45. Just enough time to visit the loo and take some pics!

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Mike and Michelle showed up soon after we were there.

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I guess Mike was tired already

The race started right on time, which is always nice! Miriam and I were running together so we made our way to the starting line and found a spot about the middle of the pack.

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Waited for the horn to go and we were off. It was a little mucky to start but we were thankful they weren’t puddles. The forecast had not been looking good for the morning so we were just happy it wasn’t raining. I let Miriam set the pace as this was her first ½ and she wanted to finish in 2 hours. We both had our iPods on and just used hand signals for good, bad, okay, speed up or slow down. The first loop out from the park we were a little fast. When we came back through the park at around the 5 k mark we slowed down a little and kept that pace for about the next 10 k.

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It was just before we came back through the park, that Miriam pointed up to the sky and I looked and saw the sun was actually peeking its way out! That put some huge smiles on our faces!

I felt pretty good for most of the race, it wasn’t until around the 15, 16 k mark that my right leg really started hurting. It was cramping so bad I actually had thoughts of quitting. It was right around this time that I was also doubting my abilities to run a full in 3 weeks but I kept going. The next thing that happened, has never ever happened to me. At km 18, both of my calves started cramping. I had to be very careful with how I was pushing off the ground with each step. I managed to keep going but in the last km when I like to speed up, I couldn’t. Looking back, I don’t think I was as hydrated going into the race as I usually am and I did not drink enough at all during. I think I had 3 sips of water.

Miriam had a burst of speed in the last 200 m or so, I could feel her picking up the pace. She sprinted up ahead of me. She finished in 1:52:08 and I finished in 1:52:10.

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So proud of her! She surpassed her goal and we all know that is such a wonderful feeling! All her hard work and training paid off!

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As we were approaching the finish line, I looked over and saw my dad in the crowd! I was so happy to see him!

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It's such a good feeling to see family and friends at the finish line!

Well friends, that sums up ½ marathon #9 for me! So happy and thankful I was able to run another one!

How many ½ marathon’s have you run?

Anybody racing this weekend?

12 comments:

  1. Great job to your sister on her first half! Fun picture of y'all with your dad after the race.
    I hope your legs are OK now - bummer on the cramping that is never fun!

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  2. You sis rocked it!! And you are so sweet for being by her side!!


    I have run 17 half marys and my new goal is to get to 20 by the end of this yr!!

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  3. Amy @ fitnessmeetsfrosting.comApril 16, 2014 at 11:41 AM

    AMAZING job to you and your sister!! You ladies rocked it! Holy moley did she surpass her goal! Congrats to you both!! I have run 4 half marathons so far (my 4th was actually last weekend)!

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  4. katie @ fromicecreamtomarathonApril 16, 2014 at 4:09 PM

    Great job to you and Miriam! You guys did awesome. Hope your legs are better now. I've ran 6 half's.

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  5. Thanks Kim. Infortunately my leg is not better:(

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  6. Wow 17! That is amazing!

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  7. Thanks Amy! 4 is a great number!

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  8. Thanks Katie! You have also run fulls, which I have not. Yet.

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  9. Heidi @ www.idlehide.comApril 17, 2014 at 6:28 AM

    That's so special to run a race with your sister, and I love your top. What a great color!

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  10. Thanks Heidi! It was special for me! We both bought the shirt seperately and when we realized that we thought, hey, lets wear it and match :)

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  11. Great job! I've done one half-marathon...although I've ran that distance more than once since the half. I've signed up for my second half-marathon event which is taking place in September :)

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  12. Thanks Kierston! Congrats to you as well! Finishing that first one is epic! All the best with your training for September.

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