Picking up from yesterday –
That first 5k was awesome. I’d almost forgotten what it’s like to run a pretty super huge race.
This race was basically perfect. There were tons of runners, yet I never once felt crowded or trapped in a certain pace.
Another thing that was completely awesome – as we were running up to the water stop, there was a humongous sign saying “Water Stop.”
All the mile marker signs were also very large. It was nice that everything was so big. When you got tired, you were able to see pretty far into the distance and get excited about what’s coming next.
I was genuinely surprised at every mile marker from 2 to 5. “Mile 5 already? Are you kidding me?” I was still keeping up with Randy and Terry. I couldn’t believe it.
Terry’s a cross-country coach. Of course he wasn’t struggling one bit. Randy was doing his first half marathon! He was full of energy and always ready to keep running.
Somewhere along our run we passed a White Castle. Oh, precious, precious Midwest/east coast. I wanted to run off the course and grab a slider. Of course I didn’t, but I will not go back to Los Angeles before I have at least one!
It started to rain partway through the run! I’d bought a new waterproof phone case at Ragnar last weekend. (They were on sale, and my old phone case was completely falling apart.)
Though I enjoyed my new case, I had wondered whether I really should’ve bought it. (All money is money that could be going toward future races).
When the rain poured down on us, I knew it was a wonderful purchase.
It rained just enough to cool us down, but not enough to make us soaked and uncomfortable.
After I hit mile marker 5 with Randy and Terry, I wonder if maybe, just maybe, I can stick with them ’til the middle of the race.
Sure enough, I do! I’m a little exhausted by this point, but feeling amazing.
We hit 6.55 miles in under an hour and 30 minutes. As we get closer to mile 7, I’m feeling that I’m not gonna be able to keep up. I’m pretty flabbergasted that I’ve made it this long with them. So, I’m gonna go ahead and call this a win.
I’ve warned them that I’m not gonna be able to keep up with them through the whole race. When the time comes, they should run ahead and not feel bad about it.
They had said if I could make it to mile marker 8 with them, they’d walk around Churchill Downs to take in the scenery/ambiance and such. I pushed. I tried. I couldn’t go that fast anymore.
I said “I don’t think I can make it!” Meaning, “I don’t think I can make it at your pace. Please run ahead.” But all the people around me who heard that jumped in immediately with loud encouragement. “Yes you can! Don’t give up!”
I really appreciate the sentiment, but goodness, it was a ton of people jumping on me at once! Don’t sweat it. Nobody freak out. I’m not dropping out of a race with a six hour time limit. I’m just slowing down from my new stranger friends.
I’ll have to be more careful with my wording and volume in the future. Note taken.
I stayed with Terry and Randy until we hit mile marker 7, when I happily let them run ahead. I certainly wasn’t going to slow down too terribly much though. These boys worked too hard pacing me toward a PR for me to let them down now!
Will I ever see them again? Will I make them proud by getting my PR? Find out more tomorrow!
You missed it – last year, in front of White Castle, someone was handing out the ‘sliders’… the smell of them made me want to barf… but plenty of people were eating them 🙂
No WAY! That is incredible (that someone handed them out, not that you wanted to barf)! It’s hard to imagine this half being any better than it was, but I think maybe, just maybe, a slider would’ve tipped it into the record books of best races ever.