WOW…can I just say that I did not even begin to expect Sunday to go the way it did. I am very pleased with my experience and it was FAR better than last year. Reminder: last year it rained the ENTIRE race. It was my worst time EVER and I was miserable afterwards. Continue on to read about my experience this year!
Race Expo: This year’s expo seemed to be in a much tighter space or there were more people. Don’t get me wrong they had all the right booths there and the sales were amazing. {I got a pair of Nike running shorts and a Nike Pro Sport sports bra for $30 total!!!} The entire space just seemed very cramped and it was hard to get around. I really enjoy race expos and like to walk around for quite a while, but for some reason, I felt like I needed to get out of there earlier than I anticipated. Oh well, I got what I needed along with some awesome freebies!
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| From my iPhone: Getting ready to take off! |
The Actual Race:
- Miles 1-5 flew by! I felt great as I just trotted along the streets of Houston. I think the hardest part about this area was watching where you stepped…the streets were pretty rough!
- Around mile 6 I experienced something that I have never dealt with during a race…chaffing…IN MY ARMPITS!!! TMI??? Maybe, but seriously it hurt. I didn’t want to let it get to me, so I just kept pushing on.
- At mile 7.5 at the corner of Montrose and Dallas I had the best spectators cheering me on…JP, Mom and Dad!!! I am a lucky girl to have them out there supporting me. Especially since JP had to wake up early to take me to the race and M&D had to drive from Sugar Land into Houston! Seeing them made me so excited and just kept me going strong!
Mile 7.5: Up close and personal 🙂 I’m high fiving my momma! - I kept going strong taking in fluids ever 1.5 miles alternating water and Gatorade. I used my water bottle for most of the water stops and grabbed Gatorade from the tables to increase my salt and Electrolyte intake. When I grabbed fluids from the stops, that’s when I took my short walking breaks. The walking wasn’t necessary for my legs or lungs, but more for my nose so I wouldn’t get water or Gatorade up it!
- Mile 9 I started to slow down just a little bit, not quite sure why, but I came out of the slump when I saw JP, M&D as well as some other awesome friends {D. Wells love you!} again at the corner of Montrose and Dallas. {The half marathoners run down Montrose and take a U-turn around Richmond, so I got to see them twice!}
Mile 10.5: Looks like I’m blowing a kiss to my hubby! - I took off after seeing them, grabbed an orange slice from an awesome spectator and just kept trucking.
- I slowed down again at mile 11, not by a lot, but I did notice it. I seriously think it’s because there were less spectators cheering people on. Maybe kind of silly, but the crowd really gets me going.
- At mile 12 I got a second wind and actually ran my fastest mile of the race {8:25 min/mile}. I heard people calling my name and pumping me up to just push through and that I did. The best part is that when I crossed the finish line, I felt like I could keep going. This is good news since I’m planning on running the full next year!
Now before I tell you my time, let’s talk about the crowd! Oh my goodness, the spectators blew me away. By far the best spectator turnout I have ever seen. When it comes down to it, sometimes it is the crowd that keeps you going when you want to stop. You can put your name {or I suppose another name or a nickname} on your bib, and I heard so many people that I didn’t know yelling my name telling me to keep it up. This was especially important towards the end and may have contributed to my increase in pace over mile 12. Aside from hearing my name, my favorite thing about the spectators are their signs! Here are a few of my faves:
- Worst parade ever.
- Hurry up the Texans play at noon!
- You’re sexy and you know it. {I kept getting LMFAO stuff in my head…not a bad thing}
- Run Princess Run! {How did they know my name?}
- Run faster, the beer is getting warm.
- Do like the Kenyans do and stop after 2 hours {Did it…except only half the distance}
All in all, it was a great race and I am still on cloud nine after my performance. I ended up finishing in……….drum roll please……………1:54:22!!! Yippie!!! Okay so maybe not outstanding for some of you super runners out there, but I was darn proud. This is my 2nd fastest race time and I did it without training. Not too shabby. I’m feeling more confident about this whole moving up to play with the big dogs and run a marathon thing. I think I can take it. P.S. I shaved 10 minutes off of my Houston finish time last year which is my WORST half time ever. I blame it on the rain!
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| Finished with all my goodies! |
Thanks again to everyone that got up early to support the runners!!! It was a great experience with an amazing crowd. I feel so blessed to have been a part of it!
My Support Crew:
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| With my momma! |
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| With my Daddy! |
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| My super supportive hubby! |
Sorry this post was so wordy, but I had a lot to say and I hope you enjoyed it. As always, let me know if you ever have any questions about running or getting fit! Have you ran any races recently or will you soon?
Don’t forget to enter my give away!!! It’s full of some of my favorite things…a sweaty band, a Lolita wine glass and a $20 Target gift card! Go here to enter!
Today is MOVE IN DAYYY!!! I finally get my belongings and I get to sleep in my own bed for the first time since December 14th! Wish us luck…let’s hope that nothing is broken {crosses fingers}.
Until next time…
With love and God bless,
