Yesterday, I ran the Shamrock Half Marathon for the third time in a row. Its always a fun race, and I look forward to it every year! The first year I ran it, I finished in 2:09, which was pretty respectable for a first timer! Last year, I had a goal in mind: finish in under 2 hours….I dominated that goal and finished in 1:55! This year, I did have a goal in mind…well, maybe a few goals. My comfortable goal was to finish in 1:50, which I didn’t think would be too difficult. My far-reaching goal was to finish in 1:45……
I run a lot…at least 6 days a week, averaging 35-40 miles per week. My day just isn’t complete without getting in a run! I don’t follow a training plan, though, and never really have. I used one as a guideline for my first half, but never ran over 8 miles in a training run before the race because I ended up with an injury a few months before the race! I’ve realized I’m just not one to stick to a strict schedule…I like to run when I want to and how far I want to…a la SkinnyRunner.
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So I went into this year’s half marathon without putting too much pressure on myself. After all, I’ve stretched myself thin with law school, running, socializing, and trying to have a little bit of fun. So, I didn’t want to set too high a goal and then not be able to accomplish it! Yesterday morning, I woke up and I wasn’t overly enthusiastic to be awake at 4:30am…I was wary of how well I would run, to say the least. I wasn’t running late, and had time to unwind before the race…but I didn’t think too much about the fact that my exhausted body was about to run 13.1 miles. No pressure, right? 😉
I started off pretty fast but steady, and I kept checking my Garmin…I was holding a sub-8:00 pace consistently. Never in my life….hah! I was feeling good, so I kept it up. I got to mile 4 and pulled out a 7:36 mile…don’t know where that came from! I made sure to keep myself fueled with carbs…two Gatorade stops and took SportBeans 3 times throughout the race. Those little things really gave me a boost! When I slowed down (because God forbid an 8:05 pace being slow…), I would pop a few SportBeans and my pace would pick back up to the 7:40s-7:50s.
I had started off in Corral 2, and of course the 1:45 pacer was at the back of Corral 1, which started in a wave about 2 minutes before my corral. For a while I didn’t see the pacer, but I think when I got to Mile 3, I caught a glimpse of him. That’s when I knew I had a chance. Yes, somebody has big dreams here….I decided to keep up with the 1:45 pacer at Mile 3! Somehow, I managed to keep him within my sight the entire race, and I knew that starting about 2 minutes behind him put me about 2 minutes ahead of a 1:45 finish…or something like that. Math isn’t my strong suit….
When I got to Mile 12, I knew it was all or nothing. My feet started to ache and I could have easily slowed down a bit, but I made it THAT far and wasn’t about to give up my “far-reaching” goal! I’m extremely competitive and if I crossed that line in 1:46, I would have been disappointed. That’s horrible, I know…but just the thought of being SO close would have driven me crazy! Like, if I had crossed the line in 1:50, I would have been satisfied that I accomplished my “easy” goal…but something about finishing in 1:46 and being so close to my “far-reaching” goal would have made me frustrated! So I forged on…..
Once I got to Mile 13, I knew I had it…granted I could keep my pace! 😉 We crossed over from the road to the Oceanfront boardwalk, and I heard a volunteer yell “6 more blocks”…it was game on at that point! I gave it all I had and crossed the line in 1:43:59! My legs never felt so….tight…..and sore! But I did it, and now I’ve accomplished yet another goal 🙂
I went into this race with no intention of actually finishing in less than 1:45 (which has been my all-time goal for a half marathon finish time)! I knew that I would go for it at some point, but I didn’t know yesterday would be the day. I’m so grateful that I have the ability to run and accomplish goals like this! It looks my next goal is going to have to be a marathon….since I just accomplished the biggest running goal that I had thus far 😉
I can tell I ran extremely hard and pushed myself, because I am SO SORE today! My legs and feet hurt and I just feel achy….but I will say it was totally worth it. Still feeling that rush of accomplishment and it gives me reason to believe I can accomplish anything I truly set my mind to! 🙂
-xoxo
THAT IS SO AWESOME!!! Congrats! I am with ya on the soreness part! I wish I was in my bed and not at work!!! I hope I can hit that time one day! I have heard great things about the Shamrock race…maybe I'll do it next year 🙂
wow congratulations!! my time goals are almost exactly the same as yours so this is great inspiration to know that it is possible!…i have a half coming up this weekend (National Half in DC) and would die if i hit 1:45 but would also be thrilled to break 1:50!
Bess–Thanks so much! I feel your pain–I wish I was not at school today…walking is no fun! haha. You should do the Shamrock…its a really fun race 🙂
Gwen–Thank you! That's so neat that our goals are almost the same…I'm sure you'll do great this weekend!!! 🙂 PS-Are you a Hokie too?!
Incredible race Brittany and awesome that you crushed your goal! Your training the last couple months show that your speed and your endurance have been improving. Congratulations on such an outstanding half marathon! You are definately ready to train for a marathon.
Awesme job! I, too, reached a goal for the 8K that I never in a million years thought I could. There must have been something in the water. 😉 Congrats! You finished not too far behind my friend who came in 1st place of all women for the Dolphin challenge. Good job!!
Thanks Charlie!
@Carolyn-Thanks! Congratulations on reaching your goal too 🙂 That's pretty cool about your friend, too! I think I should try the challenge next year too…maybe haha 🙂
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