Saturday, November 9, 2013

2013 Pecan Festival Half Marathon

 

This past Saturday, November 2, I ran the Pecan Festival “Run Like a Nut” half marathon. I love this race because it is a hometown race and because it is one of the first races I ever did when started my racing career back in 2009.

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I really hadn’t had much time to wrap my mind around this race. I decided last minute that I would register, knowing I needed some motivation to get a long run in before the annual pig pickin family reunion that always falls on this same day.

I knew if I hadn’t signed up, I wouldn’t get in 13 miles. So, I bit the bullet and registered. I am so glad I did because there are always so many runner friends there and several of the husband’s cousins had signed up as well.

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Getting our run on so that we can head to the annual pick pickin and get our eat on!!

So, the gun went off and off I went….way.too.fast. I ran a 7:23 first mile. I knew i had no business doing that and it came back and hurt me bad. I wanted to try to keep a 7:50ish pace for the whole thing but that dream was gone by mile 5. I was already up in the 8:00’s.

By Mile 6, I was getting really frustrated with a particular runner around me who wanted to pace himself off me and carry on a conversation with me. He would talk to himself and then try to talk to me every few minutes. I was just not feeling it that day. He would run ahead and then look back and wait for me. It really threw my mental game off. This has never happened to me before and I was so ready to leave him and get to the finish but I knew I didn't have it in me to sprint ahead and keep that pace. So, I just stayed frustrated with him by my side for the remainder of the race.

I crossed the finish line with a time of 1:43:36. The course was way short, which it always has been. I have no clue why they wont fix that but they don’t. It was 12.72 by my watch and it was 12.72 by my watch when I ran it in 2011.

Not the time I was hoping for at all but still a good solid race. A huge bonus is always seeing my family at the finish line. They don’t always come to watch when I travel to races but they are at every single one that I do at home!

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Another half marathon in the books! Stay tuned for a big race recap coming up!! I am having to get on a plane for this one!! Eeeeek!!!

happy running (and swimming and biking),

Britton

2013 Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon Race Recap

 

On Sunday, October 20, 2013 I ran in the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon in Myrtle Beach, SC. This was my 3rd year running this race.

The husband and I headed to the beach Friday afternoon after work to meet up with friends. We dined at Bonefish Grill and headed back to the beach house to rest and relax. It was a long week so this was much needed!

We did not have any plans for Saturday either so that was nice. I slept in which I don’t do much anymore and I finally rolled myself out of the bed around 8:00. I went for a short easy 3 mile run and then had Chick-fil-a at the house for breakfast!

We hit the expo at the Grand Dunes hotel. This expo has never really been exciting. Its small and usually crowded. So we got in, got our stuff, and got out! We hit up Wild Wings Cafe for food and USC football!

After a little afternoon R & R, we hit up Carraba’s for dinner. I am usually not a fan, but this time around it was a pretty good meal! By the time dinner was over, I was so tired.

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Once we got back, I hit the hay after setting my race day alarm for 5am..eeek! Sundays are usually my sleep in until 7:00 days so this was a little difficult!

I pulled myself out of bed at 5:10 and ate a cliff bar and a banana with some almond butter. I got on the couch for a few until it was time to get dressed and go!

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We left the house a few min after 6am and got to the race start at around 6:25 only to be greeted by rain showers! We stole borrowed a trash bag from an unused trashcan and wrapped up in it. I should know by now to always have trash bags with me on race day! Lesson learned.

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The rain let up just in time for the start. And we were off! The weather for here on out was perfect for a race.

I had technical difficulties at the beginning of the race and my watch died at Mile 4. I had no idea how far or fast I was going until the checkpoints.

I felt pretty good throughout the race. I secret goal was to be under 1:45 but I told my husband and friends I would be happy with a 1:45 and I was right on.

My official time was 1:45:12. I was happy, not overjoyed because I know I can run better, but happy nonetheless.

After the race and finding the husband I hit up a coffee shop. One of my all-time favorite things after a race is a good cup of coffee. I ordered and tried to hand over my card to pay but my total wasn’t enough to use a card. I had absolutely no cash. The woman behind me offered to pay for my coffee and I told her no. She proceeded to hand the cashier a $5.00 while she turned to me and said “Girl, you just ran a half-marathon, you deserve it!”

That was a cool moment and one I was thankful for because that cup of coffee was so delicious and helped keep me warm while we waited on the rest of our crew to finish.

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The surfboard medal/bottle opener is pretty sweet. I don’t usually get too thrilled about race medals(bring on the t-shirt!!!) but this one and two others from this race are hanging on my fridge!

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Just call us the “Zenzah support crew”. We were all sporting compression. I love the sleeves, they seem to help me, especially after the race is over.

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Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon #3 is in the books for me. I love racing Myrtle Beach and I love spending weekends by the ocean running and being with friends!

Cheers to next year,

Britton