I signed up for this race (the
St. Augustine Half) a few months ago, when Jen (of
Running Our Way) told me about it and the discount code for MRTT that she was able to score. I signed up even before I ran my first half, which was the RnR on Nov 3rd (15 days before the St. Augustine Half). I figured I would already be in shape for another one at that point.
Well, after the RnR, my body actually recovered quite well – I pretty much did everything "by the book" with the training plan and taper and eating, etc. I didn't even run again until the following Thursday. I had a few more runs after that to prepare for St. Augustine (SA), nothing too hard that would throw my body off (hips, knees are my main concerns). I sort of wanted to treat this run as just another long run in my unofficial training plan for any future races, such as the Bridge Run on Dec 1. So I didn't really taper - my last run before the race was I think the prior Thursday (SA was on a Sunday). I actually signed up for a 5K taking place the day before - because the price was so cheap, but ended up giving it away because I just didn't have time to do it with all the thing I had to do to prepare to get down to SA!
I invited my sister Jen, who lives in Orlando, to come along, mainly to hang out with Liam while Joel and I ran. :) She didn't mind and I am glad she was able to come! We met up with her in SA after we checked in to the hotel (which was right in FRONT of the start line and expo!). After Joel and I picked up our bibs and chips we ventured out to check out the city and get some dinner. The "expo" for this race was one of the smallest ones I've seen. Only a few booths were set up and when we got there (we got there close to closing time) only one was still open (Newton).
One of my MRTT sisters - Tina (of
One Foot Out the Door) and her daughter - met up with us for some pre-race dinner at a place called Pizzalley, which was recommended by the front desk of the hotel. Man, those alleys are so confusing! haha... I'm usually great with directions and having a general idea of where to go based on a map glance, but maybe since the sun wasn't out, I wasn't able to hone my inner navigator! We eventually found it and got out eats on! I had a little bit of pasta with light red sauce, just because I didn't want to get any major issues for the race. After dinner we, said g'nite to Tina and decided to head back as well... until we passed by this awesome looking gourmet popsicle shop called The Hyppo! OMG... the flavors they had were all so delicious... I ordered a Pear Pie pop, Liam got a Strawberry one and Jen got a Avocado-Coconut one. I traded with my sister because the Avocado-Coconut one was just sooooo good and creamy and mmmmm... I am not an avocado lover, but this was just amazing. Except after I devoured it, I found out that it had DAIRY in it! Dairy and my tummy don't really get along... I was so scared that something would happen at the race!
When we got back, we set our alarm for 4:45 (race start was 6:05am). I think I actualy got up at 5, ate my Powerbar and half of a banana. Then, I tried to do my pre-race "ritual" if you know what I mean, especially after that damn delicious dairy pop the night before! I wasn't too successful, but time was running out and we had to get out there to the start. It was GO TIME! Luckily we had just a few yards to walk to the start line! And it was pretty damn windy!!
I saw minute pacers and was eyeing the '10' sign, when I saw Kim (another MRTT sister)! We chatted a bit before the anthem and then it started! I ran the first bit with Kim until her first walk break and off I went. The first part of the race was narrow getting to the main road, but it opened up quickly. The streets were lined with beautiful holiday lights and the first bridge we were crossing was also lit up with lights... awesome! After the first bridge, I was a bit more warmed up and tried to get in my groove. The first few miles were along a straightaway then turned onto another straightaway to another and then to a bigger bridge.
There was actually ONE band early on the course, which led me to believe that there would possibly be more, but then I thought, "It's friggin 6am... who would want to hear a band playing that early?" There was not much crowd support other than the water stations, cops manning the street closures and the random pedestrians that happened to be out while the race was going on. I wasn't expecting much support to begin with, especially that early, so it wasn't a big deal for me.
Anyway after the somewhat uneventful miles 2-5, I took my first Gu and walked. Then it was up the second bridge!!! This one was longer and steeper than the first one. I tried to see if I could find Tina and Joel on the other side of the bridge (on the way back). I thought I saw Tina and yelled her name, but she didn't wave back (turned out it was NOT her, haha) and I also saw Joel and waved and he waved back. The bottom of the bridge had cheerleaders and I took it upon myself give them all high fives as I passed because they were a great cheering squad! At the turnaround was the 10K point! Woohoo! almost half way done!
The second ascent of the bridge was tougher because of the wind. I thought I was going to be blown off, it was so strong! But I didn't stop, I kept going... I saw Kim on the other side and I yelled to her, which she acknowledged :) There was a lady I caught up to and ran and chatted with for a bit until I realized that my pace was getting a little too easy and I had to pick it up! I think the bridge was rough on a few people because I passed a bunch of people on the straightaway back.
The second half of the race went through a park, so it was a bit more scenic, thank goodness. A little bit of neighborhood, then cut to a park - I think it was around mile 10 where there was a straightaway along the coastline that was SUPER windy... I think it was harder than the wind on the bridge ascent! I was trying to find someone to draft off of, but no one was around to run behind. It wasn't that long and after the next water station (Snoopy-costumed volunteers!) I took my second Gu and walk break to finish up the last 5K!
This last bit went through some neighborhoods and eventually ended up back on the same straightway in the beginning, leading to the first bridge we crossed over. I was hanging behind a couple of guys who were more 'mature' (maybe 60s?), I overheard them talking about Ironmans and Tri shoes, blahblah... they were going a good pace, until they slowed to chat with another runner and I went around them.
The final mile-point-one was pretty long... as expected at the end of a race. The bridge wasn't too bad, I tried to let my momentum going down the bridge give me speed for the last straightway to the finish line... I finished pretty strong, especially when they said my name as I approached the arch... they even said it correctly (doesn't happen often)! So I was super happy... and even more happy to see a 2:12 on the clock! New PR! Faster than my RnR (2:14). I raised my hands and crossed the line, got my medal and to my surprise, Liam ran up to me! It was great to see hi after that trek through the city. :) I sat down to catch my breath and gave my medal to Liam to wear.
I saw Joel and was happy to hear that his time was MUCH better than his first at the RnR – he got his sub-2! I stretched a bit, but felt my right hip was sore. I had been having issues with my left, but now my right is acting up again. We walked back to the field to meet up with Tina, got some pics with her and she had to leave because it was really COLD. I waited for Kim and we got some food – a pretty good selection of stuff, even free beer (didn't get any, but I got a free koozie!) Then took pics with Kim and her sis-in-law Maureen, another MRTT sister! Then back to the hotel room to thaw out and shower, nap, pack up.
It was a great weekend! My tummy never really bothered me, so the dairy in the pop wasn't so bad! haha My chip time ended up being 2:11:05, which is already pretty damn close to my goal time of a 2:10 half for 2013! So I'm happy. The course was good, sun never came out, windy, challenging... I really enjoyed the bridges because of the change up and the challenge. Would I do this race again? Most likely not, only because there are so many other races I'd like to do and just the logistics of what to do with Liam, what to do with the dogs, how to afford the hotel, etc gets hectic. It was nice that it was very close. The drive was not bad at all (3 hours from Savannah) and SA is a great city that I'd like to visit again to explore more.
Next half marathon??? Not sure, but the next one I am registered to do is the
Blue Ridge Half on April 20, 2013!!! Woohoo!
