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<p>2:32</p>
<p>Fashion: White New Balance tech race shirt, pink champion shorts, new Zensah calf compression sleeves, pink balega socks, Brooks Adrenaline.</p>
<p>Post race libation: Smuttynose Imperial IPA from Portsmouth Brewery</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Backstory: Hubby and I planned this race as our 10th anniversary getaway weekend, and he had a conference at UNH Thursday and Friday, so we made a long weekend out of it. Besides the gorgeous weather and sightseeing, it was also Portsmouth's restaurant week, so much food and wine and beer was consumed pre-race day.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Training: Training started very well over the summer, but then I started a new job at the end of September that completely derailed my life. I love the job, but haven't yet figured out the work/life/fun balance. So the longest run I had taken since September was about 3 miles, and I did that maybe twice.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Race morning: It was a little colder than I had expected it to be. We got a little lost finding our way to the high school where the race began, and then stood in two bathroom lines of about 50 people. Usually I have a very nervous stomach on race mornings, but this race was different, as I had no other goal than to simply enjoy the day. So luckily, my bathroom stop was very efficient, and I felt great. Didn't have time to meet up with Julie or Doug pre-race however. I also didn't bother warming up, I figured I had about 13.1 miles to do that...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Erik and I walked up the hill to the start line, he got excited when he saw the pacers and wanted me to join him with the 9:00 pacer. I said no thanks. He hadn't trained much for this race either. I walked a little further back and started out at a nice easy pace. I actually think I saw Doug around mile one and was within sight until mile 6.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My body didn't feel too bad and my pace was nice and easy. I had originally thought about doing a walk/run, but forgot about that once the race began. The scenery was gorgeous. This was the first race I've done without a time or performance goal, and boy did that feel good!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mile 6 I got a sharp pain in my left calf. It almost took my breath away. I didn't think it was a dehydration type cramp, but more like the muscle was about to tear. So I stopped and stretched a bit, walked a little bit and started running again. The pain came and went the rest of the race. I knew I didn't want to push myself too far and injure myself in a race I probably had no business doing in the first place. Thankfully, nothing terrible happened with it, but it did slow me down considerably.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>While I was going slow as molasses, miles 7-13 felt like they went by really quickly.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I ended up finishing with a big smile on my face in 2:32. My body was stiff and hurting, but otherwise I felt great. All of my other half marathons I have done have left me with horrible stomach cramps and diarrhea, but not this one. Probably partly due to the effort I put into this one compared with the others?? So since I felt great, I enjoyed a bowl of soup and some lunch, and even went out for a beer afterwards before starting the long drive home.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Got to meet Doug real quick in the food line, but we lost each other after that. Next time I hope I'll have more time to spend with Kicksters! Missed Julie all together :-(</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Timewise, this race was a personal worst, but in every other way it was a personal victory:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1. Not to take myself or my running too seriously.</p>
<p>2. Take time to enjoy the scenery and thank the volunteers.</p>
<p>3. Chat with other runners.</p>
<p>4. Not end up sick to my stomach during or after the race.</p>
<p>5. Not end up broken.</p>
<p>6. Smile for every photographer I saw on the course.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>True, one of these days I hope I can properly train for my races, but I think there's probably a better middle ground of training to be able to enjoy the wonderful opportunities of racing and being active and healthy.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Fashion: White New Balance tech race shirt, pink champion shorts, new Zensah calf compression sleeves, pink balega socks, Brooks Adrenaline.</p>
<p>Post race libation: Smuttynose Imperial IPA from Portsmouth Brewery</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Backstory: Hubby and I planned this race as our 10th anniversary getaway weekend, and he had a conference at UNH Thursday and Friday, so we made a long weekend out of it. Besides the gorgeous weather and sightseeing, it was also Portsmouth's restaurant week, so much food and wine and beer was consumed pre-race day.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Training: Training started very well over the summer, but then I started a new job at the end of September that completely derailed my life. I love the job, but haven't yet figured out the work/life/fun balance. So the longest run I had taken since September was about 3 miles, and I did that maybe twice.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Race morning: It was a little colder than I had expected it to be. We got a little lost finding our way to the high school where the race began, and then stood in two bathroom lines of about 50 people. Usually I have a very nervous stomach on race mornings, but this race was different, as I had no other goal than to simply enjoy the day. So luckily, my bathroom stop was very efficient, and I felt great. Didn't have time to meet up with Julie or Doug pre-race however. I also didn't bother warming up, I figured I had about 13.1 miles to do that...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Erik and I walked up the hill to the start line, he got excited when he saw the pacers and wanted me to join him with the 9:00 pacer. I said no thanks. He hadn't trained much for this race either. I walked a little further back and started out at a nice easy pace. I actually think I saw Doug around mile one and was within sight until mile 6.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My body didn't feel too bad and my pace was nice and easy. I had originally thought about doing a walk/run, but forgot about that once the race began. The scenery was gorgeous. This was the first race I've done without a time or performance goal, and boy did that feel good!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mile 6 I got a sharp pain in my left calf. It almost took my breath away. I didn't think it was a dehydration type cramp, but more like the muscle was about to tear. So I stopped and stretched a bit, walked a little bit and started running again. The pain came and went the rest of the race. I knew I didn't want to push myself too far and injure myself in a race I probably had no business doing in the first place. Thankfully, nothing terrible happened with it, but it did slow me down considerably.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>While I was going slow as molasses, miles 7-13 felt like they went by really quickly.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I ended up finishing with a big smile on my face in 2:32. My body was stiff and hurting, but otherwise I felt great. All of my other half marathons I have done have left me with horrible stomach cramps and diarrhea, but not this one. Probably partly due to the effort I put into this one compared with the others?? So since I felt great, I enjoyed a bowl of soup and some lunch, and even went out for a beer afterwards before starting the long drive home.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Got to meet Doug real quick in the food line, but we lost each other after that. Next time I hope I'll have more time to spend with Kicksters! Missed Julie all together :-(</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Timewise, this race was a personal worst, but in every other way it was a personal victory:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1. Not to take myself or my running too seriously.</p>
<p>2. Take time to enjoy the scenery and thank the volunteers.</p>
<p>3. Chat with other runners.</p>
<p>4. Not end up sick to my stomach during or after the race.</p>
<p>5. Not end up broken.</p>
<p>6. Smile for every photographer I saw on the course.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>True, one of these days I hope I can properly train for my races, but I think there's probably a better middle ground of training to be able to enjoy the wonderful opportunities of racing and being active and healthy.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
. I am impressed with your choice of post-race libation -- well done. I hope you guys come over to the seacoast again and next time we can actually hang out.</p>
