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<p><a href="http://www.seacoasthalfmarathon.com/" target="_blank">http://www.seacoasthalfmarathon.com/</a></p>
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<p>Yesterday, I too did the Seacoast Half Marathon in Portsmouth, Rye and New Castle, NH. This would be my 2nd HM ever with the Smuttynose Half at Hampton Beach six weeks ago being my first one ever. Why I thought signing up for two HMs was a good idea I will never know but it's in the history books now. As my neighbor said to me last weekend, asking how the training was going, "you blew your wad on the first one, didn't you." Ayuh. That's for sure. I've found little motivation to train and it seemed when I did it'd be raining out or I'd be sick. I also probably gained 10lbs since the last race. It's just that time of year.</p>
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<p>DW, two of her sisters and one of her sister's husbands also signed up. DW was very sick this past week so she was not able to race. My mother-in-law and stepfather-in-law both came to cheer us on. Juliemboyle and vtgirl were there too. I saw Julie before while we were waiting for the start and vtgirl after while I was trying not to pass out in the food line. I lined up with the in-laws at the 9:00/mi pacer, right behind Julie and her friend, and then became "that person" at the start everyone had to run around to get going. I remembered to run my own race though and went out doing 10:45s pretty much right on. I did the 10min run/1 walk method starting at mile 2. DW and the DDs were waiting for me just before mile 2 so I was able to run by and give high-fives before going around the corner where they couldn't see me do my first walk break. This next section of the run was beautiful through part of Rye and then along the Atlantic Ocean on Rte 1A. On this stretch two things happened: 1) I needed to pee and 2) I started feeling a pain in my right calf. I felt great otherwise and just kept my pace and eavesdropped on all the conversations going on around me. I ignored needing to pee the best I could but no portapotties showed up until around mile 8 and they didn't look or smell like something I wanted to try out. At this turn we went up into New Castle which is an island. The views here are beautiful as well into Portsmouth Harbor and north into the Gulf of Maine. The houses are also amazing along here. It was fun to be a pedestrian where I'd driven so many time. I knew DW and the DDs would be waiting at the Wentworth Hotel at mile 9 and that's what I focused on. It was so great to see them. There was an extended round of high-fives here and DW said I looked great. I still had to pee and my calf still hurt but not any more than before.</p>
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<p>Miles 10 and 11 came pretty quickly but the pain in my right leg was getting worse and was now up into my a**. I really really had to pee now but still no portapotties. Just past mile 12 DW and the DDs were at the intersection right before what looked at the time like the bottom of the Mt. Washington Auto Road of a hill. DW asked if I was ok and the best I could do was stick my tongue out. The wheels had come off. I knew there was only 1 more mile. It was a tough one though. I didn't make it up that hill without walking the middle third of it. The turn into the finish also featured another very short but steep hill and then the downhill into the finish. That was such a welcome sight. I was so happy to be done. I even got my name announced but for some reason the crowd didn't go nuts. The first thing I did after getting my medal and water was finally pee and then eat about 10 oranges. Those were the best oranges EVER. I definitely should have taken in more on the course, more than water and one Gu anyway. In the food line I saw vtgirl who must have wondered what was going on with me not know that I didn't have my glasses on so I really couldn't see and that I was trying not to pass out before I got some food into me. A couple of slices of pizza later I felt much better but wasn't able to find vtgirl again. I had to get out of there pretty quick anyway and head down to MA for my sister's birthday so there wasn't any hanging around after. There wasn't even any beer.</p>
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<p>Overall, I am more happy to be done than anything. It was a great course and a great morning for a run but I think I really left it all out there on the first HM and the second didn't have the excitement for me of something new like the first one did. Don't get me wrong though, I still had a really good time, enjoyed the scenery, seeing some of my LIT friends, being with family, etc. and I would definitely do it again no doubt. It was just different and I am happy and looking forward to be able to just go out and run for the fun of it again. My race season usually ends at the end of August, beginning of September -- I am feeling very burnt out from Reach The Beach and two HMs and however many tris and road races before that. Again, I am really looking forward to running just to run without the pressure of an upcoming big race.</p>
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<p>That said, I do have the Tri-Town Turkey Trot on Thankgiving I better be getting ready for <span><img alt="rolleyes.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/rolleyes.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;"></span></p>
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<p>Oh yeah, results:</p>
<p>883/1021 OA, 122/128 AG 2:23:41 (Gun) 2:23:15 (Chip)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>No post-race libation for me since I had to drive to MA and back. I would have loved a Smuttynose IPA.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Fashion was long-sleeved no-name white tech with green 2009 Timberman short-sleeved tech over it, Under Armour and Champion shorts, Asics socks and New Balance shoes.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Up next: Tri-Town Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving morning</p>
<p> </p>
<p>and it looks like there's another half at Hampton Beach in February ... hmmm....</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Yesterday, I too did the Seacoast Half Marathon in Portsmouth, Rye and New Castle, NH. This would be my 2nd HM ever with the Smuttynose Half at Hampton Beach six weeks ago being my first one ever. Why I thought signing up for two HMs was a good idea I will never know but it's in the history books now. As my neighbor said to me last weekend, asking how the training was going, "you blew your wad on the first one, didn't you." Ayuh. That's for sure. I've found little motivation to train and it seemed when I did it'd be raining out or I'd be sick. I also probably gained 10lbs since the last race. It's just that time of year.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>DW, two of her sisters and one of her sister's husbands also signed up. DW was very sick this past week so she was not able to race. My mother-in-law and stepfather-in-law both came to cheer us on. Juliemboyle and vtgirl were there too. I saw Julie before while we were waiting for the start and vtgirl after while I was trying not to pass out in the food line. I lined up with the in-laws at the 9:00/mi pacer, right behind Julie and her friend, and then became "that person" at the start everyone had to run around to get going. I remembered to run my own race though and went out doing 10:45s pretty much right on. I did the 10min run/1 walk method starting at mile 2. DW and the DDs were waiting for me just before mile 2 so I was able to run by and give high-fives before going around the corner where they couldn't see me do my first walk break. This next section of the run was beautiful through part of Rye and then along the Atlantic Ocean on Rte 1A. On this stretch two things happened: 1) I needed to pee and 2) I started feeling a pain in my right calf. I felt great otherwise and just kept my pace and eavesdropped on all the conversations going on around me. I ignored needing to pee the best I could but no portapotties showed up until around mile 8 and they didn't look or smell like something I wanted to try out. At this turn we went up into New Castle which is an island. The views here are beautiful as well into Portsmouth Harbor and north into the Gulf of Maine. The houses are also amazing along here. It was fun to be a pedestrian where I'd driven so many time. I knew DW and the DDs would be waiting at the Wentworth Hotel at mile 9 and that's what I focused on. It was so great to see them. There was an extended round of high-fives here and DW said I looked great. I still had to pee and my calf still hurt but not any more than before.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Miles 10 and 11 came pretty quickly but the pain in my right leg was getting worse and was now up into my a**. I really really had to pee now but still no portapotties. Just past mile 12 DW and the DDs were at the intersection right before what looked at the time like the bottom of the Mt. Washington Auto Road of a hill. DW asked if I was ok and the best I could do was stick my tongue out. The wheels had come off. I knew there was only 1 more mile. It was a tough one though. I didn't make it up that hill without walking the middle third of it. The turn into the finish also featured another very short but steep hill and then the downhill into the finish. That was such a welcome sight. I was so happy to be done. I even got my name announced but for some reason the crowd didn't go nuts. The first thing I did after getting my medal and water was finally pee and then eat about 10 oranges. Those were the best oranges EVER. I definitely should have taken in more on the course, more than water and one Gu anyway. In the food line I saw vtgirl who must have wondered what was going on with me not know that I didn't have my glasses on so I really couldn't see and that I was trying not to pass out before I got some food into me. A couple of slices of pizza later I felt much better but wasn't able to find vtgirl again. I had to get out of there pretty quick anyway and head down to MA for my sister's birthday so there wasn't any hanging around after. There wasn't even any beer.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Overall, I am more happy to be done than anything. It was a great course and a great morning for a run but I think I really left it all out there on the first HM and the second didn't have the excitement for me of something new like the first one did. Don't get me wrong though, I still had a really good time, enjoyed the scenery, seeing some of my LIT friends, being with family, etc. and I would definitely do it again no doubt. It was just different and I am happy and looking forward to be able to just go out and run for the fun of it again. My race season usually ends at the end of August, beginning of September -- I am feeling very burnt out from Reach The Beach and two HMs and however many tris and road races before that. Again, I am really looking forward to running just to run without the pressure of an upcoming big race.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>That said, I do have the Tri-Town Turkey Trot on Thankgiving I better be getting ready for <span><img alt="rolleyes.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/rolleyes.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;"></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Oh yeah, results:</p>
<p>883/1021 OA, 122/128 AG 2:23:41 (Gun) 2:23:15 (Chip)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>No post-race libation for me since I had to drive to MA and back. I would have loved a Smuttynose IPA.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Fashion was long-sleeved no-name white tech with green 2009 Timberman short-sleeved tech over it, Under Armour and Champion shorts, Asics socks and New Balance shoes.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Up next: Tri-Town Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving morning</p>
<p> </p>
<p>and it looks like there's another half at Hampton Beach in February ... hmmm....</p>
</p>
