Hi everyone - hope you all had a good weekend!
My weekend was super busy but pretty good. The weather was less than ideal. It was the weekend of the half, I ran it on Sunday. Saturday I had signed my kids up for the kids 1K fun run and took my oldest (DS7) to that - he liked it, it was fun. DS5 couldn't go, he had t-ball at the same time, so he did that instead.
So here goes - the half marathon went pretty good. We knew going into the weekend that the weather was going to be tough - cold, rainy, windy. On Saturday it was all 3 (DS7 and I ran in the rain for the kids run), but by Sunday morning the rain had cleared so it was at least sunny, but about 40 degrees and VERY windy - like constant 20-25 mph winds with gusts to 40 mph.
We got to Lambeau Field where it started and it was cold, the wind was harsh. DH and the kids waited inside the atrium while I got in line for a port-o-potty outside, then we headed over to the starting line. This race was huge - 9,000 runners for the full and half. After the gun went off it took me 7 minutes to get to the start, and I was about half way through the pack. The first 5 miles or so were really good. The course was mostly east/west so we didn't have any headwind for awhile - at points it didn't even seem windy out there, we were in thick, tree lined neighborhoods. I was cruising along at a nice 9:30 pace most of the way, but the water stations slowed me down - I drink a lot and am not yet graceful enough to drink and run, so I always walk through the stations. By about mile 8 we started to turn to head back and we got into some of the headwind, not a lot and not for a long time, but the blocks we did into the wind were tough.
By mile 9 I was going through my lull and asking myself "why am I doing this?"
Not that it was going bad at all, I was feeling okay, but I was really pushing myself the entire way to hold close to a 9:30 when I was running, knowing that I was not going to PR at this rate anyway with stopping for water. But by mile 10 I was getting excited, kind of got a second wind - knew it was getting close to the end...we crossed a street a few blocks away from the finish and all we had to do was this last loop and it would be done! Mile 11 we were into the wind again - head on for about a mile - I did walk some of this stretch since it was just too hard to run into it. As we turned back to cross the street to get back to Lambeau, DH and the kids were there at the corner waving an cheering - that gave me a huge boost, I was so excited to finish now! I kicked it into gear and headed into the final mile - a portion of which was through Lambeau field - the course runs through the staduim, up the player tunnel, and out around the warning track of the field. I did my loop around the stadium - that was so fun, and headed back down the tunnel and out to the finish line. DH and the kids were there cheering me on and I crossed at 2:16:14, 5 minutes over my half from last fall.
I was a little disappointed that I didn't PR, but considering my training this spring and the weather conditions, I am happy enough with it. I did make the goal of finishing within 10 minutes of the last one. I felt like I was running at a good pace, but it's the water stops that slow me down, maybe I need to think about carrying water or learn how to run and drink!! When I do stop I feel like I'm breathing so heavy I have to walk for a minute just to catch my breath to be able to take drink! Need to work on that.
The course for the half and full split at mile 11, and the poor marathoners had a stretch of trail along the river that went for 6 miles directly into the headwind - those runners were tough who finished that, I cannot even imagine.
Now I need to focus on eating better and losing this weight. After my really good week last week and eating well over the weekend, I'm only down a half pound.
So I have to do better and be sure to track everything. I do feel ready to do it, I just need to make it happen. I also want to start some strength training and get toned up - plan to start my Jillian Michaels DVD this week.
Hope everyone is doing well!