This was my first half-marathon. As soon as I heard about it from a training partner last fall, I knew I had to do it. Ooh, a trail half - perfect. (I found out during the first preview run, however, that it was more of a fire-road half. I was disappointed, but got over it pretty quickly.) I'm not one to follow self-made training schedules very well. I think in 2010 I had done a few 9-milers and one or two 11-milers to train for it. I do a fair amount of supplementation bike riding, so I figured I was prepared despite. In addition, last fall, my medium runs were 8-9 miles, shorts 5-6 and longs up to 16. Anyways, I had a base built up.
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Within the two months before, I was reminded that my cousin Katherine was joining, and then learned my friend Kim had also signed up (along with her friend Megan, who I had yet to meet). I love races with friends! I was so excited! I did a training run with Kim and Megan down at DuPont - showing them the course preview I got in January. (It was 6 degrees on that preview day - I should have gotten 5 minutes off my time for going to it!) Garmin link: DuPont Training Run I also did a training run of Southridge in Bent Creek with my friend Billy as well as Kim as another long run to add to the tally. Garmin link: Southridge Training RunDay of the race, my mom had sleepily agreed to join to see me and Katherine and Kim. We left the house at probably 7am. I have that extra race day energy usually, so on race day it's almost unbearable for others. My mom lovingly rode in my car, windows down, heat on, music blasting and me singing at the top of my lungs to get "geared up" or whatever reason it is that I love to do that.
Once we arrived, we bumped around and finally saw Katherine and Kim with her family. Port-a-potty lines were excruciating, and nerves make me have to pee - to the woods we went. Anyways, we all lined up and the race started. I had no pace in mind. I just wanted to relax and take the run as it came. I ended up staying with Katherine for about the first half. (If my memory is correct.) She powered on at some point. I settled into my groove and just kept a moderate pace.
The course was beautiful - Old Guion to the airplane strip and around the back of Fawn Lake where happily a little double-track greeted us. Once we were back on fire roads, I knew to use the downhill to gain some speed. I caught up with a small group - Katherine included. We ran together for about 4 miles. I met a now friend - Brain (view his blog here ) - in this section. We chatted ultra-running hopes and dreams. He was training for his first 50k (last weekend by the way, and did great). The last two miles were uphill, so I put my head down and tried to get through them. They were rough. It was really sandy here and a steady climb. There was one person in my sights the last half mile that I was able to pull away from to the finish. Garmin race link: DuPont Half Marathon
All-in-all the race felt great. My knee was pretty stiff once it was over, but I felt okay. The course was great. The people were great. It was wonderful to do a race with Katherine - she has been running just about her whole life. (I definitely had some non-athletic, unhealthy times.) Getting to experience it with her was incredible to me. It gave us a new experience together, and I finally discovered that she wasn't crazy as a kid for always wanting to hike and run. It's fabulous! She is the culprit for talking me into this LeHigh Valley Marathon - my first. She hopes to qualify for Boston, I hope to finish uninjured. Perfect.It was also wonderful to get to race with Kim - we have known each other since first grade. We had remained distant acquaintances throughout the years, but had lost a real connection, as geography tends to do. Running is so magical. It can create such a connection with people - doing what they love and working so hard to better themselves - together. We now get to run, hike, camp on a regular basis. Yay! (I still need to attend a Kim-taught yoga class, however.)
