It was no secret, I was nervous for this race. I was playing with a particularly exhausted body, and although I had good reason for my exhaustion … I wasn’t letting it get me down. I put my everything into staying positive. Mentally I was hungry for my PR.
The morning of April 15th I woke up with no voice, chills and a sour attitude. I immediately declared this race a lemon. I would run it, but it was doomed to be problematic. I got ready, making the decision to run in a skirt and a long sleeve since I was freezing and couldn’t get warm. (The weather was damp, slightly rainy and super humid)
Dont let that smile fool you. I was not a fun person to be around. So Sorry RB!
As I toed the line with RB by my side I started to find some positivity. The corrals were buzzing … women everywhere were so excited for the next 13.1 miles and I wouldn’t help but soak in some of their good vibes. As I crossed the start line I was finally smiling.
- Mile 1: 8:51
- Mile 2: 8:37
- Mile 3: 8:30
Thoughts from these miles:
- Typical NYRR race. We started in the 2nd corral, with the 7:40/mile pace group and we were stuck behind walkers. Meh.
- OMG I am sweating buckets. Why, oh WHY did I wear a long sleeve
- Huh, my legs feel really strong
- I’m already feeling dehydrated
- Seriously, how are there walkers in front of me … ?
- Harlem Hill: You are fierce but I am fiercer. I scoff at you.
I was all over the map, but the takeaway was that the sour puss I began the morning as was slowly melting away.
- Mile 4: 8:26
- Mile 5: 8:33
- Mile 6: 8:05
Thoughts from these miles:
- Thats it, I’m taking off my long sleeve
- Thank God this is an all women’s race, for some reason that makes running in a sports bra OK in my head
- Yup, I’m cooler but mildly uncomfortable with bearing so much skin
- Is that the 5 mile marker? Wow that flew by … I think I’m going to pick up the pace
Somewhere around mile 5.5 I decided to get in the game. I sped up, I started passing people. I put my headphones on and I SHUT DOWN that sour puss who was lollygagging around for the first half of the race.
- Mile 7: 7:43
- Mile 8: 7:59
- Mile 9: 7:50
- Mile 10: 8:00
- Mile 11: 8:04
- Mile 12: 7:30
- Mile 13: 7:37
- Mile 13.1: 2:31
- I wonder how fast I’m running
- Holy Harlem Hill, 2 times in one race. Respectfully, I hate you.
- HI VC and G’s!
- I’m going to pass you, and you, and you …. (this is the part of the race when I target people and pass them. Its a little game I play with myself)
- WOW I feel like I’m running fast. I think I’ll just keep it up
- YES!! Mile 12. Its almost over
Thats me on a mission to pass her ... Thanks for the motivation # 2372
I ran my heart out for these miles. I pushed with every single drop of energy I could muster up. I channeled SoulCycle mantras. I danced, I gritted my teeth. And it felt GOOOOD. I simply cannot beleive that I ran the pace I ran. I have never in my wildest dreams thought that I could run sub 7:30 min miles during a half marathon.
I finished in 1:48. 8:06 average pace/mile
This is the part where I make lemonade. I will be honest with you, I have spent 5 days bummin about this race. I clearly had it in me. I could have PR’ed. I could have run my 1:45. I let my spirits get down and I didn’t give it my all for the first 5 miles.
I’m sad about it, and slightly ashamed. I preech to you all about positivity and giving 100% however I did not practice what I preech that morning. What can I say? We are all human.
Finally on the 6th day of replaying this race over in my head I have come to a positive conclusion. I learned BIG lessons during this race. I saw myself run at paces that I have never dreamed of. I gained confidence in myself. I felt the mental shift of lolly gagging in a race and then really getting into the game. I learned how to mentally drive myself during a race. I turned my sour puss lemon race into lemonade.
A 1:45 half marathon time will be mine. I’m now certain of it and THAT confidence is a sweet sweet thing.
Have any of you figured yourself out during a race?
Thats my "I GOT THIS" smile ...
As a side note, the race itself was extra amazing … from Expo to the organization to the massive amount of Girl Power in the air. I will be recapping that portion tomorrow. I just had to get this part out first!
I had to share this one. G1 stole my medal and strutted around the park with it. Race Envy??? We may have a runner on our hands!
