weekend: race day!

So after all my training and nervousness, it was finally time to just get the Flying Pig half marathon started on Sunday morning. I wasn't quite sure how it would turn out - I worried a lot beforehand about the hills, and the week of I worried a lot about the too-warm temperatures, but I really wanted to beat my 1:48:01 time from my first half.

And thanks to lots of hard training, some great fans, bursts of strong willpower, and some energizing pre-race chocolate milk, I went ahead and smashed it: 1:44:24. I knew for most of the race that I was going to be able to PR, but I really didn't think by that much! That's about 16 seconds faster per mile. And good enough for 103rd of 6761 female finishers, which kind of amazes me.

Someone's happy to finally have that finisher's medal

Feeling good around mile 5

Big crowds around mile 1 (too many for Peter to be able to spot me)

Highlights:
1. The fans: the big crowds were fun, especially between miles 4 and 5 and at the finish. But even better was having Peter there. He dropped me off, so I didn't have to worry about parking logistics, and he ran around to see me at different spots. And he was there with a big hug at the finish line. I saw him first at a little after 3 miles, which was perfect because I didn't start with quite the adrenaline rush as last time, but that gave me a boost. And then when I saw him again around mile 5, combined with the big cheering crowds, I got a huge boost that carried me through the beginning of the toughest part of the course...

2. The hills: the middle part of the course really was almost entirely uphill for almost 3.5 miles. It was hard work for sure, and my pace definitely slowed, but all that worrying I did about the hills wasn't really necessary - or maybe it's just that all my training paid off. I just went up them, and that was that. Plus, once things had flattened out I got another serious runner's high - I was feeling pretty good, I knew it was mostly downhill to the finish, and my pace was definitely going to be good enough to beat my previous time. So by the time I saw Peter's parents along with his sister and brother-in-law (who live very close to the race course) at mile 9, I was beaming (that high died between miles 11.5 and 12.5, but I rallied to finish!).

3. The being done: I really do enjoy running in general, and in spite of all my nerves racing is actually kind of fun too. And in hindsight, when you've finished, had your yummy post-race breakfast, and beat your goal time, the whole thing just feels awesome. Nevermind the small pockets of feeling kind of miserable during it. All in all, a far better race than my first, partly because I'm more experienced in running races now (and knew I could run that far!). There were a couple big emotional ups and downs throughout - that's a long time to keep yourself going mentally, and I was a little disappointed with how low I let myself get in the last mile, but the crowds and just seeing the end in sight were enough to give it my all to the finish, and I was thrilled with the end result.

Happy sights: finish line, Peter (and our afternoon ice cream parlor date).

Running friends - we had a nice brunch together after.

Besides running, race day is all about food: pre-race fuel, post-race huge brunch, recovery milkshake, 

evening celebratory sparkling wine.