Normally, I’m the type of person who falls asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, but not last night. I can never sleep very well before big races and I also felt like I was getting a cold. (Which makes me think that my stomach ache from the other day was a bug and not something I ate. I feel like whenever I have a stomach bug, it turns into a cold after. Does this happen to anyone else? Or am I just a freak?) After tossing and turning until almost 2 am, my 4:45 wake up call was not well received.
Jason got up with me and we drove to Joan’s house in Midtown. It meant so much to me that he was willing to stand around for 2.5 hours, especially since he had to go to work after. We got to her house around 5:45 and walked to the MARTA (subway) and got to Centennial Olympic Park around 6:30. We made a beeline for the port-a-potties and by the time we finally got to use them, the race had already started. However, there were 10,000 people running and we were in Corral J, so our corral hadn’t even moved yet.
Not sure what’s up with my shiny tooth there.
After about ten minutes, we crossed the start line.
I have a tendency to go out too fast and get tired so I really tried to stay around a 10:30 pace. The first two miles were fine. A bit crowded, but good. Miles 2-4 were hard, for some reason. Even though I’ve done this race four times in the past, I always forget just how hilly it is. 2-4 had some hills, nothing huge, but definite hills.
I had a GU at Mile 4 and we headed into Little 5 Points, where Joan’s boyfriend was waiting for us. It’s so nice to see a familiar face along the course. At this point, I was feeling good. Joan and I split up around the mile 6 marker.
Mile 6-7 brought one of the bigger hills in the course, but I was still feeling great. There were time clocks at each mile and I thought that I was on track for a 2:15 finish. I got to about mile 9 and then suddenly lost all my energy. It didn’t help that there were more big hills from miles 9.5-10.5. I could feel my pace slowing. Regardless, I told myself that I could slow down, but I needed to keep running and not walk.
When I saw the mile 12 sign, it said something like 2:17 (I’d started 10:30 after the clock), so I still thought a sub 2:20 was possible. However, I just didn’t have it in me today. Mile 12 was a real struggle and I even stopped to walk for a minute which is something that I don’t usually do in the last mile of a race. I don’t know why, but I was just zapped of energy.
I crossed the finish line with a time of 2:24. Not a PR by any means, but I’m fine with it.
Congrats on your finish! It sounds like a challenging week to run a half for you.
Great job, Lee! I can’t imagine running a half after only a few hours of sleep. I hope you’re feeling better.
The cold came back this evening but it stayed away during the race at least!
Good for you, Lee! I am proud of you! And that was so sweet of the hubs to get up so early for you! He’s a winner!
Way to get it done Lee! I hope we can meet up one of these days. I now think of this as a race of survival, not one for PR’s.
I think you did great! And hilly definitely doesn’t sound fun.
Good job, Lee! I know it was tough but you still had a great time and you finished! Its hard on little sleep and feeling under the weather! Hope you’re getting lots of rest tonight. I think I’m bound for bed.
Awesome job! I can never sleep well the night before a race either. Now go wear that red t-shirt with pride!
Great job on the race!!!
Congrats to you! That’s still a great accomplishment.
Hope you’re feeling better!
Congrats on a strong race! I don’t think anyone sleeps well the night before a race, which is supposedly fine. I’ve read that the sleep that really counts is two nights before.
Congrats on the race Lee!! I’m sorry that it didn’t go as well as you had hoped but you stayed strong and finished – and now you get to celebrate!! (and take a break from training
). I think it’s so wonderful that your husband came to cheer you on even though he had to work – sounds like a great guy!!!
And I didn’t realize the race was so huge! It sounds like a fun event to take part in.
That is awesome, Lee!!! Hills definitely scare the *&)^ out of me…I bet that made for a really tough course. And you look really good for just finishing the race, too!
Congrats on getting through it despite your cold! I have a cold too and am really dreading my own race next weekend.
I think you did great! Watching all the runners yesterday made me really want to be out there running with them. Maybe next year.
You should do it next year! I’m sure I’ll do it again. I tend to forget about those hills every year.
Congrats girl! The same thing happened to me. No energy at the end! Hate that.
Woooooohoooooo!! Great job, Lee!!
Is there still an ING half marathon or did Publix take it over??
Yes, it’s the same race as the ING. Publix took over the sponsorship this year.
Great job Lee! Be proud of your time even if you were hoping for a PR, you should proudly own your time. You trained, you got up, you went to the race, you finished. That’s pretty awesome.
Great job, Lee! Major bummer about the hills. I live in such a flat city that hills in a race just kill me! Way to go for toughing them out
Wow Lee! Awesome job, especially with the lack of sleep and all of the hills!
AWesome job! boo on those hills. I heard the run was packed this year – a couple of my friends did it and mentioned the hills too!
Great job dude! Rockin’!
I agree–the hills were killer! Congrats on finishing 5 races. This was my first half, and it was tough, but fun! I enjoyed reading about a fellow Atlanta runner’s experience.
Great job on the half!! And that was really nice of Jason to go and support you!
Good for you, you did such an awesome job! Not every race can be a PR, but I still think you did fantastic
Wow so many people raced this past weekend…. well, congrats to you too! Great job.
That is a great race time finish, you should feel proud!! Especially given how freakin’ HARD of a course it sounds like it is. And you’ve done this race four times now regardless of those hills?? You’re crazy
Congrats Lee! I am so jealous
Wish my knees were not killing me so I could run this race too!
Congratulations Lee! You should be really proud of yourself for battling up all those hills.
Great job Lee!! Not every race can be a PR!! Don’t get too hung up on it — you did great!!
GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!! your time is awesome, and you had a cold. all that matters – you finished! and strong!!
PR or no PR, you did fabulous! Way to push through the tough points (especially given you didn’t get good sleep & weren’t feeling 100%). You rock!! Congrats
Congrats, girl… you’re amazing!! And I love your shiny tooth.
Congratulations on the Half! I think it’s amazing that you ran the race
You go girl!!