Personal Best!

Yesterday...I completed my first half marathon in Bentonville, AR. The race had been off and on for the past few months. I delayed registering until the last minute, because I wanted to make sure I could go before I paid the fees. For some reason a week before the race, I thought I had missed the deadline; therefore, I believed it was no longer an option--I wasn't going. I even started announcing to people that I wasn't going to be going, and THAT'S when I really realized how much the race meant to me.

Then the Wednesday before race day, I had an alert on my Facebook page saying that TODAY was the last day to register online...but I could also still register in person up to the day before the race. Immediately my heart started pounding. I called TJ to see if it was still okay to go. He said, "Go for it!" I then called my sister to see if they would still be on for race day. "Bring it on!" was the response I got...so off to Arkansas I went!

Race Day was calm...but hectic at the same time. I was able to get a decent night's sleep (considering), and the morning flowed fairly smooth...until about 20 minutes before start time. I had a little personal incident that I had to deal with, then I couldn't find my socks, then I couldn't find my keys...finally I pulled it together and jumped in the van--thankfully Betsy was driving. I still had this nagging feeling like I was forgetting something, which I wasn't, but I just couldn't shake the feeling.

We get to the square...10 minutes until start time...and I have to use the bathroom. There's this balance of drinking just enough water to keep you hydrated, but not too much or you'll be miserable. I ran down to the rest room...let's say LONG LINE! I stood in line for about 4 minutes and realized I wasn't gong to make it through the line in time. I gave up and decided I would just have to suffer.

I headed back to the start line...and finally found my support crew on the corner. To my relief, Betsy pointed to some port-a-potties right in front of me at the start line. HALLELUJAH!!! Now with business taken care of, I could relax...well sort of. I was regretting the decision NOT to bring my water bottle. I decided at the last minute that I did want it, but I didn't have time to run back to the van to get it--the race was starting in 2 minutes. My sister said that she would get it to me out on the course.

With that issue resolved, we snapped some pre-race pictures with the kiddos...and then off to the line-up I went. I do not know what I was expecting...I think I was expecting more of an explosion...but finally the shot was fired, and off we went. Well, not me...not yet. I was way in the back, so it took at least a minute to make it past the starting line. When I passed the line, I could hear my racing chip chime...I felt like a Pikepass!!!

The first mile was a breeze. I felt good, had a decent 10-mile pace going. By 1.5 miles, the runners were beginning to thin out as we rounded the corner. I could hear a band playing up ahead. At this point (almost 2 miles), I still felt like I was clipping along with everyone else...but apparently not. The band was changing songs right as I was approaching them. Before they started the next song, I heard these encouraging words: "You're doing GREAT! You're not that far behind!!! PERSONAL BEST!!!!"

For some reason, this CRACKED ME UP! I guess I didn't realize how FAR BACK I was. Throughout the remainder of the race, when I needed a laugh, I remembered these HAAlarious words. As any runner could tell you, phrases like that can be hilarious or they can be irritating. It all depends on the condition of the runner. Because it was still mile 2 and I was feeling great, it was funny. Had these guys passed out those same words mile 11...not so funny. At mile 2, the phrase "you're almost to the finish" is hilarious. At mile 9...not so much.

So here I am...clipping along the section of the course that I am NOT familiar with. I pass by the first water station--I needed that! At this point, I began to wonder where the family was. I thought, perhaps I'm doing better than expected, and they've missed me. Then I thought, maybe I'm doing WORSE than they thought, and they missed me. Oh, well...gotta keep going.

As I passed mile 4, I really was wondering...but then I rounded a corner and saw/heard them!!! My sister jumped out with a tambourine and made a ginormous ruckus! The kids were jumping and hollering. I laughed so hard that I was in serious danger of an accident! Alex handed me the water bottle, Kiahna ran out to give me a hug, the kids cheered and hollered, and Isaiah cried. All-in-all it was great, and it lifted me up more than I could have hoped for. I continued laughing for the next mile.

As the miles continued, I was still doing good, but also beginning to feel not so light on my feet. Some of the water stations were running out of water. I was thankful to have my bottle--I was able to fill that up instead, otherwise I wouldn't of had any.

I kept getting comments about my shoes. I heard about 30 times, "THOSE shoes are AWESOME!!!" Newtons use bright florescent colors...orange, green, yellow, blue, pink, etc. They definitely stand out...and my shoes got some attention.

So now, I am approaching mile 8. I haven't seen the crew since mile 4, and I'm starting to get tired. I turn a couple corners...and I hear some drums playing from a driveway. Just hearing the drums (I was a percussionist all through junior and high school) revved me up. I was VERY tempted to stop and just jam out--I know I just dated myself with the word choice! As I was passing by, I was feeling a little sad to leave the beats behind...then I rounded another corner and heard my cheering squad!!!

Let me just say, that I had THE BEST cheering squad!!! The tambourine was shaking, the kids were hollering, Kiahna was jumping up and down with the pom poms....and Isaiah was still crying. I knew he wasn't happy watching his Momma pass by...again. So, I couldn't really concentrate on that.

I figured this would be the last time I would my cheering crew until the finish line...but now (mile 8), I was on familiar road. Back in January when I was visiting in Arkansas, my sister and I trained/ran the last 5 miles of the race so that it would be familiar to me on race day. When the race starts to get hard, I like to know what I have left ahead of me.

By mile 9 I was in pretty desperate need for some food or an energy gel. I didn't bring anything (mistake #1...Always bring at least 1 backup), and I was slowing down big time. I thought the GU gels were at mile 9, but they ended up being at mile 10. Once I made it to mile 10, I grabbed 2 gels. I downed one immediately (they are very gross), and I saved the other for the last mile.

Now I was starting to feel great again. Encouraged with new energy (mind you, my legs still didn't feel the energy, but my mind did), I told myself to pick up the pace. Only 3 more miles, and I had energy gels. I made a decision that I wanted to leave all of it--all that I had in me--out on the race course. So...I picked up the pace quite a bit. In the last 3 miles, I passed 5 people, mind you that they were all walking at this point, but it still felt great!

The last few miles of the race is exceptionally beautiful. The route follows the park trails though the hills and past some streams. It's really beautiful...and isolating. I used the isolation to my advantage. I talked to God. I talked to myself. I had a great time.

As I started approaching the mile hill, I was still doing great. I didn't push myself too hard miles 4-8 because I wanted to finish strong, but now I realized that I could have pushed myself harder, because I wasn't dying yet. So I ran...and I ran up that hill. I was proud of myself for charging up that hill. People were looking at me because let's face it...the real runners were long gone--now it was just the walkers and those of us out there for our "personal best."

As I rounded the final corner. Alex stepped out and followed me in. The kids were cheering, I was happy, and I ran under the big, red, finishers arch. The race was over. I was thrilled. I did it. My first half marathon. I didn't stop...I didn't walk...and I finished strong. The finishing clock said 3:08. Niah noticed that it matched my racing number! My official chip time was 3:07:14, which averaged a 14.22 mile pace. I placed 796 out of 816--20th from the end!!! Before the race, I had said that I just didn't want to be last, and I wasn't!

I plan to repeat this race again next year with Niah. I want my new PERSONAL BEST to be finishing the race with 10 minute miles. I have a year to train for it. In the meantime, I'm still laughing every time I remember these words:

You're doing GREAT!
You're not that far behind!
PERSONAL BEST!!!