Houston Half - Take 2

Once again, I signed up for and ran the Houston Half Marathon today. It was a perfect day for a run. 42* at the start before the sun came up. Not too much wind either. I felt great. Two eggs and peanut butter toast for breakfast 2 hours before the start. Plenty of stretching and jogging to warm my legs up before the gun went off. I secured a bib in the first wave this year, but I knew if I was too close to the start line at the beginning, I'd let everyone around me make me go out too fast. I started in the back and crossed the line about 4 minutes after the gun. The first mile and a half of the Houston run is on a bridge across I-10. It was windy and COLD up there, but as soon as we made it to the ground, everyone started to warm up. Gloves and sweatshirts were thrown. I took it slow and enjoyed the crowd and the runners around me. There was a family hanging outside the windows of their house singing karaoke to us. The best sign I saw was "Simon Says Run Bitch Run". There were tons of other good ones, but I was focused on running. I had been bragging to Hubby yesterday at dinner that I'm a negative splitter and I was determined to prove it today. My 10K split was 1:01. I took my first GU at the 5 mile mark, which was also my first water. I never stop for gatorade because it makes me burp, so I'm a water all the way girl. I felt great then, the sun was coming up and the crowd was getting thicker. At 7.5, I passed Hubby and my old running partner, handing off the clothing I'd shed and grabbing some GUs to finish the race with. I told them I was on time and kept on going. The half marathon turns around at mile 9 and comes back down the same street so the spectators get a chance to see the Halfers twice without moving. The bands along the street were all doing awesome and I was kicking up the speed. I figured if I wasn't going to make my goal time, I was going to cut it close. I had my second GU at 9.5 and checked my watch - I was1/2 a mile under the 10:00 min/mile pace. I was stoked. I focused on my stride and watched where I landed my feet - I couldn't risk stepping wrong. When I passed Hubby and M again at mile 10, I high fived them and told them they better hurry to the finish because I wasn't about to slow down. I couldn't believe how awesome I still felt and I wasn't about to slow down for any reason. I was passing people like crazy and kept trying to tell myself that I still had 3 miles in front of me. Last time I ran this race, I was dead by mile 12. There are hardly any spectators in downtown there so there's no one to encourage you but yourself. A tall, fast girl passed me, and my mind told me I needed to keep up with her - we had 2 miles left. I managed to keep up with her for a little over a mile. The streets downtown were shady and cold, but I was determined. Two ladies on my right mentioned that there was a kid in front of us, laughing at themselves that they were going to be beaten by a pre-teen. I wasn't going to let that happen. I needed motivation, and that gave me what I needed to pick it up even more. There was 1/2 a mile to go. I let my legs take over and focused on my breathing, I could see the finish line in front of me. I kept scanning the crowd hoping that Hubby and M made it in time. My watch told me it'd be close. I raised my arms and crossed the finish line - I hope there was a smile on my face. I'd beat my goal by 45 seconds. I was so happy I almost cried. I walked inside, struggling to breathe and almost cried again as they lowered the finisher's medal over my head. It took me 3 tries, but I made it. I honestly never really knew I had it in me, turns out, sometimes you just don't know what you are made of until it comes down to it. I'm so completely excited and proud of myself!

Mile 1: 10:04
Mile 2: 9:46
Mile 3: 9:29
Mile 4: 9:16
Mile 5: 8:59
Mile 6: 9:11
Mile 7: 8:53
Mile 8: 8:55
Mile 9: 9:09
Mile 10: 8:35
Mile 11: 8:40
Mile 12: 8:36
Mile 13: 8:23


Total Time: 1:59:15 !!!!!!

(I lent my camera to my friend because hers died and her brother was still running the full marathon. Pics to come soon!)

Hubby and M didn't make it to see me finish. Parking and the crowd of people and the road closures prevented them from making it. It didn't stop me from jumping on him the second I saw him though! I had just enough energy left for that.