Long Distance Running Season is over... for now!

The Princess Half marathon, was definitely a different experience, I have to confess the medal this year, is beautiful, the shirt is finally not white! the expo... it was fine for me, because I was staying at the Coronado Springs where they hosted the expo this year, and I didn't go the first day (well, my friend Minh got my packet for me :) he went through the storm of people), I went on Saturday, so the masses were dissipated and me and my hubby got to stroll around for a while. I have participated in this race for three years now; the first one, being my very first 13.1 and by all measures this year (to me at least)was the hardest running race I've been in. To begin, I have to tell you I am not over trained, nor I am under trained, I was "ready" that week was a little busier than normal, but I was looking forward to the race, it was going to be "special" and it was in so many ways, I got to meet Amber and Dennis and Landin Larkin the founders of Noah's Light Foundation (Noah's mom and dad and Noah's little sister), and I was thankful that I ran this race for them, and thankful to all my friends that helped me raise the cash to meet the goal. Had a great pasta dinner the night before, was presented with a great surprise! I have suggested the Bondiband to Rachel (from Noah's Light Foundation) and that night... they gave all of us runners a bright green Team Noah Bondiband! that I wore proudly at the Princess Half and of course on my training runs since. Back to the race, turned out, it was 100% humid... and I couldn't tell, because, I honestly didn't check my phone to see what temperature we were going to greet, and well... the breeze was cool, it felt fine (while standing in line at the corral)Started running with Andee (a friend that I met through the LBV Club), we started talking about what goals we had for this race, I told her I would love to PR, she said "I'll be happy with anything under 2" I said: "under 2 for sure!" dear readers, I had to eat my words for the entire 13.1 miles, first mile, I even told her, my first mile is the hardest, she agreed saying: is the warm up! the feeling of the first mile stuck with me for the entire race, at the 5k mark we were sweating, terribly, I though... what's wrong? the breeze is cool? why does it feel so hot? (trust me I know hot! like the full marathon in January, that was hot!) but this, felt, odd, I felt heavy, out of breath, I wanted to give up, I wanted to stop, at mile 10 I did stop ( I kept going and stopped running with Andee at mile 4.5 I think, I said to myself I'm just going to go, I'm not feeling it) I asked for Tylenol, and a handful of Biofreeze I knew that wearing the wrong shoes was not helping and my right leg was taking a bullet for the entire run, do not ever run in worn out shoes, don't think what I did "oh, it's just one last run!", I was getting ready for that "lovely" overpass and "adorable" curve/incline at mile 11, so I thought I'll take all the help I can! I looked at the Garmin knowing that I needed to push hard if I wanted to "for sure" get it under 2, did I mention my husband was waiting for me? I wanted him to see me finishing "for sure" under 2 (yes, I have done it at the OUC and at Mt. Dora in December last year! and at the Half in Disney in January for Goofy!) well, "for sure" it didn't happen the hardest mile (I know I've said all of them were hard) was mile 11 to 12, where my mind started playing all kind of scenarios, as of just walk it, it will be just a mile of walk, just stop take a break... all kinds of negative thoughts, like look you just got passed! again, and again!so, when I got to the 12 to 13.1 mark I said, well if it's going to hurt, let it hurt, but I want to finish this as soon as I can! fastest mile! For sure didn't finish under 2 (not even close) I got a 2:02:03 FOR SURE! Just so you all know, weather is always unpredictable here in Florida, we had the "perfect" race weather the weekend after the race, just like for WDW Marathon weekend... and feel that the breeze is cool? DO not trust that! humidity check the humidity, as it could be the worse condition to run under.. I stopped at every water stop except the first and last, I'm thankful that through the training I have done with my friends I have engraved deep in my heart and brain, not to ever! ever! give up! just keep going! I know at Noah's they didn't care about my time, I was the one setting a goal, after all I felt that I could do it "for sure" under 2, and wanted to PR for Noah, I know he would care less... I can't wait for a next one!