This is a long delayed race post from last month. I swear I will catch up on this blog someday. Maybe.

A few months ago, Dan started running. At first it was just a few miles on the treadmill. Then I convinced him that running outside is much more (it totally is). Then it progressed, mostly because I made it, and we started talking about racing. He thought that he might want to run a 10K. I was excited — yay racing — so I escalated things and decided that we should run the Excalibur 10-Miler. I mean, what’s a few more miles?

My dad happens to live about 15-20 minutes away from Viera, which is where the race takes place. I convinced Dan that it would be an awesome idea to sign up because we could stay with my dad the night before and not have to worrying about babysitting! I’m not sure he was 100% convinced, but I did sign us both up and he started training. Possibly begrudgingly.

We drove over to my dad’s the afternoon before the race and picked up our bibs on the way (they also offered race-day bib pick up, which would have just as easy to do). It was quick and simple and before Dan knew it, he was running a 10-miler. Boom.

The morning of the race was HUMID. Ugh. It wasn’t hot (actually, I think I was a little chilly), but there had been rain the night before and the threat of rain was looming and air stealing. The worst running weather.

The race started with a duel from a few Medieval Times professionals. While it was a good idea in theory — we were standing in a grassy area of the high school and you couldn’t see ANYTHING b/c it was still dark outside. I heard a few swords clinking and then they announced it was a draw. Huh? Then they started the race and we were off.

But first…

The beginning race was pretty uneventful. I realized once we got to the high school that I had forgot my Garmin at my dad’s (grrrr), so I was just running based on feel. I started out fast and tried to stay in front of the 9 min/mile pacer (side note: I really hate pace groups – I’m sure I’m in a minority — and I always seem to get stuck near them). Around Mile 2, I saw Kindra – one of my MRTT ladies!

Pretty sure this is the exact moment I realized she was next to me.

I didn’t realize she was running it, so I was SO HAPPY TO SEE HER. I lost her at a water stop a mile later, but found her again before Mile 5.

Miles 5 and 6 killed my race spirit (and Kindra’s too). It was on a dirt/gravel road. Some part of it were soft sand. I didn’t realize this was part of the course and it REALLY slowed me down. The 9 min/mile pace group passed me and I got a little deflated. While I knew the race wasn’t going to be a PR, I knew I could handle 10 miles at a sub-9 pace.

Kindra and I picked up the pace around Mile 7 and ran negative splits (according to K’s watch) until the finish — which could not happen soon enough! My finish time was 1:33:03.

It was not my best race — and I can definitely say that I wouldn’t have enjoyed this race as much (or at all) if I wasn’t with Kindra. Sole sisters (cheesiest term ever, I know) get you through the good AND the bad!

I can fit her in my pocket!

As much as I was disappointed in my time, I was more worried about Dan. This were NOT ideal conditions a for first race! I felt bad because I didn’t know about the offroading at all. I probably wouldn’t have picked that as his first race if I had known better!

I ended up not having to worry much. As frustrated as he was about the gravely sand, Dan came pushing through the finish in 1:47:27. His goal was to finish before 1:50 — and he crushed it!

Finisher!

I am SO proud of him!

I think a part of him really though that 10-miles was impossible — or maybe I was just putting too much pressure on him to run it. Of course, now I’m trying to get him to run a half marathon!!

After our race, it started sprinkling. Boo weather. Instead of grabbing any post-race food (there was a TON) – we headed to Starbucks and then back to my dad’s for a day at the beach.

We both decided (well, maybe I decided for the both of us?) that next year instead of the 10-miler would we do the relay. You each run 5 miles AND you get to finish together. The course itself was fine (you start and finish at a high school). The surrounding neighborhoods/golf course are very much like the area I run in every day – so it was comfortable (minus the 2 miles of dirt/gravel/sand, of course).  It wasn’t the WORST race I’ve ever run, but it wasn’t my favorite.

I AM happy to report that while it’s almost been a month since this race, Dan is STILL running. I haven’t convinced him to sign up for any more races (not including the family 5K we are running on April 30th), but I’m sure there’s a race I can secretly sign him up for out there…somewhere.

I’ve written extensively about losing my mojo and speed, so I’m just going to spoil this recap by sharing that I finally feel like I’M BACK — well, I finally finished a sub-2 half again. It’s just one race, but this race definitely gave me the confidence to keep pushing. And believe me – I had to push for this finish! But, I’m getting ahead of myself…

So, the race. Yesterday I ran the Shark Bite Half Marathon — my 25th (!) half. It was the Inaugural year and they did a fantastic job!

The start was set for 7:30am. However, bad weather and tornado watches postponed it to 8 — and then to 9:30. The RD and the Shark Bite team wanted to ensure that everyone could arrive at the race safely (the storms passed by 7:30) and I greatly appreciated it!

I am all about running in any kind of weather, but I kind of draw the line at tornadoes (and lightning – which was also reported in the area). The race was in New Smyrna Beach, which is about an hour away from East Orlando. So this lady and I met up with our crew and headed over.

When we got there, I was a little stressed out about parking, but we easily found a spot and walked a quarter of a mile to the start. I used the porta potty within the first 5 minutes of being there (there were plenty and they were surprisingly very clean – always a bonus) and then we snapped some pre-race photos.

My work peeps!! Coworkers who run together… bore a lot of other coworkers who don’t care about running.

At the start, it looked like the weather had changed from cool (60’s), rainy, and cloudy – to warm (70) and sunny. Oh, how deceiving that was.

We started at exactly 9:30 and the RD thanked us for supporting their decision to delay the start. Some people were not able to run the half due to the later start – and they were very accommodating, either giving them the medal anyway (hopefully they still ran some kind of virtual race!) or switching them to the 5K. Gotta love a flexible race team!

Right at the start, I realized how crazy the wind was… when my hat almost flew off.

I wish I could say it let up, but it only got worse. I was about a half a mile in when I looked to the right and saw the storm clouds. Where the heck were those things hiding?? It started running about 5 minutes later. Not just a drizzle, but full on pelting rain.

Somehow I just kept going. The first two miles were hell, and I wanted to quit. I could not figure out why I was running this race in these conditions. WHY WAS I TORTURING MYSELF. Around mile 3 the rain stopped and something kicked in. I was really enjoying myself and those running endorphins. Mile 5 was extremely happy for some reason. Running is weird.

Did I mention there were bridges? AKA, Florida hills. There were 3 total — a medium-sized bridge at the start (between mile 1-2), an ASS kicker between miles 6-7, and a small one at mile 8. I actually did not mind any of the bridges, but on the ass-kicker bridge I had to hold both my hat and my bib because I thought they were going to be ripped off my body. 27 mph winds say WAH???

This is the side we ran down — taken as we were heading home.

I have to say though, nothing compared to the wind that hit us at miles 8-10. After the last, small bridge we turned onto a road and ran directly into the wind. At times, I swear I was running in place because the gusts were so intense. I kept hoping for the turn around and it took forever to arrive. I’m pretty sure I screamed more expletives during those miles than I have all month!!

Every day I’m shufflin’.

Thankfully, once we hit the turn around, the wind was at our backs for the rest of the race and I was able to pick up my pace again!

It wasn’t until Mile 12 that I realized I could sub-2 again. I had kind of given up hope between Mile 9 and 10 – even though I still kept chasing two of my friends who were about a minute in front of me. I think it helped that I really just wanted to be DONE. The wind was killing me and I felt so beat up. When I looked down and saw it was possible, I dug in deep and pushed it. It helped that Return of Mack popped up on my iPhone.

Please tell me you remember this song.

That’s right — this bitch is back!!

After a brief sprint uphill, I turned the corner and ended up crossing the finishing line at 1:59:21.

ACK!!! I was so happy!! It’s no where NEAR my PR (1:54:something), but I know I have it in me to push myself again. Confidence is HALF the battle.

My splits…

After the race I celebrated with some fantastic women and men.

With our bigass medals.

Three of my friends PRs, two receive 10% finisher hats, and the rest of us, while exhausted, all agreed that it was a great race.

It was the kind of race that makes me want to sign up for ALL the races — and I’m ready to sign up for next year!!

Up next is… undecided. I’d like to run a half in February, but I have yet to run one. Hmmm…