Monday, April 30, 2012

Ky Derby Mini Marathon

I have had a goal of getting a half under 2hrs for some time now I was ohh so close back in the fall on a somewhat hilly course but came in at 2:00:43. I had several people tell me they thought I could do it at the Derby half as it is flat and a great course but I was still skeptic....

Me & Sarah waiting to start
Miles 1 -4  9:21, 8:51, 8:48, 8:53
I lined up with my friend Sarah who was doing her first Full marathon. The crowd was crazy packed and I almost started to panic thinking I wasn't going to find her but thankfully I did! I stopped on my way to use the bathroom (again thankful:) but while we was standing there waiting for the start my stomach started feeling awful and I needed to pee really bad~ not good. Finally the crowd started moving and we was walking towards the starting mat, I thought about jumping into the potty before I crossed the mat I had to go so bad but I just did my best to block it out knowing soon I would be sweating it out! Once we made it through the mat I told Sarah "Don't take off too fast and remember You Got This!!" and off I went. There was so many walkers mixed in and slower people that I did a lot of weaving, I don't like that as it uses lots of energy. They only had pace groups for the full marathoners but we all stayed together until around mile 8.5, I got up to and passed the 9:30 group and hoped I would catch the 9:09 but I never saw them so I knew it was all up to me to pace it and I was so glad I had a pace band on. The first mile I was behind by about 20 seconds, the second I was behind by 10 seconds but by mile 3 I had gained about 40 seconds. I felt great and strong was keeping around an 8:50 pace and told myself to just hold that as long as I could and "bank" some time.



Crazy crowded
 Miles 5-8   8:50, 9:04, 9:00, 8:54
I was still feeling good and strong. The weather was almost perfect for this it was about 55* and the sun was shining at 5.93 it rained for about 2mins but I was on a street covered with trees so I didn't get wet at all:) Every time I looked at my garmin I was at least at 8:50 pace. About mile 7.5 my back started hurting and I worked on fixing my stride standing up straight and not slumping, I was also beginning to feel blisters on my toes so I worked on adjusting my feet while running but I still felt great overall. Around mile 8 we entered Churchill Downs where the Ky Derby is run. This is the only area that there was any kind of hills as we went down and up a couple of ramps they were very short. As we went through Churchill it was totally awesome to see some of the Derby horses out doing practice I really thought this was the neatest part of the entire race! The course was still very crowded and I was still doing lots of weaving, there was a man I seemed to stay with for several miles that had a firefighter shirt on I was just about to begin talking to him as I figure he was wondering why I was staying so close to him (pacing with him of course:) when he drifted off to get water I kept on going but thought no problem he will catch back up but I never saw him again. I was still doing good "banking" some time and staying ahead of pace band times!

Miles 9 - 12  9:09, 9:06, 9:00, 9:02
I was still feeling strong but was also beginning to feel myself slowing. I hadn't drank any water along the way yet and due to my yucky feeling stomach at the start I chose not to take any GU's. I decided when I saw the water stop at mile 9 I had better go ahead and get a drink. Well that's all I got as the tables were empty of filled cups and the volunteers were dipping the water out of a cooler as fast as they could for the runners, I had to completely stop and wait about 45 seconds for a cup of water that had just enough for one drink of water! That was ok at the time but I was starting to feel a little light headed and hot and thirsty! Thankfully at mile 11 volunteers were standing there with cups of water in there hands, I grabbed one (and said Thank You) without stopping which I couldn't drink and run so I just took a couple of drinks and tossed it. I was getting a cramp in my left hamstring and just did my best to block it out, they were handing out orange slices about mile 11.75 so I grabbed one, I think it helped a LOT! I put several "fast" paced songs toward the end of my playlist on my ipod and I really think it helped me pull through the last couple of miles. A little after passing mile 12 I heard my mom yelling at me I was so glad to see her:)


Even though I don't really look like it I was still feeling good & Happy to see my mom!
Miles 13 - .15  9:07, 1:10
My feet was really starting to hurt and I was so glad I had "banked" an entire minute and 40 seconds of time. I kept telling myself "1:59:59 its GOING to be yours today! Just hang in there and don't stop!" I had to resist the urge to walk I told myself its ok to slow down just a bit but every time I looked at my pace it wasn't slowing. I saw what I thought was the finish area only to find there was still about a quarter of a mile to go. But then when I rounded the corner and really did see the finish I gave it my all! I felt like I was going to throw up, pass out or possibly even fall down but I just kept on going to the finish mat! My garmin said 1:58:30 but my official time was 1:58:26!! If I had any more strength I believe I could have kicked my heels up!!! :) :) :)






Feeling so Happy and Proud of myself:)


Overall
I LOVED this course I could not have asked for a better one or a more perfect day! Although I did not use many of the water stops they appeared to be empty at most of them, I think that is something that could have been better. I can't wait to do this one again and am considering doing the Full marathon next year instead of the half even though I found out after mile 20 there is several hills.
Sarah and I She still looked great even after finishing her 1st Full Marathon!!

5 comments:

Suz and Allan said...

Great job on running a sub-2 half! Woohoo!!!!

Running Librarian said...

Congrats! It was a great day for a run! I also ran the derby mini and it was really annoying with all of the walkers that should have been at the back..

Crystal said...

congrats!!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the sub-2! Amazing!!

Courtney said...

SUB 2!!!!!!!! Great job Bobbie!