Yesterday I ran my fifth half marathon! It’s always an incredible feeling to cross the finish line of any race, but yesterday’s race was extra special because I set a personal record!
My alarm went off at 6:15 a.m. and I had a minor freak out when I realized I forgot to pack the the small bag I assembled on Friday with my race-day breakfast! Fortunately I was able to buy a blueberry bliss energy bar at the hotel coffee shop.
I ate the bar and drank a hot cup of coffee and a bottle of water. The race didn’t start until 8 a.m., so I felt like I had enough time to digest everything and avoid cramping before it was go-time. Hooray for a late race start!
Before heading out, I filled up a wrist wallet Gu Ghomps and Clif Shot Bloks, my fuel of choice for the race.
Once I was dressed and ready, I headed down to the hotel lobby and met up with Caitlin, Mary and Rachel to catch the 7 a.m. shuttle to the start line.
The shuttles left at 7 a.m. as promised and we had no issues finding a seat. I’ve never used a shuttle to get to the start of a race before so I was a little nervous about it since I’ve heard some horror stories surrounding shuttles at other races. I am happy to report that there were no issues and we arrived at the start with plenty of time to use check our bags at the gear check station and use the bathroom.
Remember the fears I expressed a week or so ago about running in the heat? Thankfully that was not an issue at all! Temperatures stayed in the 50s which made the wait for the race start awfully cold, but I warmed up once we started running.
A few weeks ago, once I found out my sister would no longer be running with me due to a foot injury, I felt like I needed a new race-day goal since I was no longer focusing on our fun sister run. Sometimes I feel like I’m jinxing myself if I say my goals aloud, so I didn’t tell anyone about my goal until this week, though a few of you guessed it based on the pace of some of my training runs! I was hoping to PR, which meant I needed to beat my previous PR of 1:58:49 from the Savannah Rock ‘n’ Roll half marathon.
Here’s the thing: I thought I was going to die when I PRed in Savannah. Ryan really pushed me and paced me during the whole race and I while I finished feeling ecstatic that I broke two hours, my body felt like it had been hit by a truck. I was totally spent.
We didn’t train at a specific pace during our training runs for that race, so I made it a point to focus on my pace a bit during my training over the past few weeks. I wasn’t running crazy-fast or anything, but I was more aware of my pace than I have ever been in the past.
My strategy going into today’s race was to try to be consistent and maintain nine-minute miles throughout the race. The first mile of the race took us though an adorable historic district before we ran through Fort Clinch State Park for around 4.5 miles. There were some very slight hills in the beginning of the course, but once we entered the park, the race was flat as a pancake. The trees of the state park provided shading and protected us from the intense wind.
I spaced out my fuel quite a bit and took a few Gu Chomps or Clif Shot Bloks at miles 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10.
For the first half of the race I struggled a bit with self doubt, wondering whether or not I would be able to keep up my current pace. I tried to get into the zone by focusing on my half marathon playlist and I kept my eye on the two-hour pace group.
And then I hit mile seven. Right when I saw that mile marker, I mentally flipped a switch and said I would finish in under two hours and I would PR. (I actually visualized a light switch in my mind, which was kind of weird. I’m not sure where that came from, but it worked, so I went with it.)
The last four miles were basically a straight shot to the finish line which was great because it was flat, but also kind of daunting since you could easily see just how far you still had to run since there were no curves in the road. I focused on my breathing and kept a steady pace.
The big killer of the course occurred during the final third of a mile. Runners finished the race on the sand which was really challenging.
Let’s just say there was absolutely no sprinting through the finish line at this race!
I knew a PR was within my reach and mentally committed to achieving it at mile 7. The mental shift that occurred then was HUGE for me. I started believing in myself and in my training. I repeated my one-word mantra. Both of my feet started cramping up at mile 11, but I ran through it. I hit the sand and tried to keep my pace up and though my run through the finish wasn’t a victorious sprint, I felt incredibly proud the minute I crossed the finish line.
My final results:
1:57:03
Apparently I ran a very consistent race, huh? I was surprised to see my average pace was the exact same for the first half of the race as it was for the second half of the race. I’ll take it!
I happily claimed my necklace at the finish (the race passed out necklaces in lieu of medals) and headed over to the post-race party with Caitlin. (<—She’s a new mom and ran an incredible race. I was so psyched for her!)
Check out the par-tay!
They had a live band, post-race yoga and massages, free wine, hot coffee, snacks and more.
I had a great time hanging with the other blogger ambassadors and chatting about our race experiences.
I loved meeting Renée and Lorriane!
Mary is a speedster and got second place in her age group! That cute tumbler was her award instead of a plaque which I thought was great and way more useful.
The group:
Renée, Presley, Mary, Caitlin, me, Amanda, Jane, Rachel and Lorriane (Unpictured: Michelle and her beautiful baby bump!)
And Tricia and Brooke, two of the wonderful women from ZOOMA:
Yesterday was definitely day to remember!
Hooray for a new PR!
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Awesome job! The race sounded beautiful! Where did you get that wrist wallet? I’ve never heard of those before but one would be amazing for carrying fuel!
tj maxx! it’s made my a company called sprigs: http://sprigs.com/
Congratulations! Definitely something to be proud of!! I noticed you don’t run with a water bottle – have you before? I usually do with my half marathons, but sometimes they are cumbersome…
they had water/cytomax stations ever 1.5 miles, so i didn’t feel like i needed to carry water. i did see some people with the water belts on though!
Wow finishing across sand! That’s tough! Good job on perfect splits and a pr!!!
Woohoo, Julie! Congrats on a new PR! So, when’s the next race? 😉
A PR with sand running….that’s beyond awesome!! Way to go!!
Congrats on the PR Julie! I’d love to do another 1/2 but don’t dare due to an old back issue that flared after I ran my first. (I couldn’t run for about 6 months after.) I’m curious what I would do differently than when I trained for my first besides stretch more! You should be very proud of yourself, you did great!
Congratulations Julie!!!!!! I bet after the race you felt so happy and high off endorphins 🙂 way to go!
Congrats on your PR!!! I am new to running, and new to your blog, and just wanted to tell that I find your blog to be a great inspiration to keep me motivated in being consistent with my committment to lead a healthier life, one step at a time! So now, everyone have a good laugh: For the first time today I ran for THREE straight minutes!!! Hahaha! Is believing achieving? Hope so!!!
Babysteps! I used to be a “runner.” I hated it for years, I actually used to cry if we had to run across the street as a toddler, but in college I eventually worked up to running 10 miles and thought “Who am I?”
You can get there! Now I lift weights, and squat and deadlift more than my bodyweight, and think, “Who am I?” Believing IS achieving. Go you!
Thanks so much Cassie !
“Baby steps”: that I can use for a mantra! I love the english language, it really makes everything sound more effective, powerful (I’m italian, by the way, living in Italy, loving almost everything american). Great things you did from crying to cross a street!!!! Thanks again!
that IS fantastic! you will be up to 6 minutes before you know it… then a mile and more. honestly, your determination and dedication will get you so far. i still feel crazy when i think about running 13.1 miles… my first big running goal was to run a full 5k. congrats on working on your running!
Thank you thank you thank you! :)))
Congrats Julie! I don’t run anymore, but I use mind over matter to get me through new PRs in the gm. Works like a charm. I think having a fab party afterwards would motivate me, too! 🙂
Congrats on your PR, Julie!!! That’s great!
Yay yay yay, congratulations!!
Awesome…way to go, Julie!
Woo for PRs! Knew you’d break that 2 hour mark 🙂 xox
Congrats on the PR!!! That is so awesome, Julie!
Congratulations!!! The power of the mind and the consistent training plan paid off! What did you complete your first half marathon in? I should really put it on my goal list!
i think i ran my first half in 2:14.
Congrats Julie! That is a great time! I hope to set my own PR on my next half in April. Keep running!
I was literally just wondering how i was going to carry my chomps with me in my half marathon in March! THANK YOU for the idea! And congrats on a great race…gotta love a PR! 🙂
Oh my gosh congrats on the pr!! It sounds like a great race and I can’t imagine finishing on sand and STILL getting a pr! Hope you have some good compression socks. You’re going to feel it tomorrow!
Congrats 🙂 I’m running my first half in 3 weeks and have enjoyed following your training for your race! Thanks for the inspiration!
Congratulations!! That’s awesome that you got a PR with that little switch in your mind 🙂
Great job on your race! I love your blog, you give me great inspiration to work out! Thanks!
Congratulations on a great race! I’m training for my next half and I love reading about other’s experiences. I have to echo the couple of questions above – where did you get that wrist wallet? Did it work well for your chomps?
it was great! i got it at tj maxx. here’s the company’s website: http://sprigs.com/
congrats on your PR, girlie! way to push through it and finish strong (even on sand!)
Congratulations on the PR! The Zooma races look awesome – I definitely need to look into one.
I honestly do not know how people can run far and race in a half marathon, or marathon. I’m not saying that to be rude or anything. It’s just that I hit this road blog between 6km – 8km where I MUST stop running. Everything hurts, hips, lungs, ankles… the mentalaity of it all is just amazing how people can just “run through it”. One day I’ll get there!
Awesome job, Julie! Congrats on your PR – you earned it!
Congratulations on your new PR! The after party sounds like it was great. I love the necklace and think that’s a much better idea than a medal. Great job!
Congrats on your PR! That’s awesome!
great job on setting a new PR!
Congratulations girl! That’s so awesome! You’re running story and accomplishments are super inspiring. I’m sure you’re on top of the world today. There’s nothing like conquering yourself!
aw races are so fun…good job!
That necklace is adorable! Such a cute idea! And congratulations on your PR! Sounds like a great race where only the minimal things go wrong. Some races are just a nightmare. And the results look like a tempo run 😉 Very consistent
Congrats! You’re such an inspiration to me as I am currently training for my first half marathon! Thanks for sharing all your training experience… it has helped me a ton!
Congratulations!!!!! So happy for you- especially with that sand finish line– crazy!!!
Congrats on rocking a PR!!! Sounds like you exuded mental toughness during the race…good for you 🙂
Congrats Julie! That is a great time! Thanks for sharing your experience:)
I did hypnosis to prepare for unmediated childbirth and visualizing a light switch and turning it off was a major part. So I totally get what you mean and I bet it made a big difference!
Great race report!!! I loved reading it and yes it has me interested in running That half because of the necklace instead of medals etc. I’m also so impressed at your PR with the part of the run on Sand, that’s just tough tough, so you’re made of tough stuff!!!!
I hope to be writing a similar report about Glass city in April!
Congrats on your great time! What a post race party! I’ve never seen one so “fancy” before and in such a beautiful setting. Running outside here today would be a nightmare: wind chills are below ZERO!!!
Awesome job, Julie! I love your site, you are so inspiring! Btw, where are your running pants from? I need to get some long ones also.
Congrats on an awesome race! It sounds like everything fell into place perfectly with break fast, the shuttle, the weather and the PR! Although, a sandy finish line… eeek!
Gooooooooo, Julie! Congrats!
Congrats! I have to chuckle a little–50 degrees at start time in WI would mean tanks and shorts 🙂
Beautiful setting for a run.
Nice job on the PR! And in sub-9 pace, what an accomplishment!
So great meeting you yesterday, Julie!
Congrats on your PR! It was a great race for setting records – I loved that flat course and the shaded trails of Fort Clench! 🙂
you can always do “throw away” clothes before a run – pick up something warm at goodwill and toss it when you are warm on the run…race organizers generally will pick these up and redonate to a local charity!
where do you get that handy little wrist wallet?? congrats! 🙂
Congrats, girly! That is so incredibly awesome and inspiring! Overcoming fears and challenges and pushing yourself through while having fun and meeting new people is the bomb.com! It’s because of you that I actually am training right now for my first half marathon this summer! 🙂
Congrats Julie! That is super exciting – hard work pays off, I really believe that. 🙂 Hope you’re relaxing today.
Congrats Julie! That has to be such an amazing feeling crossing the finish line, especially when its a PR!