June 1, 2013 was my third scheduled half marathon of the year, and the last one I needed to finish to qualify for Half Fanatics. June 1, 2013 was also the day my friend Run, Stacey, Run married the love of her life. It was going to be a busy day.
So Friday night, I drove to Washington to spend the night with my former roommate so we could drive in for the race together, as she was running it too (in her husband’s place as once again he got injured during training *Sad Face*). Going to races with friends is always so much more fun. Mooched a pre-race beer (as I’d left the house without mine, damnit), laid out my clothes for the morning, and went to bed.
Saturday morning , we headed to Morgantown for the race. Caught up on life events from the past couple of weeks when we’d last seen each other. Got primo parking near the finish. Picked up our packets (race day packet pickup always makes me feel like I’m forgetting something), took our bags to the car, then got on the busses to the start line.
Lynn and I before the race.
The course runs along the Decker’s Creek Trail in Morgantown, WV and it’s gorgeous. It’s really pretty. Proceeds from the race go to maintaining the trail. If you are ever in the area, I’d highly recommend checking it out—a great place to walk or run. The way this course runs is ever so gently downhill the whole way (or at least very solidly most of it).
So we get to the start. Use the portolets. Kill some time (our wave didn’t start until 8:15). Then line up. I started off solid. Very strong. But I was flagging by mile 4. To the point a fellow runner said “you can do it!”.I smiled and told her this was my third half marathon this year, I would be fine. It got better after mile 4…I had a Gu, walked a little, and when I started running again my pace was a little more moderate. I settled in and for awhile a PR looked possible (I hit mile 10 just before 1:55, this is good) then got dicey, then I said ‘forget it, they can’t all be PRs. The finish will be good enough to get me what I want.’
I ended up with a completely respectable time: 2:31:39—solidly between my JASR time and my current PR from the Pittsburgh Half. I was pleased. Afterwards we went for burritos at this amazing place called Black Bear. Again, highly recommend you check it out if you’re in the area. Then we went back to Washington to get ready for Stacey’s wedding, which was beautiful and lovely and awesome and I’m so incredibly happy for her and Frank.