2012 Surf City Half Marathon - Race Recap

Date: February 5, 2012
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Start: 7:45am (wave start)
Finish: 1:52:34








Another race morning and another 5am wake up call. Third weekend in a row that I am up before the chickens. But look at the beautiful sunrise at the beach!

I love this race if only because of actual bathrooms and toilets that can be flushed and not porta potties.

I started in a later corral so that I could run with my friend D who was planning to pace a friend. I wasn't very confident about what my calves would be doing today. I spent all of yesterday icing, compressing and rolling out my calves but I was not in the clear of a DNF. I just wanted to finish so that I could get my medal.

I took this photo just minutes prior to the gun going off. The corrals were very casual this year but everything was fine. There was no jam leaving the start line.

Mile 1 - 8:39 <-- The first 2 miles I was trying to keep up with D and A.
Mile 2 - 8:31
Mile 3 - 9:30 <-- My right calf started to bother me and then my shin splints decided to make an appearance. I pulled off to the side to stretch. It was painful. I thought I would have to stop. D went on ahead. Didn't think I would be able to catch up. Took me the next 5-6 miles to finally catch up to him again.
Mile 4 - 8:45 <-- Running through discomfort
Mile 5 - 9:01 <-- Left calf was hurting me so I slowed down and walked a bit to stretch it out.
Mile 6 - 8:45 <-- Running through discomfort
Mile 7 - 8:28 <-- My legs were still not right but they were warmed up now so I started to run faster.
Mile 8 - 8:15 <-- Negative split the second half of the race
Mile 9 - 8:18 <-- Caught up to D at this mile.
Mile 10 - 8:07 <-- Ran into Sister J. She ran with me a bit.
Mile 11 - 8:31 <-- Little incline in this mile
Mile 12 - 8:11
Mile 13 - 8:12 - Happy to be done with #25!

 
So last night, I had pizza! Let me introduce you to my new carbo loading love...Papa John's cheese-less garden pizza with pineapple and anchovies! Love!

Currently, I am watching the Super Bowl and relaxing! How sweet that Blake Shelton sang America The Beautiful with his wife Miranda Lambert. I am not a sport watching girl so I come for the food and celebrity watching. Maybe. If I don't fall asleep.