Half Mary Adventure Complete!
Yay, I completed the Space Coast Half Marathon on Sunday and I had a great time doing it! The morning dawned cool-ish (65 degrees) but humid (88% humidity) and WINDY (gusts from the south over 35 mph!). The race started in total darkness at 6 a.m.. A giant Jumbotron screen played a launch of the Space Shuttle with the roar of the engines booming out of the sound system and smoke billowing around us as we crossed the start mat full of optimism and carbohydrates. Me and 2000 of my newest friends then ran north along the river for 6.6 miles as the sun slowly rose over the water to the east.
Running in the pack closest to me was a dude who made loud turkey gobbling sounds about every 5 minutes. Why, I don’t know, but he was highly amused by it and every gobble was followed by a hearty giggle. The race had a space-themed costume contest (the water stops were manned by multiple Princess Leias and Captain Kirks and various other interesting characters) and there was a dude dressed as Darth Vader (he won the contest) and a chick dressed as a space shuttle (second place) and a few other runners sporting tinfoil and spandex and body paint. Most of us were dressed for comfort, but kudos to anyone who can run over 13 miles with a hot plastic helmet over his face. Sir, YOU are da man!
With the heavy wind at my back and a set of fresh legs, this part of the race was fun, fun, fun! I was really cruising along, feeling no pain, and I ran the first 6 miles in 56:38 (a 9:26 pace!). My fastest mile for the whole race was Mile 6, which I ran in 9:06. Clearly, I was caught up in all the excitement and with the turn-around point in view I was really feeling spunky! My goal for the race had been to run just under 10 minute miles (averaged across the whole thing), and I was crushing that goal. Yay me, I thought! When I glanced at my Garmin at the end of Mile 6, I was filled with elation and confidence. But I was soon to be filled with something else entirely [please cue scary, foreshadowing music here].
The turn-around point was a ginormous slap in the face, as that heavy wind was now directly against me and it magnified the difficulty of every step, every breath, every hill. I grabbed a cup of Gatorade from an obliging Stormtrooper at the beginning of Mile 7 and ended up wearing most of it on my face when a particularly strong gust of wind came along. Through sheer stubbornness, I managed Mile 7 in 9:33 and Mile 8 in 9:29. Mile 9, I slipped to 10:07 and Mile 10 dipped even further to 10:25. Mile 11 must have been a flat-ish section since I rebounded to 10:02, but Mile 12 I tanked at 10:55! Eeek! I was definitely feeling tired at that point and there was a punishing wind-tunnel effect as we re-entered the little town where the finish line beckoned like a distant maple-syrup-scented mirage.
With a little over 1 mile to go and a guy wearing an awesome Boba Fett costume urging us into the final stretch, I was able to pick up the pace again. Volunteers and spectators lined the streets cheering for us and holding signs. My favorite sign read, “You are all Kenyans inside!” I managed to wave and shout my thanks to the many volunteers who generously gave up their time to make the race a fun day for us runners. My bib number pinned to the front of my shirt also displayed my name and as I got closer and closer to the end more and more people shouted out my name in encouragement. Boy does that help with motivation!
As I closed in on the finish line, I managed to run the final .22 of a mile at a blazing (for me) 8:17 pace. My official finish time was 2:08:39, a 9:50 pace for the race! Crossing the timing mat, I focused on smiling for the finish line photographer. As I’d hammed it up for every other photographer I saw along the course (lots of “V” for victories, thumbs-up, and hang-looses), for the final shot I tried to just keep running and smiling, as if I could do this pace all day (not). How much do you want to bet my smile will actually look like a grimace of pain on film? But so what. I was finished, and I could now STOP RUNNING. My oh my, what a treat that was! Walking never felt so good.
Once across the line, my father (who also ran the race) and I posed holding our finisher medals. I’m sure I’ll have a relieved, goofy smile on my face for that shot. I was tired and happy and ready for a long shower and an even longer nap. Once cleaned up, I spent the rest of the day retelling the race, moment-by-moment, to my poor husband, who is about as interested in running as he is in medieval poetry. Which is to say, not at all. He was a good sport though, and has even promised to help me come up with new poses for the photographers during my next half marathon in February. I’m practicing a cool double-bicep-flex move and a Usain Bolt-inspired lightning bolt pose. It’s gonna be a good time, I can tell. 
 And that’s all she wrote! |
I loved reading this story!
Clearly the Force is strong in you. Run great distances you can.
Congrats on finishing the half-Mary & meeting your own goal despite a punishing wind & crazy gobblers. WOW! How do you make this sound like so much fun?
Congratulations! I’m inspired to start training for a half mary of my own, if only for the posing opportunities…
[...] I see Josephine completed her half Mary on Sunday…the force was with her. It’s an awesome read, very [...]
Great story! And it sounds like a great time. I’m glad the rain held off on your side of the state while you were running. The costumes sound hilarious. Yes, how does one run 13.1 miles with a freaking Darth Vadar helmet on. Crazy!!
I’m glad it went well and that you did well!!
I was trying to think of something witty and clever to say but all I can say is that I am amazed at your determination and stamina. Keep up the fantastic progress.
You are so awesome! I am so proud of your time, you kicked ass. Incredible! I love races with costumes. The first 5k I was in, a gal ran it in fully wedding dress, dude in a tux, followed by five girls in bridesmaids dresses and five more guys in tuxes. They were “runaway bride.” All i could think was, how the hell are they running in that stuff? And that was only 5k!
Hope you’re resting and savoring your victory and crowing out loud to anyone who can hear.
Looks like you were posting the photos right as I was writing my comment! You look totally hawt. And victorious.
Love it! How fun to see Boba Fett!!
(I wore those exact same shorts for my half!!)
OMG! You look FABULOUS and so does your DAD! And you’re in the 130’s. You are so inspirational to those that you don’t even know. I’m smiling right now.
WooHoo! You are such a normie, now! Well, at least you look like one! Thanks for the exciting run down on the day - great stuff! CONGRATS! Delita
DANG. Look at those runners’ legs. YOU GO CHICA!
kt
Way to go lady! I’ve decided I want a race with different boogie music at each mile. You MUST boogie through the marker
wow! congrats! you look great and you’re so fit and healthy! you must feel so accomplished!
you’re such a fabulous inspiration!
YAYAYYAY
You are awesome! I haven’t ran in about two months, but you really inspire me to do something besides bake and eat what I bake. Can’t wait to get back to the track. Thanks for being so inspiring!
Simply Amazing! you go girl!! Love the pictures.
Completely inspirational!
wow wow wow wow wow!!! Amazing, simply amazing. So proud of you. You look stunning in those pics and a huge motivation to me! xoxo