Okay this blog will be a prime example of what not to do when getting ready for a PR! My team and I managed to do everything wrong! So please don't do what I do! First things first, my family and I lived in San Antonio from 1990-1996 so every time we go back it is like a homecoming. We see old friends, visit old haunts and gorge ourselves on the best Tex-mex in the world!!! These are probably not ideal conditions for getting the best out of yourself in the run. In fact often times the run is almost secondary. This year was no exception. We arrived on Friday afternoon and immediately hit our favorite Tex-mex joint for lunch. After that delicious meal we hit the expo and perused the area. We checked into the hotel and briefly napped before setting out to the river walk for more food and unfortunately loads of alcohol. Yea, I did it! I got blasted two nights before a race. What can I say? The stress of the last couple of weeks caught up with me and I overindulged. Whoops! I had a great time though!
Saturday I didn't feel great but I did get up and do my 20 minute pre-race run. I ran randomly through the streets of downtown and felt pretty good. My legs did not feel the lingering hip injury and I could breathe so easily! A good start! We headed out to get breakfast and again adventure ensued. We ended up walking all over downtown trying to find food. In fact that became the motto of the day. We spent way too much time on our feet and not enough time sitting back and enjoying the day. By the time the day ended I was paranoid that the PR was not going to happen. However, a good night's sleep later and race day was upon me.
My husband and friends dropped me off at the runners drop-off and I began the trek to the start line. I finally get there and I have to stop at the porta-potties along with everyone else. I am standing in line when the national anthem starts playing and the starting gun is going off. So much for starting with my corral, corral 13. I ended up starting with corral 20. This would prove to be very annoying when the walkers were in my way. Next time, leave earlier! I was feeling good during the first six miles. Unfortunately, I had to take another potty break! 7 minutes later I am back on the course. Around mile 9 I am beginning to fatigue. Right at the same place as last year. I briefly walk but then I begin to talk myself back into the race. I have to PR! Miles 10-12 were not great but I talked my way through them. I was not going to walk this year no matter what in the last miles and I did it! My final official time was 2:21:01. I had PR'ed by one minute, despite my porta-potty stop. If you take the stop out of the time I was at 2:14:53, which is what I had on my Garmin. That is awesome and I am over the moon about my time. Despite doing everything wrong I had come in and conquered SA! I now totally believe in myself and my running skills! I know that I have a sub-2 1/2 marathon in me and it is going to happen in 2010! Let the challenge begin!
I want to take a minute and thank all my support. Thanks Coach L for all the great words of advice! You are the best! Thanks to Diane my acupuncturist, you got me to the starting line 95% healthy! Thanks to my husband and friends, Nic and Den! You guys are the best cheering squad ever! I totally loved seeing you on the course and would have not been able to do this without you! I will post all your pics tomorrow on the blog! Thanks to everyone who believes in me. You make me the strong one!
Until later, keep riding, running and swimming!
