TX MedClinic Half Marathon

wk 13, day 6
Saturday, October 8th, 2011

This morning was the TX MedClinic half marathon, 10k and 5k. I went with the half and Oscar with the 10k.

Ready to run! Pre-race photo

 I started off strong and was running sub 8 for the first couple of miles. I knew this was too fast. I had goals - attainable goals - and I wanted to meet them. I didn't want to start out way to fast and blow my chances at finishing strong.

My goals were this:

1. Finish in the top 10 overall out of all the women
2. Finish in the top 5 within my age category
3. Finish in about 1:55:40 - about an 8:50 pace

I did research using last years results as my guide. Of course it's never the same, but it's a good rule of thumb. I thought I had a good chance of coming in third in my age category, so I was aiming high, hoping to place 3rd. Of course, type A me (!!) had to say, ok - going for 3rd, will settle for 5th to be more realistic.
After the turn around point (mile 6.55), I was the 12th women (yes, I counted!!). There were 3 other women in my site the whole way back. There was just us 4 in a cluster. No one passed us the entire way back (6.55 miles). I told myself, half jokingly,  in order to be the 10th overall woman I was going to have to pass a couple of these women. I didn't know how I was going to or when, but I kept going.
Around mile 8 I hit a small wall. I had to mentally talk my way through it. I think mile 8 was about a 10 min mile. I just kept those women in my site and didn't give up on myself or my goals.
At mile 12, I took off. I was gaining on those 3 women and it just felt right. I was eager to cross the finish line, eager to be done. I was nervous that I picked up pace too early. Maybe I should've waited until mile 12.5 before speeding up. I just kept visulizing my running route at home. What was I passing at home, I kept thinking I'm almost "home", I can do this. I passed those 3 women, a few men, and didn't let up until I crossed the finish line. It was glorious!!!

About to cross that finish line - victory!

posing with my finishers medal

I accomplished/beat all my goals!!! I finished with an 8:37 pace and in 1:53:03, I was the 9th women to finish overall, and finished 5th in my age group (my age group seemed to be competitive! 5 out of  the top 9 women were in my age category, 25-29). I also finished 38th overall. I SMASHED my goals and boy did it feel good! These race times/places were the preliminary ones posted at the race. They haven't posted the official ones online yet. I'm anxious to see how many women in my age category and overall competed.
This marked #2 competitive half marathon. While I've run long distances lately, they have all been on my own. Last half marathon I competed in was the SA Rock 'N' Roll last November (2010). I finished in 2:05:? In one year I knocked off 12 minutes off my time. AWESOME!!