Its what made my weekend anyways
First, let me say, I so appreciated all your thoughts & comments & I really took them to heart. But just like that sign said that I posted, It hurt worse to stop ...
& in the end, I didnt hurt at all...
maybe all your prayers are what pushed me through... I'll explain more as we go along.
Pre-Race: Woke up & it wasnt raining. They kept saying that there was a chance of rain & to expect to get wet. It was still a little cool too & I was worried about the rain on my legs, but stuck with my original outfit I planned on wearing. And I did end up just wearing my old shoes (that was a debate on my Daily Mile page)... they werent horrible & I didnt want to waste $139 on the shoes I just bought. If they get too wet, they can warp. I'd be ok if they were a few months old - but not a few weeks.
I also got to try out my running skirt.... & now? I'll never run in anything BUT a running skirt. I was in heaven. Comfortable & easy to run in. I got this at Target & am seriously going to go there & buy as many as my bank account will let me...
(Before we left the house)
Start Line - Mile 1: It took me about 10 minutes to get to the actual start line. That's what happens when there was 18,000 fellow runners. Congestions. But I thought it was funny because the song that came on was a song that had the lines, "This is my moment.. my perfect moment" & I just felt like this race was going to be OK.... I felt fantastic through the start through Mile 1. Even had a pace at 9:30 at one point... WHAT? ME? ... yep!
Mile 1-2: The sun was out & the sky was blue... which meant I was warm. The first water stop was in the middle of this mile.
Mile 2-3: I was nervous this mile because this was the mile, that last year, I got knocked down. I actually got up on the side walk & walked this part. I wasnt taking changes. Got past it & started running again & felt like I already accomplished something! :)
Mile 3-4: I hit my 5k at the exact pace I ran my 5k in March... I like this part of the race because you get out of the small downtown Louisville streets. Once you hit Broadway, its like a fresh new race. Water Stop #2
Mile 4-5: Got to see my buddy, Corey
who was running the full marathon. We always seems to find each other, no matter what race it is... His energy just inspires me. We call him "Superman" for a reason :)
It also was time for a huge DOWN POUR. There was literally one grey cloud in the sky & it opened up. Thank God I had on that hat because I was able to put my head down & block it from my face. Others? Not so lucky. It made me nervous too because the old shoes? They were slippery on the pavement & it slowed me down a bit.
But right when you get to mile the end of mile 4, you take a turn down 4th street & that's where the crowds are cheering. They make the biggest difference. There was a girl with a Hunger Games sign that said, "May the odds be ever in your favor" - I gave her the "Hunger Games" 3-finger sign & she laughed.
Mile 5-6: That cloud went out of the way & the sun was back out. It stayed out the rest of the race. So much for a race of rain that they predicted. But no complaints.
The sweat & the rain had my KT Tape coming off of my knees. I was a little nervous because I knew it wasnt going to last. Finally, at the end of mile 5, it was flapping & I knew I had to take it off. I walked to take it off but then I was afraid of running. Thought my knee pain would kick in. But it didnt!!!! I was so happy... but my inner thigh muscle REALLY got tight. Maybe I was running different to compensate for my knee? But I was still feeling pretty great.
Mile 6-7: Great crowds down the road... lots of pets with their owners... lots of great signs... this is a weird mile though because they take you off the road & around a block. It's just an odd move.. & the roads there are HORRID. Lots of cracks & opportunities to break your ankle. But it was nice because on the turn back onto 4th street, they had Walgreens sponsoring orange slices... that was a nice little energy boost of Vitamin C.
My 10K time? Exactly like my race I did in March... I was sticking to my usual.
Mile 7-8: Got to see a woman on the side of the road being arrested... that's always fun.
This is a great part of the race because you make your turn into Churchhill Downs. My ipod was on a J-Lo song & let me tell you, I was KICKING it on this part of the race. Probably my fastest mile. J-Lo will do that to you.
Mile 8-9: I couldnt take it any longer... my inner thigh was BURNING. I knew I had to stretch & I dreaded it. I didnt want to waste one second of time. So I made a deal with myself - SIXTY SECONDS. So I got off the path & stretched each thigh for 30 seconds. I was watching my time the whole time so I didnt go over. It made all the difference in the world.
This is where you come out of the Downs (which was cool because they were running horses around the track) & you make the turn to go back Downtown... where the finish line is.
Mile 9-10: I think there were 2 water stops here. This race is great with keeping everyone hydrated & taken care of.
Mile 10-11: This is where I started to get emotional.
See? I've always done over 3 hr Half Marathons... I keep telling you all I'm slow... I truly am... but my goal has ALWAYS been to be under 2 hours. I wanted that 2 in front of my number more then anything!! And I kept picturing it in my mind this year - that I was going to come in at 2:58.. dont know where I got that number, but I just kept seeing me cross the finish at 2:58... & then at mile 10, I realize - I can do it. I can come in under 3 hours. If I kept at the pace I was at, & nothing horrible happened - which I KNOW CAN happen - I was going to do it. It hit me & made me want to cry... but inspired me to pick it up.
Mile 11-12: I was truly on a mission at this point... but I was wearing down. Was just hungry & spent. I had a Lara bar & pulled it out to get some fuel & took a bite... & then DROPPED IT.. DANG IT! But I knew I was so close, I wasnt going to let it phase me.
EMOTIONAL ENDING :)
Mile 12-13: Here we go... down the home stretch. I knew Ricky was in the crowd too so I kept an eye out for him. When I got to about 12:50, I saw him ahead of me & I kept screaming for him. He almost didnt see me again. He actually didnt until I was right on him. He ended up running ahead of me (on the course) & took this picture.
The funny thing, then he was ON the course & the gates were up to block people so he couldnt get out! HAHA!!!! So I told him he was just going to finish with me.
... & then I was at mile 13 & I had 2 minutes to get to the finish line to make my dream time of under 3 hours...
I grabbed Ricky's hand & he said, 'you're going to do it'... I was going to put the engines on FULL FORCE... I was GOING TO MAKE IT!!!!
We ended up rounding the turn - saw the finish line. I thanked God that it was downhill & I turned it on.
You run across a timer that lets them know your name so they can yell it when you run by... they said, "And there's Rebecca Vincent holding hands with someone" :)
Poor Ricky - it was probably a nightmare to him. He hates crowds & here we are running down the road with hundreds of people watching us...
But we made it... holding our hands in the air across the finish line... & it was UNDER 3 HOURS!!!!!!!!! (I SO cant wait to see this finish line picture!!!)
2:59:43
Think I cut it close?
But I just kept thinking if I didnt take that minute to stretch, I would have been at 2:58!!! Exactly like I was envisioning!!!!
I didnt care... I made it under 3
& took 7 minutes off my time last year... (I probably would had made it last year too, but with the knocked down thing? Messed me up)
I DID IT
... & the best part - Ricky was by my side. I just turned & said, "I DID IT" & threw myself in his arms... it was probably the best moment of my races EVER!!!!!!
Then I looked at the people & said, "GIVE ME MY MEDAL" - they just laughed at me :)
(Right on the other side of the finish line when I got my medal)
But Ricky even said, 'you looked so strong' - I felt strong. Even being slow, I felt strong.. & I finished... & it was wonderful.
My neuropathy didnt bother me, my knee didnt bother me, my fingers didnt bother me... I think I was just in a zone... I KNEW I was going to do it.
We sat down so I could stretch for a bit.... I just sat with a smile on my face the whole time. I felt PRIDE in myself...
I waited 4 races to get under 3 hours... my first year? 3:45 - that was the year I thought I would die (no joke) 2nd year: 3:15 3rd year: 3:07
This was my year...
Ricky said, "you did it... now are you going to stop?"
I told him, "Now my goal is to make 2:45"
He just shook his head & said, "Dear Lord, give me strength" :) haha!!!
All my other running friends - & most people - get in under 2 hours - 2:30 at the most... & its always a stab in my heart. But I remember that I'm 40 years old... I just started running at 37... & I NEVER thought I'd run my 5th half marathon. So I try not to compare & I try not to focus on how fast everyone else is.
During one point of the race, someone wanted to cross the road & I told them, "Cross in front of me, I'm slow!"... a lady came up behind me & touched my heart & said, "Honey, you're not slow - you are as fast as YOU need to be"... it made me tear up a little. I needed to hear that. So while some may look at my time & laugh at it or roll their eyes at it, its MY time.. & I work hard for it... & I'm PROUD of it :)
So then Ricky took me to Jimmy Johns for a big ole veggie sandwich (I was craving the bread... give me CARBS) & then I came home & headed to the showers...
I didnt want to take my medal off though...
But I introduced it to my other medals... & more specifically, my other Kentucky Derby MiniMarathon Medals... & told them they'd be seeing another one next year
"Have I not commanded you?
Be STRONG & COURAGEOUS.
Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.
For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go"
-Joshua 1:9
(This was my verse that got me through... I kept repeating it all the way & truly found strength & courage within my self because of it)
Jealous!! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you are alright, and I really am genuinely happy for you!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Less than 3 hours!! Woo hoo!
ReplyDelete"Slow and steady wins the race" is the chant we taught the girls to say at Girls on the Run. There will ALWAYS be someone faster than you, but there are MANY more people who aren't even running! The best thing about a race is running to beat your own goals and YOU DID IT!
ReplyDeleteI was smiling the entire time I read this post. I love it! Great job, Rebecca!
This was so awesome, Rebecca! You did a fantastic job! It is too easy for us to compare ourselves with each other, I had six friends from high school and college come in faster than me yesterday, but I keep reminding myself what I had to do during the race. I have to stop focusing on the people around me, stare at the ground, and get a feel of how I am feeling, regardless if I am passing people or if they are passing me. And then I run the race that I can do, nobody else. Great Job!
ReplyDeleteThat's soo cute that Ricky ran with you -- the whole holding hands to the end -- *tear* lol :) And your hubby saying, "Dear Lord, Give me Strength" had me literally laughing out loud! You did awesome! And you look super happy :)
ReplyDeleteYOU DID IT!!! Way to go!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd hooray for Ricky going with you the last mile!!
Congratulations!! What a great job!! I'll admit I got misty eyed reading your recap. You are an inspiration!!
ReplyDeleteYou are AWESOME 1000x's over! You're a stinker for not listening to our advice, but glad that you took a leap of FAITH and soared! :)
ReplyDeleteYOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is just fantastic! I am so happy for you. You are an example to the rest of us to suck it up and get busy!
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS!!!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful. You didn't listen to me and you did it anyway but you didn't get hurt. So I guess it's alright. Actually, I was talking you out of it because I hate being the only lazy person around.
And I'm glad that Ricky got in a decent photo of you running. I remember last time when he cut it close.
So yes, congratulations and I'm very proud of you.
Your Friend, m.
That's awesome girl! Congrats! I couldn't do it!
ReplyDeleteI am so proud of you, my friend!!!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I can't wait to hear about the next one!
ReplyDeleteI am BEYOND the moon proud of you!! I always consider myself so honored to share the roads with you in all of our races. Don't you dare think of yourself as anything but an EXTRAORDINARY Role Model! I think you are PHENOMENAL!!
ReplyDelete-Corey
What an awesome race and race recap!! Love it! Great job!!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fast runner either, but it is okay!!!!