Whew! That was an AWESOME weekend. I’m still recovering and coming off my crazy happy PR high! But wait, I’m spoiling the post. I should make you wait for that part, right??

Race day came bright and early. There was a lunar eclipse which I got to see a bit of on my way in – VERY cool, right? Also, my bib number was lucky. 441 – and I’m 44. And I was going to finish #1? Maybe not. But I still liked my number.

I got the the Irving Convention bright and early – I think it was about 6:30. The half marathon was scheduled to start at 7:40 and I still didn’t have my bib! Parking for this race is very close to the start so I figured I’d rather be early and sitting in my car then late and stuck in traffic.

I shot a quick video as I was crawling in traffic on my way in:

Thankfully, I had double checked the race instructions before I left the house as parking is $5, cash only, and I was ready. I’ve gone into panic mode several times for local races as I am the worst about never having cash on me.

The weather was PERFECTION. Just around 50 degrees at the start and zero humidity.

I wandered about inside for awhile and didn’t see anyone I knew so was starting to feel a bit sad and lonely. But I found a new friend, Ana! We struck up a conversation and it turns out she’s from Guatemala, in the area on business, and decided to run on a whim. She was crazy sweet and as we were chatting my friend, Brandy, found us as well. OK, good. I have my posse.

My first friend from Guatemala! Loved meeting you, Ana!

There were definitely more runners this year and it’s great to see this race grow!

I always get a little hyper before the start;)

Before we knew it, it was time. I said good-bye to Ana and scooted further back because I really didn’t want to start out too fast. My time goal was ambitious, and I kept hearing the advice from the Another Mother Runner crew that seconds too fast in the beginning of a race can translate to minutes at the end. Did NOT want that to happen!

A quick note on what I wore: I LOVED the Switzer 261 skirt and tank and my Skirt Sports bra (with a pocket!).  Click on this link from last week if you want a 20% discount code!

All three pieces were crazy comfortable. I think I could have taken a small in the top, but I loved that it wasn’t tight around my middle. The pockets were great for my Cliff Shots (vanilla, no caffeine) and I stashed my key fob in the zippered pocket on the back of the skirt.

I was a tad cool as we started but that’s a good thing. I was also a tad sore. The older I get, the longer it takes me to loosen up in a race, and I was sincerely wishing I had done a few warm up strides or something. But I got into a rhythm pretty quickly doing my 3/1 intervals. This was my first time training this way and I really think it’s why my finish time was so much better! (whoops, almost gave it away again . . .;).

I saw my great friends Lindsey and Mary and we were together for awhile. They kept running ahead during my walk breaks and I kept catching up (that’s how it works when you Galloway;). There may have been some singing along the course including a bit of karaoke when we saw the sign for the “TURN AROUND” (can you guess what we sang?). And, as the other runners were oddly quiet, we, um, really stood out? Maybe not in a good way. Oh well – I don’t think they can kick you off a race course for being obnoxious. Thank God.

I also saw a bunch of local friends along the course! My great friend and IronMan crazy woman, Gabriella, was cheering and my friends, Becky and David, were yelling things from their patio on the course. Another benefit of local races!!

By the way, huge shout out to Lindsey! This was her first half and she was AMAZING.

Lindsey, me, and Mary

I had set up my Run Keeper to give me audio cues every .5 miles. She would tell me distance and average pace. My goal was to keep her telling me that I was sub 10:30. A couple of times I got close, but whenever she came on and I had slowed, I’d kick it into high gear for a run interval or two.

Around mile 11, I started to slow down. I was tired. I had started out just a smidge too fast and I was feeling it. But I quickly deployed all my tricks. I even pictured myself running with Walter (my amazing tiny puppy) by my side and the thought of him happily running beside me definitely put a spring in my step! It also helped that I passed these amazing guys, pictured below. They were completing the 5K and the two courses overlapped and I’m so glad they did! They were happy and enjoying their day and may have no idea how inspiring they were to me and all the other runners!!

I went through my mental check list: Am I hurting? nope. How’s my breathing? Fine. Is there any REASON I’m slowing down or am I just bored and sick of running? Yup. Bored and sick of running. So I started playing games in my head (stick with me here because you’re about ready to think I’m really weird) but I gave myself “power ups” (see this Ted talk for more on that). Thanking a policeman or a volunteer, passing someone wearing pink, seeing a cone, a cowbell of any kind . . . they all gave me power and in my mind I heard a little video game sound every time I passed one. And guess what? I’m a total weirdo, but IT WORKED!!!

I finally got up the final little hill (there aren’t any big hills in this race but there are a few little, um, hilllets?) and could see the finish line. I dug deep and pushed it and saw the clock said 2:20:38. I knew I had started a little after the gun but didn’t know by how much.

But I knew, no matter what, I had PR’D AND BY A LOT! My goal was 2:20 and I honestly thought it was crazy ambitious, but my great coach, Natalie, believed in me and gave me a training plan that she knew would work.

I hung out for awhile after the finish, congratulating a few friends that had placed in their age groups (way to go Beth and Julie!!), and was just grinning like an idiot. I still didn’t know my official time but I knew it was good!! I grabbed some potato chips (thank you, Race Director for having these – they are EXACTLY what I always want after a race) and a bottle of water, texted Scott the good news, and headed home to a huge breakfast he made me! (note on Scott not being there: I LOVE how many spouses and kids come out to watch mom race but FOR ME it stresses me out to think about where they are. I am very content for them to stay home. They would gladly come if I asked but I’m really fine with them not begin there.)

Such a great day for PR’s and Great Friends!!

One fun moment after the race was while I was chatting with my friend, Beth, who had also PR’d (she’s the one in the top pic and the bottom right above). She had a disappointing race she was trying to get over, too, and she showed me what she had written on her arm to remind her of what she was capable of. So I HAD to snap a picture! Beth has 4 young boys and is such a rock star mother runner!

It says: Don’t fight it. Whether you think you can or your can’t, your’e right.

After my shower and while I was on the patio at home waiting for my food, I finally checked the official time. My PR (from this same race 3 years ago) in ANY half marathon was 2:29:03 and my time for this race, at 44 years old, was (wait for it . . .. )

2:19:32!!!!!!

Yes, folks, that’s a PR of almost 10 full minutes!

Since Saturday I’ve been thinking a lot about what was different.

My training, for sure. I ran 4 – 5 days a week and did at least one, if not two, speed sessions weekly. Natalie, my coach, LOVED the 400 and 800 repeats and I know why. They work!

But even more than that, I feel like I had a mental wall I had to get past. I mentioned it in my post right before the race, but pushing past the discomfort and really digging deep always scared me, and I usually backed off when it got hard. But this time, I was determined to not let my mind limit what my body could do!!

And yes, the perfect weather was a contributing factor as was not being sick and being well rested going in. Those are the things we have little to no control over (well, maybe the well rested part but not really if you’re a mom! Life has a way of getting in the way!). And for me, this time, all those things were in perfect alignment!

But ultimately, I feel like I had set up this wall for myself that I just couldn’t get past. I needed this race to prove to myself that I’m capable of more than I thought I was.

And now I wonder . . . what would it look like to go sub 2:15??? Hmmmmm. I can’t say enough good things about the GE Irving Marathon. The support was great, the course is fast, and I will DEFINITELY be back again next year!

Thanks for coming along on the journey. I’ll be taking a break from running for the next couple of weeks to let things heal up. I’ve had a crazy busy few months of racing and my body is feeling it. But no worries, I’m sure I’ll still find stuff to write about;).

And guess what?? 5K a Day in May is just around the corner! And I’m adding a twist this year. Can’t wait to tell you all about it.

Happy running!

Jen