Coach and I did start 40 mins early. I was freaking out that we hadn't started at 6am and during the whole race that was all I could think about...was that I still may not make it back by the 3.5 hour time limit that was set for the race. However, that was not a problem! With starting early I still finished within that 3.5 hr time frame. Well, to be more specific I finished 3:30:56.....(I'LL TAKE IT!) This was my first ever true timed race. Well, the first that ever mattered to me. I've participated in the Shamrock Shuffle (never ran it either...always just signed up as a walker) a number of times before but never cared about when I finished, just that I did. There were a lot of hills out there on the Oak Brook trek...I did push through them (and felt every single one of them the next 2 days) Oh and bc I had started early I had passed a number of the mile markers prior to the race even beginning and I believe it was near mile 5 that a cop that was patroling the streets told me as I passed him that "I was in 2nd place!" lol! Twas a good feeling to hear him say that! :) even though I obviously knew I wouldn't be for long...Coach was in 1st place at that point btw! Let's see....what else was happening while I was out there....I remember just after passing mile marker 6 that was when we went down hill into another forest area that had a gravel path...that was definetly something I wasn't used to training on either..I remember as I was going down the trail that I could see runners running up a hill that I hadn't approached yet but would be shortly...that was un-nerving as well! As I did finally approach that hill and begin to trek up it I could hear people encouraging 481 to keep up the good work...that I could do it! "Hey that was me!" I was #481 so that was a phenominal thing to be hearing at that point. There were EMT's out there near those two larger hills that were cheering people on as well. They obviously had noticed me too...bc I saw them again as the race was coming to an end; they rode past me on their bikes and cheered 481 on again and then again I saw them as I crossed the finish line...where they high fived me! That was pretty cool too! I remember at one point more towards mile 9 that a gal that was running past me put her hand on my shoulder and said "hang in there...you're doing great!" I seriously wanted to cry right then (the emotion that ran through me was undescribable)..she took the time to notice me and tell me push through...how could I not push through at that point! There were many other friendly voices pushing me on too throughout the entire race! I told the coach at the end of the race that running has seriously got to be one of the most friendly sports I can think of....people are so motivating out there! They take the time to push you as they're out there trucking along pushing themselves.
I saw much of this the whole time...many passed me!
But it's ok...I'm on my own journey working towards my own goal...i'll get there some day...it just takes time like anything.
I tried my first Accel Gel pack while I was out there..they passed them out at one of the fuel stations along the path. Btw...thank heavens they had the water and gatorade out there all day...bc I needed it! But back to the Gel pack...not for me is all I have to say. lol! It reminded me of the gel candy that came out when I was a kid. The gel that was in like the baby bottle or tubes...uggggh it wasn't for me!
So while I was out there...I'd say like by mile #10...my nano died. Long story short is that it fell in the river in Wisconsin (Yes...I know! Electronics & H20 don't mix!) but I wanted tunes on the tube trip! Anyways...the nano doesn't hold its charge longer than 2.5 hrs any longer :( So, I had to rely on my phone that I have music and my podcasts downloaded onto. Well, I plugged into that and since I still haven't taken the time to learn anything other than putting it on shuffle.....when I hit mile #12 my phone jumped to my running podcast! (talk about crazy instances!) I will admit ... I had seriously slowed up...I was tired! Well, seeing as I didn't know how to skip to the next song/podcast on the phone...I had no choice but to listen and follow along. So that is what I did! Which turned out to be perfect...bc it actually pushed me to run..(let's be honest.....JOG) across the finish line.
So Mile 12 finally came...I even have proof!
I finally was rounding the last stretch...and guess who I see? THE COACH! Yes, she beat me back....she is much faster than I and she was there cheering me on and even got next to me and said "Pick up the pace Hannan! Move those legs! Move those legs!" and she proceeded to run behind me...pushing me to go faster and reach the finish line! THANK YOU COACH!
She also told me to "quit posing for the camera!" LOL
I was just acknowledging my friends that drove all the way up there to see me finish my first half marathon.
I did finally cross....it's by no means my favorite picture of myself! But it's the FINISH LINE & I MADE IT! YEY!
What a feeling! There really are't words to even express how great it was to cross that finish line for the very first time! The people cheering, the feeling of accomplishment...it was all just so overwhelming! In a good way of course!
AWESOME!!!
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