Seattle Half Marathon is Mine!

I am a rock star!  Well, not really...But I am a half marathoner for a second time today and that is much more interesting.  What an amazing adventure!  I have so much to share about the race, so many comparisons to make, new things I learned about myself, and lessons for future races. 

The time was 7:30 am and I was being dropped off at the race start.  I was officially there, ready, and amped!  I had spent the evening at a friend of mine's home.  She made a pre-race breakfast of boiled eggs, which let me just say, were the perfect pre-race meal.  Straight shot of protein, but light and bland which made for easy digestion.  In my fanny pack, I carried a banana, a couple packs of goo (the flavored bathtub caulk), dried fruit, and some random necessities like my phone and camera.

7:45am was the race start for the half marathon walkers.  The marathon walkers and half marathon runners had already left.  The marathon runners were leaving 30 minutes after us.  It was time to shine.  I had trained and was ready to just do my best.  I started my race with a fast pace, so much so that I slowed myself down as I was worried about losing my stamina towards the end.  Walking through downtown Seattle was nice as it gave me good perspective of where things were in relation to other places I frequent while here.  At Mile 2, the first water station appeared.  Remembering that I had cramped during the first half marathon, I made it a point to take one cup of electrolyte drink at every station, regardless of if I was thirsty or not.  At this water station, I did receive hugs from some teens which I found to be very nice and quite the boost.

It was during Mile 2 that we began our journey on I-90 express lanes.  This was exciting!  Cars zipping past us.  Horns honking in praise.  Marathon runners coming through so fast, yet so silent.  And lots of spectators.  I love spectators!  I realized during this race that any future races I do should be larger races as they tend to have more people cheering on the sidelines.  I am very much a people person, so this feeds me in a wonderful way.  The idea of going down the freeway was also exciting.  It is not everyday that you are allowed to go down the freeway by foot without a gas can in tow.  Across different parts of the city, and into the tunnels we went.  Thousands of people making this their route for a few miles.  

 

The half marathoners are led off the freeway much earlier than the full marathoners.  And once again I am receiving hugs, but this time from a guy in a robot costume.  I love people!  Walking along the west side of Lake Washington, my phone went off.  It was the race officials sending me an update on my time.  This was my first realization that I was going a decent pace.  My main goal was to do this race in under 5 hours.  Beyond that, I was not worried about time.  I knew I was on track for a 4 hours and 30 minute walk, if not quicker.  I keep going strong.  Around Mile 5 or 6, I ate my banana and enjoyed another cup of electrolyte drink.  Now I get to the real eye opener moment:  The halfway point, and another text from race officials.  My pace was now putting me at completing at 4 hours and 7 minutes!  I was on a mission to keep my pace going, I was going to make it under 5 hours.  And in my mind, I was going to go for keeping it at 4:30 at the slowest.


Go, Darlene, Go!  This was the constant mantra going through my mind.  I can do this!  I have this.  As the Seattle Marathon website had been saying, "This is your year".  Miles kept flying by, and no wall was being hit.  I was on it!  Saying that I felt good is an understatement.  And then I hit Mile 11.  I looked at my phone for the time and realized, not only could I finish under 5 hours, but finishing under 4 hours was actually potentially possible.  WHAT!  I knew I was rocking it, but WOW!  I had a mission, I was going to try my hardest to get under four hours.  Mile 12 told me different though...

I was wearing my walking shoes this race.  You know, the ones I said were too big a couple weeks ago.  Well, I now know how too big these things are.  As tight as I laced them up, my feet were still swimming in the shoes and the dreaded blisters were forming.  One GIANT blister on the bottom on my left foot.  Another one of similar caliber forming on the bottom of my right foot.  Add a couple to the backs of my heels, and now you know I was a mess.  I had been struggling with the blister pain for several miles, but Mile 12, the easiest of all as it was primarily all down hill, proved to be the most difficult.  As I continued to take my steps down the hill, my foot kept landing perfectly on the blisters on the bottom of each foot.  There was no way to avoid this, and the sliding in my shoe that also occurred intensified the discomfort.  I definitely know I slowed down on this downward home stretch.

A small incline, a tour around a block, and a nice long stretch of spectators led me to Memorial Stadium and the finish line.  I was finished!  I heard my name announced as I crossed the finish line, as they do with all participants.  Military service men were waiting to place my newly earned medal around my neck.  But honestly, I never looked at my phone to see what time it was until about 10 minutes later.  I snapped a quick picture with my phone and sent it to the few people who were directly keeping tabs on me for the race. 

At this time, the friend who had got me to do the first half marathon responded back wondering my time.  I found the results table, and this is when I knew that I had made this race mine...

4:04:11! 

Not only did I do this race in under 5 hours, I also shattered my previous half marathon time by an entire hour!  I can handle not finishing the race in under 4 hours.  I spent a bit of time taking pictures, hugging people, and cursing the blisters under my feet.  I am more than pleased with my time!  Training was beneficial on so many levels:  speed, endurance, knowledge of my personal needs, and mental stamina.  With all of this in mind, I really did "win" this race (see previous blog post for reference).