Holy Cow --- 13.1!!!!

I am in shock. I actually did it. I completed a half-freakin' marathon!!!! Insane. Charm City was good to me. 

I finished better than I thought. My time was 2:30:43 --- that's an 11.5 minute mile pace.  Below are my stats:

I have been sick for the last two days and believe the combo of antibiotics, rest and the adrenaline during the race made a big difference. I feel so much better...tired...but not sick.

Now for the details.

We got to Baltimore just as the marathon began. I felt bad for the marathon runners who got stuck in traffic and ended up having to run from 95 to the start line. That's no way to warm up!! So glad we got there early.

I finally found the line-up for the half-marathoners right in the Inner Harbor and was happy to also have found two of my fellow DC Road Runners. It was key that I brought my cell phone to the race!

I ended up sneaking up to the wave 2 section and started the race from there vs further back in the pack. It was much more chilled in this section and not as crowded.

We started walking to the start line and BEFORE we got to the start line, the wave of runners started running. The last thing I wanted to do was give this course any extra running, but peer pressure got the best of all of us and we started running.

What a fantastic start --- cheering fans (I even saw my family as I crossed the starting line!), music and confetti being pumped into the air! It was like the Super Bowl!

I knew this would be a challenging course and it didn't disappoint. The hills started within the first 15 minutes. Wowzers!

The half marathoners ran for three miles before merging with the marathon runners. At mile 3 for us and mile 16 for them --- we were finally all on the same course.

I did well...clocking 10 and a half min miles for the first 4-5 miles. I then decided that pace was too aggressive and repeated my mantra --- "run your own race."

I chugged along. Lots of time to take in the sites, fans and fellow runners. There were lots of body piercings and tattoos. Big difference vs the runners at the Army 10-Miler.  I also often got to enjoy some music since runners usually had their iPods turned up loud enjoy for me to hum along to a tune or two.

Lots of creative cheering and great music blasting from row houses. Love it! The best fan was the guy standing on his car in a full tiger costume and dancing to the Rocky song, "Eye of the Tiger!"

I was so excited to run up the last hill and experience the Gummy Bear Mile. Nothing like grabbing a handful of gummy bears and then running over the broken bodies of colorful gummy bears as you race down toward the finish.  The Gummy Bear Mile was the signal that we were turning back down toward sea level.  Yay!!!  Thank you Mr. Gummy Bear.  The 400lbs of candy that you doled out was much appreciated. 

My goal was to finish --- any way that I could. I took moments to walk at some of the water stations which was a nice break. I also walked parts of some of the hills at the back end of the course. My ankles/feet were pretty sore and I limped a bit here and there. Luckily, I think I ended up making up time running efficiently down the hills and during other sections of the race.

I was stunned when I saw the sign that said we were a mile from the finish line! As I barreled down the hill, I started to choke-up a bit as we entered Camden Yards. There were wall-to-wall cheering fans lining the narrow path. My family had a great spot and it was fab to see them toward the finish.  Unfortunately, the finish was still a quarter mile way! 

Here I am at mile 13:

I had been looking at my watch since mile 11 and wondered if I could finish in 2 and a half hours. As I entered Camden Yards, I realized that if I picked up the pace and then sprinted, I could make it. Just like the Army 10-miler, I dug down and sprinted it out!

I am thrilled and amazed.

I'm looking forward to training for the National half-marathon.  We start training in November and the race is in the Spring.  For now....I'm taking a serious break and taking it easy.