3M Half-Marathon Race Recap

I hadn't really run since my half-marathon in Vegas, in early December. The plan was to run a lot of January and, yeah, I just couldn't muster the energy or motivation to do it. I worked out often, but I sincerely thought I had hit my running wall. 

But, well, I had already signed up for the 3M Half-Marthon in Austin, along with Kristie, and apparently Kristie takes registering and paying for races seriously. As in, she actually wants to run them once she's signed up. I don't know what's wrong with her either. So I couldn't back out, even if the idea of backing out sounded really, really fantastic and the idea of shopping in Austin instead sounded really, really, really fantastic.

Kristie and I drove down to Austin Saturday afternoon, where we were hosted by the always-lovely Natalie, who I wholeheartedly plan to revisit this summer with Kyle in tow. It's a damn shame our kids haven't played together, and we're gonna fix that.

Saturday night we had dinner with a table-full of bloggers, all such lovely people, and I got this crazy idea at the table to someday have a Texas Blogger RetreatI haven't shared that idea until just now so all the other Texas bloggers may hate it and it could just be me in a hotel somewhere but, no worries, I'll just bring more books in that case.

Anyway! We called it a night early because the race's start time was 6:45. IN THE MORNING. That's the earliest race time I've had so far. I mean, early is early, sure, but this felt especially brutal. 

It was cold at the start -- 37 degrees, I think? -- but we didn't have to stand around long. We took off and the first mile was a bit of a blur. Kristie and I split around mile two, and I'm glad we did. I didn't want to hold her back and it was actually nice to stop and start when I needed to. 

There was a lot of walking. Oh, a lot. I decided around mile three that if I was going to get to the finish, I needed to enjoy myself, however much I needed to walk, and that's what I did.

{The finish line!}

I finished slow (2:57:27) but I finished with something much better than a fast time: a renewed love of running. Something sort of shut off in me after Vegas. That race just did not go as planned, and it was super discouraging. This race -- small and well-organized, mostly flat and on what turned out to be a beautiful day -- was so different from the nightmare that was the Rock n Roll.

I'm ready to get back to fun running, shorter distances and nightly runs of a few miles. I'm going to shelve half-marathons until the fall, when I have a cool one planned that I'll tell you about later. But I don't know if I'd want to tackle any distance without the half I ran this weekend.

It was just what I needed.

Remind me, though, next long distance that I run to take the next day off work. Ouch!

Comments

[K]

I'm glad you enjoyed the race and fell back in love with running. I hate when a bad experience can give you a bad taste for something that you once enjoyed. I prefer smaller races too.

[Raven]

I didn't hear about the Texas Blogger Retreat! I am intrigued by this idea ;-)

[TUWABVB]

I think the retreat is a GREAT idea - in fact, I even have a perfect location in mind!

It was so good to see you and I'm so proud of you! Hope you enjoyed your trip and can't wait to have you back again soon. I love having so many great girls in Texas - it keeps me sane!

[Mavsmom]

I am totally up for a Texas Blogger Retreat. If it's as much fun as Saturday night was, then it will be great.

[Kristie]

Where on earth was I when you mentioned a blogger retreat? I must have drunk on pasta and bread. :)

Great race, my friend!

[Camels & Chocolate]

My start time for the San Francisco Marathon? 4:30. As in AM. You know as well as I do that there's no need to start a race in SF before 9am as it's NEVER hot there!

Also, well done =)

[Julie]

I will book a hotel room RIGHT NOW for a blogger retreat. I'm so in.

[elz]

Oh yes, we definitely need a Texas bloggers retreat. We're the cool people anyway! ;)

I learned the hard way to take the day off after a half. I took Monday off after running the Houston half (untrained-el stupido). Thank God, because...yeah, not much was happening that day. Except Ow and Ouch and eep.

Congrats!

[Amber]

Congratulations! That's pretty amazing. I am officially impressed.

I just signed up for my first 5k. This is...a little scary. Even though I'm pretty sure I've run farther chasing buses before.

[Heather]

I wish I were a blogger so that I could come to The Blathering and the Texas blogger retreat. Somehow, Blogger Stalker doesn't seem to make the cut. :)

I am so glad that you loved this race and that it rekindled a fire in you after RNR doused the flame. You are awesome! Congrats on a great run! See you at Cowtown, if I don't see you at Cupid Dash!