OUC 1/2 Marathon | Race Report

My training has going well. Really well actually. In my last post I mentioned that the mojo has returned. I've been feeling good and I've have some pretty good runs of various distances lately.

I was feeling a little apprehensive in the days leading up to the race. I had run 10 miles the Sunday before with an average pace of 10:35. What if it was a fluke? What if I couldn't do it? I had been routinely keeping my pace in the 10's so the evidence was there that I could do it, but I found myself doubting my ability. I would quickly brush away the doubt and reminded myself that I could do it!

Friday night I cooked spaghetti with pork sausage and garlic bread. I've found through plenty of trial and error, that there is something about the pork sausage that works well for me. I ate and relaxed and laid down for bed just before 9:00 PM.

My alarm was set for 4:10 AM and I slept well. No issues with my morning routine. I got up, made a bagel with Nutella got dressed and headed for Orlando.

When you're on the road at 5:00 AM you're pretty much alone. I made good time and arrived in no time. I parking in the parking garage and made my way to my meeting point with Marathon Chris.

I had not seen Chris since Goofy, so it was so nice to catch up with her. While we were chatting @krystalrunner came up and said hello. She wasn't running the race, but was running and stopped by to say hi. She said she'd be just before mile 4 and somewhere around mile 12. I told her I'd keep an eye out for her!

It was a little chilly. Temperatures were probably in the upper 40's. I had labored over what to wear. I didn't want to be too hot, but I also wanted to be comfortable. The race offered bag check so Chris and I checked in bags with our jackets and decided to just tough it out. I was wearing a long sleeve tech shirt with a sleeveless tech shirt and arm sleeves underneath. I opted for a pair of longer than normal shorts. At the start I also had a pair of dollar throw away gloves. They were thrown before the first mile.

Waiting to Start

The race started at 7:00 AM, Chris and I said goodbye (we had a meeting place for after the race set) and we were off. We started west on Robinson Street with Lake Eola to the left. As I was running toward downtown "Hello City" by Barenaked Ladies came on my iPod. I thought that was fitting.

Right after I tossed my gloves I took off my long sleeve tech shirt. I thought about tossing it, but I've had it for a long time, and it's got my name on it. I decided to tie it around my waist and save it for another day.

Speedy Sasquatch had given me two goals.

Goal #1: Have Fun
Goal #2: Nothing in the 11's

I was moving along through the cool morning and soon I was at the first mile split. We passed about a block from the first place I lived in downtown Orlando. Then I was at the 2nd mile split. Wait. How'd I get to the 3rd mile? Can that be right?

Oh hey, there's Krystal. Mile 4.

We were winding through Orlando. Moving south, and east and south again. West. and North. We passed Michigan Street. I thought we were turning on Michigan. Where were we going. We turned down a side street that after 22+ years in the Orlando area, I had never been down. The road curved and eventually we popped out onto Michigan Street.

The course turned down Delaney Avenue. I was happy to see my friend Jim. Jim volunteers at Disney every year and you can find him at the mile 23 chocolate stop. (Dark Chocolate for me please Jim!) No chocolate from Jim this time, just some encouragement, which is always welcome.

At mile 9 I had maintained a 10:23 average pace. I was pleased. We were running on bricks and it was wearing me down. We turned off of Delaney onto Ponce de Leon on our way to Lake Avenue. We turned left on Lake Avenue and we ran along Lake Cherokee. We turned to the east down Palmer Avenue. We were a block away from the second place I lived in downtown Orlando.

A few blocks down Palmer and we were a block away from the third and final place I lived in downtown Orlando. Right before we turned onto Mills and mile 11 I say Krystal again. She gave me some much needed words of encouragement and I continued on my way. The mile split was just ahead and my Garmin beeped. 10:57. Oh no, that was a little too close to the 11 I wasn't supposed to go over. PICK IT UP SISTER!

Talking to Krystal

The bricks continued and I was feeling beat up, but I just kept going. I had to keep moving forward.

Soon the bricks ended and we were back on Robinson Street heading west. We passed the apartment building my sister lived in when she first moved to Orlando. I didn't live there, but I spent an awful lot of time there. We had just less than a mile to go.

I kept running. It was much better off the bricks and on the pavement. I was listening to some guys in their early 20's talking. One said he was going to wear his medal to work on Monday. The other one said he was going to wear his medal to graduation. What an accomplishment for both of them. Their conversation made me smile.

I crossed the finish line! 2:17:31 A new OUC course record for me. I'm a happy girl!

Victory!

It was a great race! I was happy to see Chris. I was happy to see Krystal (Thanks to her hubs for taking pictures! I'm honored). I was happy to have finally run a good OUC Half Marathon.

Next up: MOJO LOCO!