The Happiest Race on Earth
I owe you all an epic race recap... here it is!! Sunday I ran the Disneyland Half Marathon in Anahiem, CA. It's going to be a long one so I'll spare your dash...
We had a 3:00 am wake up call but none of us slept very well thanks to fireworks, squeaky beds and nerves. I was the first one up and started to get ready while the other girls woke up. Breakfast was the usual pre race meal, made with only a spoon (flashbacks of the LA Marathon morning!). One day, I'll remember to bring a knife with me to the hotel.
Becky and I before leaving the hotel... we are cute, even at 4 am!
We all walked over to the start line, near Downtown Disney. It was pretty warm out already but I wasn't complaining because I had forgot to pack throwaway clothes. Whoops.
We found all the TNT'ers in the holding area.
And took sorority girl photos.
My TNT buddies, Randy and Becky!
I said goodbye to the girls as we parted ways at the corrals. They were all in corral F, and I was in corral A, for awesome. Or, ahhhhhhhhhh why am I in the fastest corral ever?
Super close to the starting line.
I found some super fast TNT friends in the corral.
I was over the line within 30 seconds of the gun going off and well on my way for my 3rd half! I was making great time through the first few miles, which wound through the parks and backlots. There were no lines for the characters so I stopped to take a couple photos for my neice.
She loves Tiana and Princess & the Frog!
I loved running through the Disneyland backlot... it was so cool to see the behind the scenes areas! And of course, running through the castle was pretty neat.
After mile 4, we left the park and headed out into a boring industrial type area for a few miles. I was feeling great and well above my goal pace for the first 4 miles and took my first walk break at mile 4. The boyfriend was at mile 5.5 to cheer me on but I missed him. So sad! I walked again at mile 6 to take my first Gu, which ended up being a terrible idea. I've never really experienced stomach problems while running but my stomach was rejecting all fuel.
I tried to keep it down, but at mile 7 the Gu came right back up. I still felt OK other than low on fuel, and kept trucking along. I loved running through Angel Stadium at mile 9! It was so cool. I've now run through a football stadium and a baseball stadium.
Soon after leaving the stadium, I decided to try to eat a shot block... another terrible idea. It came right back up. My body didn't want any fuel and even Gatorade was hard to drink.
I finally saw the boyfriend at mile 11.5 and knew I only had a little left to finish but there was no way I was going to PR at that point. I was devastated but just wanted to finish. If only I could have sped up that last mile, I would have PR'd by at least a few seconds. My legs had no fuel and felt like lead so I was stuck at a 9:50 pace that last stretch in.
I crossed the finish line at 2:16:30, barely 30 seconds off my PR time. I felt so defeated, and so mad at myself and my body. You would have never guessed by my finish line photos though. I was SO HAPPY that race was over!
All I wanted to do was cry and throw a fit but I held it together to congratulate my friends and teammates as they crossed the finish line.
We hung out for a bit waiting for everyone to finish and took a million and one photos.
I was so, so proud of all my friends who had just finished their first half marathon!
And I couldn't have made it through without my #1 spectator.
Having my goal so close but not hitting it is a completely new feeling for me. I spent some time just reflecting on the race once we got back to the hotel, and let the tears out. Even though I was dissapointed in myself, there was really not much I could have done. Getting sick twice and still finishing was a huge accomplishment and I was proud to be wearing that medal!!
