harvest half marathon

Probably back in May I registered for Calgary's Harvest Half Marathon 2012. Alex found it and told me to do it with her and since my goal is one day to do a full marathon, a half sounded attainable. In my training I even ran a couple of the same distances about two months in advance of the actual race.

About a month ago I went on a run after I hadn't for about two weeks and I noticed my knees hurt a little bit. I went on a run the next day and they hurt even more! What was going on? I gave my knees a couple days to recuperate and then I would run again with them hurting. I figured it must be my shoes. I bought those shoes two years ago and they have traveled well over 200 miles. It was time to retire those babies. I just couldn't find the time to go look for a new pair until the day before the race. I tried on many different shoes from different brands and none were suiting to my abnormally narrow feet. I finally tried on some Nike's (the ones that Lita had recommended to me a couple weeks back) feeling very panicked and they were a dream compared to all the others!

I forgot to pick up my race package the week before the race (which is quite a silly time to have a race package pick up if you ask me) so I had to be at the race start an hour early on Saturday, September 29 to punish me for my forgetfulness. I got up at 6, left at 6:20 and got there at 6:50. I waited around for Alex to get there, my only form of support until the race was over. Everyone else who wanted to come support us would be waiting at the finish line :D

Here is my beautiful sister and me waiting for the race to begin!

At the starting line:

And we were off! We ran through a bit of the city to get to Fish Creek Park. Once we got into the park, I was a lot happier. My knees weren't even hurting!

We had some pretty awesome scenery in FCP.

If only my finger didn't get in the way of this pic. If you look closely you can see a bunch of racers in the distance.

I was feeling awesome until about 10k in. My hip starting hurting really bad which was bearable but detrimental to my efficiency. I just was sooo happy that my knees weren't hurting. Then I hit the half way point and that's when things went downhill. My minute-miles decreased from 8:15 to about 9:18 within that time and people were passing me like crazy! I felt like I was going so slow, but according to my Nike+GPS app, I was going a pretty good/average pace. I swear it was all my hip! I feel like I could have done a lot better without the constant pain. I kept thinking, "The sooner you cross the finish line the sooner you can see Boonie, Kobe, and Lita!" It was a pretty good motivator, but the thing about pain is it's a pretty good motivator to go slower.

About 17k in there was a huge hill. I had heard about this hill from the Harvest Half's Facebook page and I was determined to run the whole thing. I did it. I passed a bunch of people on my way up, who then passed me when the ground levelled out. At least it would help my time. I still don't know which hill is worse, Harvest Half or Moonlight Run. They both have their ups and downs (bahahaha).

At the 18k mark Burns phoned me! I was waiting for that phone call and it made me so happy and encouraged me even more to keep going. 3k later, I turned a corner and there was the finish line! The moment I saw it, I put on my traditional last wind sprint. As I was sprinting and dodging other racers to get to that finish line, I heard someone yell my name. Burns wasn't there yet but Lita was there - she was the one who yelled my name. Thanks so much for coming, Lita!

As for Boonie, I had sent the poor boy on a wild goose chase. Because I had his car and I just didn't think to ask Lita to give him a ride, he took the C-train all the way down. I told him to get off at the wrong stop!!! I felt so bad. He and Kobe got there 3 minutes after I crossed the finish line.

Thanks so much for coming you two!

Alex did a great job! She was 4 minutes behind me.

My time - 2:00:40 placing 335/803
Alex's - 2:04:29 placing 397/803

Fastest male's time - 1:21:12
Fastest female's time - 1:32:31

My medal for participating:

Alex crossing the finish line:

That night I could hardly walk. I was hobbling around and I figured that is what old people must feel like. It was better the next day but still pretty bad and by Monday I was pretty alright. I even went for a run! I think I now know what all the pain was from. I did no core/girdle strengthening before I ran those long distances and my muscles were telling me very loudly that this was the case. I will be sure to do that now.

Despite all the pain, I had a good time.