How Not to Run a Half Marathon

It's a Disaster

I'll be blunt. Today was not a good day. In fact, today was the worst half marathon of my life. Let me break it down...

Reason #1: I did things differently

I've been on a fairly restrictive diet (except for Wednesday; it was a good friend's birthday). I'm down to 136 lbs (which is 4 from goal and 8 from ideal and 3 from...whatever). But I have been starving! I NEVER eat before a race unless it is a full marathon. Upon waking up at 4:30 this morning for the race I was ravenous. I tried coffee to calm my hunger pains but it only exacerbated them. So I made one egg over easy on a slice of whole wheat toast. 

Somewhere between mile 8-9, this caught up with me. Humidity caused me such severe cramping I could barely function. And then I knew it was coming in full force. Violent vomit. I hadn't had much, but the explosion that went on inside my digestive system was unbearable. I puked up breakfast, water, and the dry-heaved for a good 4-5 minutes before resuming the race. Medics were all over the course due to heat ( and they wanted to collect me more than once today). I am stubborn; I soldered on...

Reason # 2: I went out like an idiot

My half marathon PR is 1:49. That was 2 years ago on a cold day. So, when I saw an old friend lining up with the 2:00 hour pacer, my competitive streak got the better of me. I went ahead right next to the 1:45 pacer (which I've never done, and definitely never in the heat and humidity of today).   The race went off and I was bound and determined to stay with those guys.... for all of 2 miles. My runkeeper app said I was doing a 7:37 pace around 15 min in, which is well beyond my capabilities. After mile 2 I quickly fell behind, and regretted my decision to be a moron. In fact, by mile 4 I was already taking a walk break.

Reason # 3: Holy Heat

I've run in heat. This humidity caused me to dehydrate like I was in the middle of a desert. This isn't my fault; I was drinking water like a camel for the past few days. Expect the unexpected...

Reason #4: Loss of Motivation

That same friend who I tried to impress by lining up with the 1:45 pacer? Yes, at mile 6 he caught up to me. He said " I am going to try to keep pace with you". Fuck, I am such a solo runner. When I stopped to walk .25 miles later so did he. I was delirious and miserable, and I got irritated. I said " do not wait for me I would never wait for you!" and waved at him to signal "good bye". My intentions were not to be a bitch; I just believe in running your best race. Just because I was having a horrible race didn't mean I had to drag this guy down with me. So on he went, along with the 2 hour pacers... I knew at that point if I finished it would be a miracle. 

Reason #5: No Music

It happened again. My phone wasn't receiving data and I had no music. Not sure if music could've helped very much.... but it certainly wouldn't have hurt. I need to stop depending on data.

I'm glad it's Over

Yes today was awful. But if I had listened to the voice in my head I would've left the course at mile 7. I didn't. I had a medic ask me if I could continue when I nearly fell over reaching for a cup of  Gatorade at mile 11. I said I could. It takes a certain tenacity to keep going, even when you know your time is awful, after you've puked, and when you have no real good reason to keep going. 8 weeks ago I got a half marathon time of 1:52. 5 weeks ago I got 1:58. Today, 2:23. My worst half marathon time ever (aside from my first half marathon trail run, but that is another animal). I have learned what not to do (if I didn't already).

Wine Festival - 'Mistake' # 6 (or more)

I went to the wine festival, and lines were loooong. After finally getting to the booth I tasted 2 whites and settled for a bottle of the sweeter wine to split with my husband. I drank 2 glasses and got up to go to another booth. While standing in line I had the same awful feeling come over me again- the one right before I tossed my mini-breakfast. There was no time to be discreet. The bag the bottle of wine I had purchased was in became a barf bag. 

I was so embarrassed I had to leave. Here I was, not even 11 AM, throwing up at a winery. Water it was.

My husband and I bought 2 more bottles of wine to take home. I am actually enjoying a glass of Vidal Blanc from Bluemont Vineyards now. But I missed most of the wine fest. Instead I enjoyed an Ahi Tuna burger from Melt and an IPA. Beer is so much better after running than wine! They need a beer half marathon around here....

I took a nice 2 hour nap and have felt pretty good ever since. According to my FitBit I've gotten over 26,000 steps today, which is pretty damn good.

All in All

I really had to get this off of my chest. I don't feel like a loser today. I won a battle with myself to finish, and I learned a few things the hard way:

•  Dieting and distance running don't work. 
• Running like an idiot is a good way to have a bad run. 
• Wine after running (when you feel sick) is stupid.
•  I can't wait to do it better next time. 
• I am still in love with running, even when it doesn't love me

I have the Twilight 4 Miler next Saturday. Only 4 glorious miles. I couldn't be happier about that after today.

Keep doing your best, even when you really don't want to. Cheers, and happy running everyone!!

India