Chasing the sun

Two weeks ago we chased the shade and shadows at the Rock N Roll half marathon. Today we chased the sun in a much cooler Hershey Half Marathon.

I had an incredible time. I enjoyed everything about the day. It was hard not to enjoy the day. It was a perfect running day. Bright blue skies, sunshine (when it finally came up a little after 7) and about 50 degrees at the start.

I finished in 2:32:38 which isn't my best time but it isn't my worst either. I consider it a respectable time for me. The most imporant part is that I finished and I really really had fun.

The course was hilly. I hadn't expected that, but really I didn't know what to expect. The course profile on the website did not provide an elevation chart. We did get one in our packets the night before but it was so condensed it really didn't show the full effect. All we could really tell from it was that the first half was more or less uphill and the second half downhill. I guess this proved true and except for two hills they were rolling. I really didn't mind them at all. The Valley Forge loop runs of late helped with that! (Thanks to my weeknight running buddies) Truth be told I actually like hills. They make me feel good when I conquer them. A day when I struggle on them is usually a day I'm struggling everywhere.

I started out slow. I was very proud of that. I positioned myself toward the back and I let lots and lots of runners pass me. I just smiled and let them go. Yay me! For most of the run I leap frogged the same people. The water stops were more or less every 2 miles. So I decided that I would run MY pace and at each water stop I would walk long enough to take water. I took electrolytes at mile 2, 6 & 10 and Gel at 4 & 8. The electrolytes were really guess work. With the cooler temperature and breezes I didn't really feel sweaty but I don't do gatorade so I decided the three doses (one pill each) would work. I guessed right I suppose because once again at the end I felt good -- no dizziness or heart strain.

A word about the breezes. They were very breezy! LOL. You could feel them the entire race and on some stretches - up in the corn fields - the cross winds had some umph. Not enough to make running difficult but definitely a presence.

According to the race results I ran the first half 1 minute and 2 seconds slower than the second half. I don't know if it counts - but technically I suppose it's a negative split. My first time! :)

At the end my legs and feet did not hurt as they usually do. I guess the truth is I could have run harder or faster, but I had a fantastic day and I really needed it.
All in all this was a very successful outing. I'm still feeling a bit of anxiety about the November full marathon. I suppose though that's better than being cocky.