The Clif Notes are that I finished. It was a great weekend. The weather was perfect ( 50’s, cloudy, dry) and the crowd was amazing.
The Lehigh Valley Half Marathon began as the “Rodale Half Marathon” and was then called “The Runner’s World Half Marathon” before getting its present-day namesake.
This year, the event attracted about 4,000 runners for the half marathon and about 750 runners for the 5k.
The event kicked off on Saturday with with a kids fun run. We watched as the kids got their start.
Here they are lining up to start.
And they're off!
*I saw a photo caption in the newspaper about this event. There was a quote from a 3-year-old who ran with his face painted as Spiderman. He said “The best part about running is running like Spiderman.” I thought that was cute.
Ever-thoughtful friend Alanna and her sisters Mary, Cathy, (who had me laughing all weekend, by the way) and I visited the expo to get our packets, chips and information.
I bought “The Stick” because I am “The Sucker.”
I also got info for the Garmin Pace group I was in – anticipated finish time - 2:20. Running with this group should keep me on pace and not let me go too fast in the start.
Can I be an honorary sister for the weekend please?
We went to the pasta dinner – Joan Benoit-Samuelson was the speaker. After, I met up with some Runnersworld.com friends at the Allentown BrewWorks (Hi Kris! Hi Kim! Hi Will!) We had a few beers, and had a great time!
Me, Kris and Kim
Race day morning: 5:30 wake up. I picked up my friend Sarah at 6:45 to get to the race by 7 am. Potty stop #1.
Get in the high school, meet up with Kim at the pace group meeting area, see Kris and her hubby and little girl. Decide I need to go again. Potty stop #2.
Time to line up. Kim and I get in line with the pace group and I need to go again. This time, the line is a lot longer and there is a real chance I might not make it to the beginning.
5k runners start and there is 10 minutes to go before the start of the half. I am pretty deep in line and I begin to worry if I will finish what I gotta do in time. I do, with 30 seconds to spare. Potty stop #3.
I find my pace coach and Kim and the group and we are OFF!
Flat and loving life
So, the purpose of the pace group is to keep you at an even pace the entire time so as not to burn out so quick early in the race. Our ideal time was to run every mile at or around 10:41.
Before mile one, I felt a side cramp coming on. Fan-freaking-tastic.
The pace coach was incredible and the group was so supportive. I tend to talk… a lot… even when I am running. I like to chat, insert witty comments here and there, and sometimes sing to myself. I am like the “Chipper Runner” when I am out there because I feel like if I encourage people around me, I will encourage myself.
By mile 2, I had “worked out” the side stich and felt awesome. Still on pace. Garmin pace coach still right next to me.
I was feeling great. I mean, I really felt awesome. There were bands on the course (I thought about Celeste when a band was playing a Bon Jovi song), spectators, cameras, dogs, kids, signs. Every two miles was Gatorade and water and I took both every time I passed a water station.
We began to see the “elite runners” after their turnarounds at around mile 5 or 6. It was awesome to see them all coming back. I am sure I saw Ms. Benoit-Samuelson herself running at the head of the pack.
The Lehigh Parkway
I couldn’t help but think of my orthopedic doctor and the comment he made to me when I told him I was running this half marathon, here is why.
Hill #1- Parkway entrance. Long, steep.
I took it well. Tried to go super fast on the downslope.
Hill #2- After the LVRR clubhouse. Longer, smaller gradient.
I know this hill well. Small steps and “Enter Sandman” by Metallica got me to the top.
Hill #3- Immediately after hill #2. Short, steep.
Whah? I forgot about how they snuck this one in there.
Hill #4- After covered bridge. Long, smaller gradient.
I am secretly hoping there is a surprise escalator taking all the runners up the hill to the next part of the Parkway.
Hill #5- Are you effing serious? STEEP, STEEP- really steep.
I knew this was coming, but come on. Are you serious?
By the last hill, we are about a mile 10 or so. I’ve consumed my second gel because I really think I just need to think about something else (like swallowing) than the pain in my legs.
The Garmin pace coach looked at the four of us who were still with her and said “ I am crossing the finish line with this group right here.”
Um, can you wait until, oh, mile 12 to say that please? Yikes!
Homestretch
Mentally, I am finding staying with my pace coach difficult. We are out of the Parkway and I am getting Jello legs.
Mile 11- Hurrah! 2 more to go!
Mile 12- Yeah, I was slowing down. But I still saw my awesome pace coach. I decided it was time to just go for it.
And I did.
Hill #6- A very, very, short step hill into the high school stadium to take one final victor lap on the track and be done with it.
I see Jason, Mom, Dad, Alanna, Damon, Nana, Mary and Cathy on the dieslines cheering me on. Jason comes around to take a few snapshots.
Here I come!
I am so close to finishing fast and strong… Here I go… arms up… crossing the line… I DID IT!!
Un-Official chip time 2:19:38!!!!!
My pace coach congratulated me….She was awesome!
Jason came over to snap some photos. Here I am with my medal, and metal blankie thingy!
What is the name of this blankie thingy? Who cares! I finished!
The deejay at the event, Wes Barrett came over to congratulate me. He was the deejay at our wedding and in a weird twist of life he has now seen me at my best AND at my worst. Fun.
I wait for Kim who is coming up, and wish her congratulations before giving Kris big cheers as she ran on to the finish line!
I did it!
After the line
Lots of photos.
Me, Alanna and her sisters.
Me and Kris.
Finally, when we got home to Jersey, I got this awesome surprise on our front porch from my friends Trish and Jeff.
Trish and Jeff decorated our steps and stoop with awesome balloons that they wrote all over! how much fun is that????
Seriously, this was an amazing weekend and I feel so proud that I did it! So much hard work, early mornings running in freezing weather, windy days, lonely long runs. All for this.
The official medal for the Lehigh Valley half finishers! It spins!
My husband is such a supporter and such a believer in me. He puts up with my “plans” and “runner talk” and is as proud of me as I am of him.
So, Broad Street Run next week? 10 miles? Flat? Yeah, bring it on.
Posts
