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Another half marathon done! The world does not define me, I'm in charge of my destiny!
Whenever I do a race, I go through a roller coaster of emotions questioning why I'm doing it. After all, 13.1 miles is not easy. I'm won't lie, it hurts a little. To push through it is just as much mental as physical. Around mile 11 or so, I remind myself of the things I've achieved...losing 80 pounds 3 years ago and overcoming a severe injury doctors told me I would not recover from. You can read more in here What Motivated Me to Lose 80 Pounds & About Me.
Last night I laid out my clothes & gear and set my alarm for 5 a.m. I slept like a baby last night, which is not like me at all. When the alarmed went off, I was all but eager to get going. I spent an hour relaxing over coffee & checking email before getting myself to the race.
Little pre-race breakfast... greek yogurt & fresh raspberries @125 calories. Yum!
Race playlist with new songs for added motivation.
Lovely weather for a race, right? It was a chilly start at 7:50 a.m. & good thing I had my running gloves, but it warmed up beautifully once the sun smiled down on us.
The Rock & Roll PF Chang's Phoenix half marathon was incredible! The course was gorgeous with great desert views. The race started at ASU in Tempe, to Scottsdale & through Papago park http://phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations/papago/ then back to the start/finish in Tempe. The race had a killer climb at mile 10 and rolling hills from there to the finish. The race crowd slowed down considerably, but I gained serious time. Because I cross train & weight lift regularly, my legs are strong & can take that on easily.
Two things I notice at races - most people start too fast & slow down on climbs. Starting slow allows you to set a consistent pace while reserving energy. It's not a sprint, it's 13.1 miles. Cross training is incredibly important to incorporate so you can handle elevation changes easily.
Mom asked this morning if I was trying to better my time to which I responded no. Secretly, I am extremely competitive with myself & always trying to better my pace. Funny enough this race ended up being my all time best despite gaining 5 pounds over the holidays. I also burnt oodles of calories (Garmin reads 1100). I've been a little under weight so I'm not worried about them 🙂
A lady approached me at the finish & asked what my pace was. This woman & her friend were using me as their pacer because my speed was consistent & my bright pink shirt was easy to spot! She said they lost me at mile 12. I laughed & told her the last mile is the hardest for me so I dig deep to sprint through it.
The most important thing for anyone racing is...TO FINISH. That's all and nothing more. I really like the Rock & Roll series http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/tour-stops because their races are friendly to everyone - runners, walkers, women, men, young, old, handicapped, etc. I can't say that about all races plus with RnR there are bands every mile or so. If you're looking to sign-up for a half marathon, it's a good one to consider.
Another Mom pic...lol
Well, I'm off to reward myself with good food at my absolute favorite place Pita Jungle http://www.pitajungle.com then rest while enjoying time with my Mom while she's here with me another week.
By the way, no Sunday Fun-Day post today friends due to the race!
Question - how do you mentally push through physical challenges?
xoxo,
Megan
Congrats on finishing the PF Chang's marathon and making it your best time ever!!!
Mom
Thanks, Mom!