Madison Half Marathon

[brdgt]

I ran the Madison Half Marathon yesterday with a time of 2:30:22! Due to the heat, the full marathon was cancelled and our friend Mike ran with me. He was great companionship and although it was hard, we had a blast - I'll definitely do it again!

Right around Halfway I asked Nick to meet me halfway with a second water bottle. There were plenty of water stations, but I had trained with these and they were cold :)

Willy St. This was about the point that I started to feel some pain (in my knees and feet).

Machinery Row Our old frisbee friend Mike was going to run the full marathon but it was cancelled due to the heat - he ran with me instead and was great company. We stuck right with the 2:30 pacesetter and chatted most of the way.

John Nolen Drive This was the beginning of the hardest part - no shade, last 5K, hot, and cranky.

Our friends Stacey and Adam met me at Machinery Row with this great sign! The crowds in general were great and it was wonderful to have friends cheer me on :)

Mile 10! From here on out was uncharted territory for me - my longest previous run had been 10 miles!

Olin Park Did I mention no breeze?

Mile 11.5 Starting to get cranky.

Firehose! I spent half a mile staring at that firehose, waiting to run under it - it was the best feeling in my entire life.

Last Hill The last half mile was uphill - Mike was surprised to see I kept my word (I actually enjoy uphills) and not only made it up without walking, but sped up our pace and passed a lot of people.

Finish! Given how many people were at the start line, we actually started 7 minutes after the first runner, so the time is a little misleading.

2:30:22! I am very impressed my posture here! I didn't walk once, kept pretty much a 11:20 pace, but sped up to 8:50 for the final half mile (UPHILL).

Finishers! That chocolate milk was the best chocolate milk I ever tasted. 78 degrees at the finish line, btw.

Finisher! I have to admit - it was hard, but *so* much fun!

Local News Story:

http://host.madison.com/wsj/sports/running/runners-battle-heat-in-half-marathon-after-madison-marathon-canceled/article_77692ccc-a827-11e1-b1d2-001a4bcf887a.html

And Local News Official Pictures: http://host.madison.com/wsj/sports/running/photos-madison-half-marathon/collection_0d6d3dee-a828-11e1-95ff-001a4bcf887a.html

Comments

[recklesswater]

You are a badass! Congratulations!

[lilaia.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!! Great job setting a goal and achieving it! :D

[discountchiapet.livejournal.com]

So proud of you! Amazing!

[astronautical.livejournal.com]

so great! really well done, congratulations!

and stacey and adam are amazing. I'm sure the other madisonians are too, but they have a special place in my heart. :)