Timp Half Marathon

I woke up at 3 AM with a major headache and thought nothing much of it besides a bad nights sleep or something. I took some Motrin and I ate some banana bread cause I was out of my normal oatmeal that I have before a race. I had my normal race morning nervousness.  I met up with Joy at about 4:15 at the school where the buses were to take us up to the start. On the bus ride up my headache felt like it was getting worse, so I kept my eyes closed the whole ride up. 

We met up with some great running friends at the start and hung around until the race started. 

Me and Joy at the start. She was freezing and I was trying not to puke. My nausea just kept getting worse. Joy's first thought was "maybe you're pregnant..." NO! I am not... hahaha. I just chocked it up to having a root beer float the night before. 

There were a good amount of people there today. It was really great. They also had an early start for walkers and the marathoners. I love it when races have an early start! I didn't take it this time just cause I figured I would be fast and would make it in 2 hours 10 min or so. 

We got in line behind the 2.10 pacer, Sonja. I really was hoping to hang out with her for a good part of the race. My goal was anything under 2.16 (my last PR). 

I started out great with Joy and she left me around mile 4 to use the Honey Bucket, and I kept going. I knew she'd catch up with me some time, but I didn't know when. Each aid station I'd get some water, but didn't drink much of it because of my stomach. I ate a couple chomps at mile 5 and mile 8, but I couldn't take as many as I wanted. I got to mile 8 before I started crashing. My stomach was KILLING me. I seriously felt like I was going to puke my guts out. My miles dropped from the 9's...

Joy caught up with me around mile 8 or 9 in the neighborhoods and passed me up. She was on track for a 2.10 half. I kept wishing I could stay up with her. I saw the 2.20 pacers pass me and I could only stick with them for a couple hundred yards before I had to walk. Then towards the end in the last mile the 2.30 pacer, Susette caught up to me and I tried running with her for a half mile or so, but I just couldn't do it for the full mile. It was so great to see her though, she's always a big encourager. I finally made it to the track where we finished the last quarter mile. I walked in and finished the last .10 running. I was so out of it. My stomach was killing me. I just kept thinking "I shouldn't have had that root beer float!" Joy got a video of me crossing the line. I was pretty amazed how strong I looked considering how I felt. 

Joy kept telling me to get something to eat, but the smell of the Chick-fil-A at the finish and the sight of the food just made me want to throw up even more. We picked up her drop bag and I got my Run The Slam medal for the race. I made it to the parking lot and had to sit down for a second. 

Joy got to her car and I sat in mine for a minute or two before I started to drive. I just wasn't sure if I would make it home without throwing up. I got out of the parking lot and to the stop sign where I pulled over and waited a minute before driving across the street to the gas station. I found an empty spot by the grass and dry heaved a few times before I felt like I could drive home. 

I ended up getting about 5 miles from home when I had to pull over and throw up. I felt SOOOOOOO much better after that, but I still had a pounding head ache and I think I even had a bit of a fever. I came home and slept for 3 hours off and on. My Annabelle brought me this bell when I was laying in bed and said "Ring this if you need me, ok?" She's such a great kid. I ended up eating some chicken noodle soup for dinner and went to bed by 10. 

I slept for 10 and a half hours last night. I think I had heat exhaustion on top of the whole root beer float and stuff. Next time I'm going to get a LOT more rest and drink a LOT more water the week leading up to my race. I don't want that to happen again. 

The awesome thing about this race though is the fact that even with crashing like this I was able to still run it in a GREAT time! I remember this year when running a 2.30 was HARD and today I was able to do it on a really rough day. Earlier this year I would have easily done it in over 3 hours if the same thing happened. I've really reached a new level and I love it! 

I think the nervousness I get before races is that when I bonk like this that I'll end up falling back to the 3+ hour races, but yesterday proves that I won't. I'm doing good and I just have to trust in my ability.