After a sleepless night, I got up around 4:00 am, had my tea & oatmeal in my hotel room and then went down to the lobby around 5:00 am to wait for the shuttle to the race start.

It was chilly and dark.  I arrived early and there was hardly anyone there yet.  So I just walked around and shivered.  I was freezing.  I don’t know why since it was probably close to 60 degrees.

Eventually a lot of people arrived and many to register on site.  Apparently, they offered a Groupon to get more people to run.

For a half marathon, it was small – only about 500 runners.  There was also a 5k race (with about 300 runners) that would start 15 minutes after the half.

There was no bag check, just a locker than you had to pay for.  I decided to just wing it and if I lost my jacket, it would be OK. So I hid it under a table. The restrooms by the amphitheatre were locked but there were many porta-potties.  For some reason, I didn’t feel the need to go.

I met some nice people, as usual, to chat with while waiting.  One lady was hoping to finish under 2:10.  I said that I would love to do that someday too.

Soon it was time to line up.  I wound up standing next 2 older women from DC who urged me to come to DC and race.

I was hoping that there would be chip times as well as gun times since I was some what in the middle of things. (It turned out that there were only gun times published.)

I should mention that this was the most beautiful course I have ever run.  During almost the whole race, you were looking at the water.You can’t beat that!

It was still dark when we started since it was only 6:30 am.  For the first mile, you ran around in the city and then looped around back to the start.

From then on for a few miles, you were running along the water and watching the sun come up …awesome.

I glanced at my Garmin every now and then to make sure I wasn’t running too fast (and at the end, too slow).

But as usual, the first half was a lot faster than the second.

There were abundant water stops…at least every 2 miles and I stopped and walked at every one except the first (and I regretted that immediately.)

Once the sun came up, it was warm but not oppressively so until maybe the last few miles.  I felt perfectly dressed in a tank top & skirt.

What was nice about the course was that for the first 7 1/2 miles, every mile or so, the course took you inside a neighborhood.  It was nice to have varied scenery and then the course was curvy so you could cut the tangents (and I made sure I did just that.)

I took a Gu before the race and then again at miles 4, 8 and 12.  I really felt good and knew that I would PR if I didn’t fall and break something.

I remember being at 1:07 at mile 7 and 1:38 at mile 10. I was happy about that.

The main problem was my feet. AGAIN!  I started to get blisters (in the same place) around mile 6 and the one on my right foot got more and more painful as the race went on.

The last 5 1/2 miles of the race were straight along the water. (No tangents to cut.)

This was the FIRST race that I just toughed it out.  Sure I was tired but I refused to walk.

I only walked through the water stops and not as long as I normally do (I need to learn to open, eat Gu & drink water quicker.)

The scenery was so beautiful that I just focused on that and how lucky I was to be there.

Finally the end was near.

I had spotted that lady that wanted to finish under 2:10 as she passed me a little while ago. I tried to keep her in my sight but she eventually vanished.

I knew I had a good race and I was happy.

I was hoping to finish under 2:18.

I crossed at 2:09:40! I was shocked!!

The runner who wanted to finish under 2:10 killed it and we congratulated each other after the race.

There were pizza, bagels and all the usual refreshments at the finish. I wasn’t really hungry.  I found those 2 ladies from DC and we hung out waiting for the results and awards.

With all the Groupon registrations, it took quite a while to calculate the winners.  That was ok since my friend Georgette was late and I had re-scheduled my hotel check out for 1 pm.

But, yes, I won my Age Group!! (The lady from DC came in 3rd.)

Race Splits:

mile 1 – 9:31
mile 2 – 9:27
mile 3 – 9:45
mile 4 – 9:58
mile 5 – 9:59
mile 6 – 10:09
mile 7 – 10:19
mile 8 – 10:27
mile 9 – 10:38
mile 10 – 10:22
mile 11 – 10:42
mile 12 – 10:59
mile 13 – 9:36

(short according to my Garmin but I did cut every tangent)

They are mostly positive, as always.  At least there no 11 minute miles and I finished strong.

Goals:

A. Age Group Award – YES!
B. Finish under 2:15  – YES!
C. PR (finish under 2:18:33) – YES!
D. Faster than my previous PR (finish under 2:22:35 ) – YES!
E. Finish under 2 1/2 hours – YES!
F. Finish happy & uninjured 🙂 and wearing this medal – YES (with blisters):

As you may guess, I was supper happy with how this race turned out. And then I was able to fully enjoy the rest of my time in Florida.

Happy Running!  Anyone get blisters? Any advice?