Hit cruise control and rubbed my eyes..

AFC!!! I finally have a free minute to write about the America's Finest City Half Marathon that I ran on Sunday, August 15th. Leading up to this race, I was super duper busy getting ready for the new school year. In a way, this distraction was probably a good thing as I didn't have time to stress and get nervous for the race. On Friday Aug. 13, after 2 weeks of prepping my classroom and meetings, I met the majority of my new first graders and their parents at "Meet The Teacher Night". It went so well, but I was SO tired when it was over. I got home that night, tried to get into 'race brain' and went to bed.We left for California on Saturday morning, ran 6 miles, ate lunch, went to the expo, drove the course, and finally arrived at the Bandido condo at around 5pm. After dinner I pretty much went right to bed!

Race day: Matt dropped us off at the elite athlete pick-up area.

The weather was PERFECT! There was some windy spots, but it was cool and cloudy. I *LOVE* California. My race plan was to get through 10 miles in 60 minutes and then try to hold on as much as I could for the remaining 5k.  The first 2 miles were rolling hills coming out of Point Loma, there was a bit of downhill after that. The rest of the course was mostly flat and fast except for the hill right at the end going into Balboa Park. Holy smoke, I didn't think I was going to make it. It was over a mile long!!!

I finished in 1:19:41. A new PR for me! I finished 8th female overall and 2nd in my age group! I was SO happy to be in the top 10!!! My team mate Susan Loken came in 9th female, we were SO excited!!!

Race results here

My Official Race Pics

My Splits:

I had the course measured a little long per my Garmin, so I probably missed the tangents. I had a 6:02 average for 13.23 miles, my official results were 6:05 for the course with their measurement of 13.1. I ran my goal, under 60 minutes for the 10 mile split and under 1:20 for the 13.1. I am SO happy with how consistent I ran- besides the wacky hill miles.

Mile 1-5:59

Mile 2- 6:05

Mile 3- 5:51

Mile 4- 5:30- downhill

Mile 5- 5:53

Mile 6- 6:04

Mile 7- 6:00

Mile 8-5:58

Mile 9- 6:02

Mile 10- 5:55

Mile 11- 6:06

Mile 12- 6:43- HILL!!! YIKES!!!

Mile 13-6:18- So hard for me to get going again as the hill tapered off during this mile.

.23- 5:52 pace

Hangin' out Post-Race:

Next I have a few weeks in the high 80's for mileage.  I am not going over 90 miles before Chicago but Coach has higher mileage planned for me leading up to Boston if all goes well in Chicago. I have a 13.1 mile time trial on my 30th birthday weekend- happy birthday to me, lol!!! My goal for that time trial is to run under 6:00 per mile for the half marathon distance. It will be a good exercise in mental strength!

So,  it is still a million degrees outside and my daily schedule is pretty much run, eat, school, eat, sleep. Rinse and repeat. I have been working really long hours this week and weekend, you would not believe how much there is to prepare for in first grade!  But, I am just trying to get as much rest as I can and am trying to be OCD about keeping germ-free!

Run strong!

Runningly Yours,