2019 Year of the Strawberry
- Finish Time: 1:43:23
- Pace: 7’45”
- Location: Melbourne, FL
- Date: February 10th, 2019
- Weather: 69 degrees, Drizzling Rain
- Recommend: 10/10 on the half marathon! 5/10 Marathon due to having to loop twice
Week 3 of long runs in the rain! Must be good luck!
This will have been my 3rd year in a row running the Publix Half Marathon and each year I feel that it has been better. The initial first year was rough being introduced to running the causeways, the second year was tough with humidity out of nowhere, and this year the conditions were PERFECT! At first, rain was In the forecast and not just a slight chance of rain was forecasted, but 60-70% rain and in Florida that can likely be torrential down pours!
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind running in the rain, but after running in the pouring rain two weekends straight, I became sick the entire week leading up to this half…and I mean SICK! But I also did not stop running so don’t take my advice for recovery.
There were so many fantastic instances during this race and so many lessons learned. Here are the HIGHLIGHTS!
The GRAPES
COOLEST GESTURE EVER! Since the race was local and ran through many neighborhoods, it happened to run through a woman’s neighborhood who takes my group fitness classes! She’s the sweetest!) The day before she had asked me if I wanted her to hand me a snack as I ran by, I replied yes! How about grapes? GRAPES ARE MY FAVORITE.
Guess what happened at mile 5? I GOT A VINE OF GRAPES! Don’t tell me that’s not the best thing ever running around with a vine of grapes and snacking for 13.1 miles. The race team took a photo of me holding the vine (picture yet to come). So GINORMOUS shout out to her!
Just changed one phrase
There was something about this race that stood out more than any it has in any other race. I first decided to change how I would think through the miles of the race. Rather than counting miles and counting minutes, I decided to repeat to myself “I believe I can do this” NOT “I can do this.” During races, a lot of runner’s pep talk themselves, I know I always do. Something changed when adding the extra phrase at the beginning. It gave me more strength, POWER, and energy to run. Call me crazy, but nobody understands the power within us until you believe in yourself and I finally realized it at this perfect moment.
This is where the story becomes eerie. . .
Everything happens for a reason, you just have to pay close attention
Along with saying I believe, I told myself, if it’s meant to be, I will find more energy to give it my all in this last 2 miles. Which I did. Moments after thinking this, I stumbled upon a group of runners in GREEN, who were the sweetest runners that talked to me through the rest of the way. This was my saving grace and if it wasn’t for them, I would have fallen off pace fast.
Friends are made at mile 10
Again after saying I believe and thinking I need to believe in something bigger than just myself to get through this, I found a group. The amazing part about this group was 2 out of 3 of them were not actually signed up for the race, but helping their friend through the race on a rough day (SWEETEST NOTION EVER). They paced with her, talked to her, and kept her going, I would say they were the best cheerleaders I’ve ever seen! Although she claimed she had a rough race, she was doing incredible and faster than I could do on a good day! Major shout out to her for pushing through!
Focusing back on the group, what stood out the most was the power within the group. Reflecting earlier on finding the power in ourselves, well there is also more power in numbers. It takes individual power to get the courage to take the step and take action, but it takes a group to create power to push you to places you never thought you could go. This was one of the most beautiful parts about this race, realizing that your power may be limited, but power in numbers is unlimited.
The Following is a mile by mile break down. I know a lot of you can relate.
- Mile 1: I’m definitely still sick and my body is fatigued…
- Mile 2: I’m feeling better and I’m somehow holding a 7’15” pace!
- Mile 3: Crap. The next pace group caught up to me
- Mile 4: Where did this rain come from?!
- Mile 5: I GOT MY GRAPES
- Mile 6: WHY IS THE WIND SO STRONG ON THE WAY DOWN
- Mile 7: I should have packed my swim suit for how deep these puddles are!
- Mile 8: I have used up every carb in my body why is this race so long!
- Mile 9: When I get home I am going to take a Loooonngg nap to get over being sick
- Mile 10: 3 more miles let’s go!!!! I believe I can do this! Let’s PR today!
- Mile 11: New Friends! I love people that run, how can they talk running so fast?!
- Mile 12: Oh no another causeway, but the wind is on our side!
- Mile 13: THANK THE LORD WTF (WHERE IS THE FINISH)?!
Did I mention I ran 4 miles after this to count for my 17 mile long run? That happened and now it’s time to ice the legs!
So overall, if you’re located in Melbourne and looking for a great half to run, look into this for next year! Plenty of time to plan and train, plus its relatively flat other than the causeways!
EVOACTIVE 