Shamrock Anthem Half Marathon March 20, 2011

Cold to start the morning. Add in a howling wind off the ocean and it had to be below 40. Maybe. I chose to wear shorts and a long sleeved shirt because last year I was dying in the heat coming into the finish. That meant at start I was freezing.

Corral 1 feels like pressure in some respect. It starts right after the elites and is supposed to be racers finishing under 1:50:00. Now, I have yet to run a half marathon in excess of 1:50:00 but somehow the corral premise makes it feel more serious. So I kiss Colleen and Haylie and shiver my way to the starting line. The race starts and suddenly nothing else matters.

I read some dumb quote that said the first and last mile were the hardest. Despite still believing it to be dumb, it seems to be somewhat profound. He first mile today, though, seemed like the first mile was trivial. I don't know what that will mean at the time, but I felt good about cranking the first mile.

Miles seem to pass without much issue. I hit mile 5 and I'm ahead of my pace. Confidence is never good though for me when I'm in one of these. Sure enough, mile 6 and not only has the bronchitis kicked in with snot rockets and phlegm, but now I have abdominal cramps. Can't tell if it is just gas or worse, but the pain slows
my pace and by the time I hit mile 8 I am behind my goal.

The run through the post is daunting. Only because they have no porta-potties and nowhere to stop. I know at least once I was grunting loudly enough that others had to hear me. I did not care, I just wanted to keep pushing. Mile 11 an it seemed to pass but by then I had lost my shot at 1:40:00 and I knew it. When the 1:45:00 pacer passed me shortly after that, I was just hoping I'd hit under 1:50:00 to justify the corral.

On to the boardwalk and suddenly the cramps are back. But it is now the last mile, I can see the finish line and nothing is going to stop me. I cross and all the angst, pain, and aggravation melts away. I completed #4. I was sick, I had body challenges I had not expected, but I proved this distance is not only achievable, I no longer need to feel 100% to make it. I am stoked!

This year, I wanted to make sure I got my free beer and Irish Stew. It turned out that was one free beer and some really dodgy stew. But it was very satisfying somehow.

Life changes may make this my last Shamrock. I am disappointed more than a little but I will just take a wait and see approach. Life has a funny way of making its own decisions.