Sunday, February 1, 2009

Little Engine That Could

Surf City Half Marathon - Race Report



I got dropped off and met with Miss Chic Runner. We lined up with the fasties, cuz she seriously hauls butt. Right when we started, the doubt and pain kicked in. What the HIZ-ELL was I thinking? I mean mile 1, I already had doubts. I told Chic Runner to just go on without me.


I knew this would be a long battle ahead. I tried as hard as I could to keep the negativies away. You know the negativies? Those little green monsters that sit on your shoulders and tell you that you can't do things. I tried everything: blasted my special playlist, sang out loud, looked for hot boys (there were a few for sure!) and even prayed my heart out.

This was the hardest race I have ever run. I felt like I was having a bad acid trip the entire time (not that I would know). My leg hurt, the negativies were eating my brain and time was not moving.

Somehow I pushed through. I wasn't happy with my pace, but I tried to keep it under 9 and just be happy if it stayed under 9. I kept thinking, only 30 mins of running - I can do anything for 30 mins. Only 20 more mins of running - I can do this. Finally my Garmin said 13.1, but I still had about .3 more. I must have swayed like the drunkard I am.

Then finally - it was over!!!! I limped to beer tent and had came out double-fisted. Thank you sweet little baby Jesus for getting me thru this race.





Lessons learned:
  1. Drinking is not training.

  2. Running injured is not smart.

  3. I can do anything I put my mind to.

PS: I pr'd this race by 7 mins from last year!!!!!

PPS: Pokey & Viv came down and took some fun pics - hopefully we'll see those soon. Go read their reports :)

51 comments:

Maddy said...

I'm sorry you were hurting so bad, but a 7 minute PR? That's freakin' fantastic!

I am so happy for you!

Now rest that leg!

Congratulations, I'm in awe!

Blooming Orchid said...

It sounds like it was painful. I'm still impressed! And motivated more than ever. I'm psyched about that PR.

Mrs. Hibit said...

"Drinking is not training."
This seems so simple! I have a bad habit of planning to run, but going to happy hour instead.
Way to persevere through 13 miles of pain - it's inspirational!

Amy - the gazelle said...

Way to go speedy! Rest that leg for awhile before training again (although the drinking/training can continue).

Congrats on the course PR!

Anonymous said...

Way to PR. Now rest up that leg!!

X-Country2 said...

You EARNED that PR! Way to go!

kristen said...

Since when is a 7 min PR a 'bad race'? Great Job girl. It sounds like you did beat the negativies.

Chic Runner said...

Gah, glad it wasn't just me cruising in a weird funk! Now rest that hurt calf for a while! So glad we finally got to meet up too. We will now have to do our long runs together! :)

Jennifer Burgett said...

I don't believe you!
I only wish I could run that fast!

Unknown said...

well done, pom!

the parking was such a nightmare [every lot on pch all the way to newport was FULL and CLOSED] that i had to improvise and ended up nearly sprinting the six miles to the 21 mile marker to pick up my friend. i would have popped over to the half course to cheer for you guys, but i only ended up having about five minutes before he showed up. good news, though, he was on pace to qualify for boston and we pulled off a 3:30.

Aron said...

awesome job!!!! way to push through and finish really strong even with those ugly monsters on your shoulder. now get that leg better!! CONGRATS :)

raulgonemobile said...

Great race.. sorry it was rough for you. Enjoy a few more beers and rest that leg

Run Mommy said...

Drinking is not training - love it. Still looks like a great finish! Also, looks like you gave the ugly monsters a kick in the whatzists..

Amy said...

My God, woman. You are a machine. I still can't believe you finished and 7 minutes faster than last year? *bowing down to your supreme greatness!*

Kelly said...

WOW. A 7min PR injured? I am totally impressed. While not smart to run injured I'm sure, you've got to be happy with this run, right? Way to go!

Kate said...

Way to go POM! Your awesome!

Now will you go get un-injured please!

TonyP said...

Congrats on the PR !

Vandy-Montana said...

I agree with all three of your lessons. With my full coming up in 2.5 months I'm taking a beer/liquor break. Also, I am trying to deal with injuries. Number three is sometimes hard to find, but it's there...

jen said...

Congrats!! Great job pushing through an incredibly difficult race. I do know what you mean about doubts and negative thoughts and that's about as rough as it gets in long races. You did a great job fighting it off and finishing strong. Solidly under 9:00 pace and a PR, awesome. :)

Lauren @ Sassy Molassy said...

Good work! Way to hang in there.

Susan said...

WOW, Speedy! Congrats!

Alisa said...

Running injured, rarely a good idea. Glad you made it in one piece. Even with a course PR--way to go!

Hope you take some time to rehab the leg...don't want to keep re-injuring!

Great work chica!

C said...

Great job, POM!

Victoria said...

Well, perhaps the arm curls you've been doing helped your core strength-- a 7 minute PR is nothing to sneeze at! Nice work!

Romance said...

WTG - I wondered about you all weekend. I am seriously terrified of Austin- not real training here and a week of on my back sick... I am so going to use your approach- 30 minutes just 30 minutes..

Super happy to see your stats

chia said...

Fantastic showing sweetie! I'm going to be living exponentially closer to you now :-). Let me know your race plans for the year, I would love to be there!

RunToTheFinish said...

you did it! not that i had any doubts, you have more guts and more stamina to pull through than just about anyone i've seen. amazing!

can't wait to see what happens with a little training ;)

N.D. said...

for being injured, you did great!

Michelle said...

1.56.11?????

Your kidding me??? That is freaking amazing girlie!!!

Congrats on an amazing race!!! Now start thinking it was amazing!!!!

M

Anne said...

Nice job. I think all those ups and downs of the past couple of months paid off.

Mendy said...

Holy cow. I was totally expecting you to not PR after your initial write-up. Congratulations! 7 min PR! Awesome!!

Robert James Reese said...

Congrats on finishing the race. Getting through those tough runs where everything feels like a disaster takes guts. And, anytime you take home a P.R., you have to be at least a little happy with yourself.

Laurel said...

Riiiiiggghhhttt...you "wouldn't know".

Drinking is not training? I am so screwed.

Dood, I can't believe you PRed. That's insane! With an injury? You are one tough girl. Congrats on the PR.

Unknown said...

That's awesome! Go you!!

Except... drinking is not training? Shoot, I knew I was doing SOMETHING wrong all this time...

The Laminator said...

Wow, you PR'd? Damn, would never have figured given all you had to go through in your training and race. That's pretty awesome, POM. Congrats!

BOBBI McCORMICK said...

woot woot! way to do it girl, I love that you PR'd!!! Sometimes, well I should say most of the time the mental part of the race is the hardest part!!!!!

Jess said...

Congrats on PRing this race even though you were hurt! You are one tough cookie!

Sara said...

wow, great job out there! 7 minute race PR with an injury and not much training is awesome :) congratulations!

Judi said...

and you pr'ed??

you are the shiz!!! can't wait to see some pix. i bet you look great.

now go to yoga and run some more miles.

xxoo-judi

audgepodge said...

WOW! You did amazing! Congrats on your HUGE pr!

Reluctant Runner said...

That's a pretty damned respectable finish time for someone nursing an injury. Congratulations and way to go!!

Heather said...

You are absolutely right. You can -- I can -- we can do anything you put your mind to.

Lisa's Yarns said...

Sheesh you did awesome. I did a marathon in the fall of 2006, got a little cocky & ran a 1/2 that I hadn't trained for in the spring of 2007. It was hell. on. earth. And I certainly DID NOT PR so way to go you!!!

Christie said...

Wow. You actually PR'd? That's awesome. Now get some rest!

Jess said...

I would love to run a HM that fast!

Carolina John said...

hey lookin good girl! you still turned in a really good time, good pr. now ice down that leg.

teacherwoman said...

I hope you are not too sore from running injured! I don't know how you did it! BTW, great job on PR'ing this race!

J~Mom said...

Congrats!! That is an incredible time! So jealous that you got to meet viv and crew!

J said...

Wow! What a great PR!! Congrats!

Viv said...

Awesome job, chickie! You are like in the top 15% of your age group that rocks. There is alot to be said for that too since there are some seriously fast biatches out there.

Julie D said...

Great job on the PR! I totally did the opposite (+4 min to my time last year).