Wow...where to start with this one! It seems like the races and the running keep on getting better and better. The Heels and Hills Half Marathon was one that I have been looking forward to for a while. I have become friends with one of the race directors, Libby Jones, through Facebook and just running into her at various running events here and there. I know how hard she and Paula (founder/co-director) work to put on a great event for us. It has to be the most friendly race in town and that is all a part of Libby and Paula's mission.
I had a great time volunteering at the packet pick-up on Saturday afternoon. The time flew by so fast as I was kept quite busy selling parking passes, cute pink socks, shirts, and just answering general questions about the race. I had heard from Libby that this race would have pace groups and that those pace leaders would all be men in running skirts. I think that this is an awesome touch as most of the runners in the Hills and Heels Half are women. My non-running friends always look at me with a question mark when I mention that a race had pacers. These runners will run the race in a designated time (the groups usually go in 5-10 minute intervals) and will help the runners to meet their race goals. They do exactly what their name says--pace the run. I met Mark, one of the fabulous men in skirts, at the packet pick-up. In talking with him, I learned that he would be pacing 1:50-1:55, which just happens to be my time these days.
Sunday morning came early, as they all do. We got there with plenty of time to spare and wandered around for a bit while waiting for the start. Erik helped pass out timing chips in the parking garage and I was on my own for the start of the race. The weather was near perfect, which I was so grateful for--no replays of the Grasslands Trail Half today! I had a great place at the start and quickly settled into a good pace. I noticed that Mark was there with the 1:55 group and I tried to stay just a little bit ahead of them. I was hoping to run somewhere around 1:53 as it would be enough to put me just ahead of Erik's half marathon PR. See, we are always competing with each other for the "Kennemer Household Half Marathon PR". I felt that I had a great opportunity to capture the title because this race was very flat (despite the name) and the weather was so nice.
I stayed somewhere near the 1:55 group for most of the race. Sometimes I got ahead of them and sometimes I was just behind them. I was having a great run though, it was really going by fast and I didn't feel as tired as I did at the Big D Half three weeks ago. I was thrilled to look up at mile 10 and see Erik, Mary, and Debra holding signs and cheering for me. This was my 13th half marathon and it was the 1st time that anyone made signs for me! They made me smile and really gave me a little boost. Shout out to Erik, Mary, and Debra for your excellent spectating!
Just after mile 10 I noticed that I was the only one running with Mark and that the 1:55 group had become a group of just me. Mark told me to just run and that he would stay with me until the end. I felt like a new PR was easily within reach and I was still hoping to get a 1:53 and the Kennemer Household Half Marathon PR. Those last few miles were great, but at the same time I felt as if the finish line would never come. There was one last corner before the final stretch and it felt like I would never see that corner. Seriously, it didn't seem that far on the way out! I also noted how tired that I felt and remembered thinking that I must be slowing down....and then thinking that I couldn't slow down because I didn't want Mark to think that I was slow! When we finally rounded the last corner and entered the home stretch, he pointed to a girl ahead of me and told me to pass her. I wish that I could have seen the look on my face because I was quite sure that he was out of his mind at that point. I was not totally sure how I was going to find the energy to run across the finish line in front of my friends and husband much less PASS someone!! Remember that blog from two weeks ago about indomitable will? Well I think that I must have found my indomitable will because I crossed the finish line strong and the pictures show that I was a step or so ahead of that girl. Who knew!
I usually check my time right away and notice the clock as I come across the line, but I didn't this time. I must have been too focused on passing that girl and/or so happy to NOT be running. Because when Mark called my attention to my watch I was thrilled and shocked and excited and amazed all at the same time, because I looked at my watch and it said 1:51:35. I didn't just beat my 3 week old PR...I beat it by 3 minutes and some change!! I also learned that we were clicking along at a quick pace those last 3 miles. This is when Mark told me that we were speeding up during those at the end...holy cow! Again, I ask, who knew!! I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Mark for believing in me when I wouldn't have believed in myself. I needed that little push to show me just what I was capable of achieving. Perhaps a little part of me has been afraid of going faster and just needed a little help.
In November 2008 I ran my 1st half marathon in 2:25. My goal for 2009 was to run a half marathon in 2 hours. I was beyond thrilled when I ran one in 2:00:26 in early November 2009. I thought that my goal had been met and that I would be a nice two hour half marathon runner. Then I ran White Rock in 1:57 and I was thrilled and thought that I would be a nice little runner who ran could run a half in around 2 hours. Then I ran Big D in 1:54 and I thought that I might be a runner who worked hard and could manage 1:55 during most races. Then Heels and Hills came along and I ran 1:51 and I am daring to dream of what could be...
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