let me go out, like a ginger in the sun.

Well, i ran the get lucky half marathon yesterday.  Although when i say ran, i am guessing that i walked about a third of it.  Lets start at the begining-


I knew it was going to be hot.  We were on track for our 5th 80 degree day in a row.  You know, in March.  (this 80 degree heat wave will most likely go on until this thursday, fyi.  screw you weather.)  I was extremely concerned.  I ran outside all week trying to acclimate myself, but the runs all ended in vomiting, getting cut short, and fatigue.  Some people do well in the heat- i am not one of them.  


Some of the issues i was concerned about - With the heat comes terrible allergies - i have been a mess all week (which means even MORE snot rocketing!).  I have terrible issues with dehydration - salt just pours out of my body and it quickly becomes a shit show.  My resting heart rate is about 50 bpm higher than it should be.  I have no idea why, its always been that way (and rarely gives me problems.)  When it gets hot though - forget about it.  My main goal is to keep my heart rate below 200 bpm whenever i run.  And lastly - I WAS NOT ACCLIMATED! I have been training in freezing cold weather!  It's only March!


When i first woke up Sunday morning, i really thought things might go ok.  The said it would be cloudy and stay in the 60's until noon.  It was even supposed to rain!  I LOVE rain when its hot.  Maybe i was lucky.  Well, they said a lot of things, but THEY LIED!

Running with other bloggers is basically as cool as winning the race.

Matt and i hopped on the blue line at quarter to 8 and it was already warm.  The race had a 9am start - which is super late for a summer day!  (which then i realized it's still winter, so it probably sounded like a great start time when they planned this...)  I wanted to get there with enough time to meet up with Kelly.  It was easy to find her, and the whole start of the race went pretty smoothly (there were only about 400 people running the half marathon!)  It was hot, but i felt good.  I had eaten a TON of soy sauce the night before, and was carrying a few extra pounds of water for the race.  I had Kelly, who is faster than me to motivate me, and the promise of cloud cover.  Most of my medium long runs have been at about a 9:20 pace - i could totally still run a 2 hour half marathon. 

Me, dreaming of a PR.

The first mile was around a portion of grant park, so we still had some shade.  After that, we transferred to  the lakefront path for an out and back to the south.  The first four miles of this race we were really on pace.  We were running sub 9-minute miles, and still chatting and having a good time.  Being on the bike path, there was no shade at all.  And all that cloud cover they mentioned?  not there.  It was burning hot sun, all up in your face.  And on top of that, the first water station wasn't until almost mile 4.  Thats bananas!  I had sweat out a pound already by then!

Feeling great for the first mile!

By the time we hit mile four, the heat was already slowing us down.  My 2 hour half marathon said goodbye, and promised to visit another time.  At this point, i figured a 2:10 to 2:15 was more reasonable of a goal.  We had to slow down because of the heat.  I started monitoring my heart rate diligently, and it remained above 200 bpm the ENTIRE RACE, except for the frequent walk breaks.  I am not doctor, but that is just not good.  Kelly really kept me going, because the heat was breaking me down.  I as so upset with myself for not being able to run to my normal abilities.  On multiple times i told Kelly she could go ahead, because she could have gotten a much better time without me, but she stuck by my side, and talked to me even when i was no fun to talk to (this implies that sometimes i am fun to talk to.  I assure you, it's not true.)


After the turn around at mile 7, i had to stop to walk for about a minute almost every half mile.  This is where the heat really got to me.  I knew i was dehydrated, but the water i was drinking was just sloshing around in my stomach, and NOT HYDRATING ME.  I needed electrolytes, but all they had on the course was powerade.


***you might be asking yourself right now if i actually typed powerade.  Yes, yes i did.  Apparently it still exists.  I half expected to see mello yellow and zima at the sequential aid stations.  Powerade?  You have got to be kidding me.***


By mile nine i was feeling very sick to my stomach.  At this point, i mentally promised myself to never ever run again as long as i did not throw up on Kelly, because then she wouldn't be friends with me.  I no longer cared about the time, i just wanted to finish the race and not throw up in front of people.  I had a gu, but i started gagging at the thought of it. I just kept running and walking, totally on empty, but not throwing up on anyone.  We talked about cold things - bomb pops, margaritas, lemon shake-ups at carnivals.  Anything to not think about how hot we were.  Luckily, the city had opened a few of the water fountains early, and the water inside them was ice cold.  It felt so amazing just to splash it on my face.


The last mile was super hard for me because my body was done.  I was so dehydrated, and running on zero fuel.  I wanted to lay down in the shade.  I saw Matt at the last half mile and he ran with us up until the finish line!  I wanted to take a minute to acknowledge all the people that finish the race, and then come back onto the course for the last quarter mile to cheer people on.  They have their medals on, and they just shout things like "finish strong" and "seriously, the finish is right around the corner".  That actually really helps me, and having all those people shout really encouraged me to finish strong.  That and knowing that once i finish i could stop running and get out of the heat.  It was also at this time i realized that i am a ginger, that has just been sizzling in the sun for 2 hours.  Yeah, i have a brutal sunburn.

The last half mile

This was a hard race for me, just because i struggle in the heat, especially when i am not used to it.  i felt like i had been tricked into running a half marathon in Texas.  (the temp got up to 82 that day, fyi)  Having Kelly there was so awesome, and i really think i might have just quit without her, because i felt really, REALLY sick the last 4 miles.  We finished the race in 2:12 - which turned about to be the average finishing time for all the runners! that was exciting - normally i am much slower than the average finishing time. 

the medal makes it worth it.

After i got home, i was reflecting on the race with Matt.  I was really upset that my time goal had gone out the window.  Part of me knows that i can run a sub-two hour half, and is mad that i haven't done it yet.  The other part of me is scared that maybe i really can't run that fast.  Maybe it will never happen...
Maybe i really do suck at running.

my fan club

Either way, it was the first race of the season.  And i would rather have gotten to run the race with Kelly then have gotten the time i wanted, i know that for sure.  I think Flying Pig will be my redemption race! And, while i didn't get my dream time yesterday, My friend Keren did!  She basically rocked the face right off of the NYC half marathon.  Rocked it right off!  So congrats Keren!!  Race seasons has officially started!!

Clucky says: "Let the games begin, bitches!!"