Race Report: DSE Half Marathon

In my head, this was a practice run. The days leading up to it, I saw it as a long run. Aiming for 12. Would be happy with 10. PRACTICE run. I pull into the parking lot and there is no one there except for a few of the organizers. Okay. Exactly what I expected for my fake, non-real, non-race Half.

And then more people showed up. Tents went up. More tables were set up. BIBS were handed out. Timers went up. Ummmm...FAKE Half, not so much. I still wasn't nervous. I intended to run the entire thing slow, or at least I would try. My main goal is to rock the Rock-n-roll Half in two weeks. I didn't want to hurt myself. Or overdo it.

I had the honor of running with someone who I see as a total Mommy Athlete Stud, Melissa. Her intentions were similar to mine. Rest legs. PRACTICE run. And then we set out...first mile: under 9 min/mile. Second mile: even faster. Third mile: even faster. Apparently, we are both a little more competitive than we thought.

All was rockin until the first aid station. It was muggy. I was thirsty. I reached out for the Cytomax. Stopped to walk and drink. I have NOT mastered the run and drink thing. At least not the run and drink AND get said liquid in my mouth thing. I Gu. I take off. About a half mile later, around 5 miles in, it hits. THE WORST SIDE STITCH I have ever had. Ever. I couldn't get a full deep breath. I tried to walk it out. Breath it out. It never really went away. I was pissed. And hurting. NO CYTOMAX for this girl, apparently. I ran, walked, jogged the remaining mileage. Feeling good for a stretch and then side lined by the side stitch. More than anything, this makes me completely scared and nervous for race day.

All in all, despite the plethora of walking breaks. Desire to quit. Funny weather: muggy, humid, rain, hot. We managed a respectable 2:09. For me, the fact that I can say I ran 13.1 as a PRACTICE run baffles my mind. A year ago, I would have laughed at you. I would have thought it impossible. And yet, here I sit, slightly frustrated that I know we could have run faster. I'll chalk it up to keeping some in the vault...for the *REAL* Half. Though there was ABSOLUTELY nothing *fake* about the 13.15 miles I ran on Sunday.

All in all, it was an awesome race...WITH goodie bags. For $10, this is a race I would absolutely run again. FASTER.