My always supportive hubby. Idn't he cute?
Getting our laugh on before the bullhorn sounded.This run was way more low-key than the Thunder Road, with about 5,000 fewer people. As the saying goes, "Without the University, Gainesville is nothing but a cow field." So the fact that there were a few hundred people there wasn't surprising. In fact, it was refreshing not to be so cramped!
The bullhorn went off a few minutes past 7:00 and we shuffled across the start line. Thus began my 13.1 mile journey through the small town that was once my home.
Our first landmark was the 'iconic' 34th Street Wall. The race description says this wall is "where thousands of UF students and Gainesville residents have commemorated important events in their lives and in the community." Translation: The only place in the state of Florida where graffiti is not only legal, but encouraged. Allegedly, there's something like 4 inches of paint built up from over the years...
Then we passed a bike store that use to be my all time favorite running store (they sold shoes for cheeeaaaap!). Nostalgia begins. We get going for a few miles before turning on to the dreaded 16th Ave. Again, as the race description put it, "you’ll be challenged by the historic hills of 16th Avenue, a popular training route of Frank Shorter who won the 1972 Olympic gold medal in the marathon." Yeah, they weren't kidding.
At mile marker 4, there was a sign that said, "Most people won't ever make it this far." For some reason, that stuck with me. I guess I've been so immersed in my own runner's thoughts, running blogs, and Runners World that I lost sight of what the general public thinks of distance running. It's true, so few people run a distance over 5k. I was feeling pretty good about myself. And then I ran up the first hill.
And then another hill, and another hill, and another hill.... in all honesty, I was getting a little worried that I had gone out too fast, should have walked more, and I wasn't prepared for the heat and humidity. Everything was getting tired and my hip was starting to hurt. Finally, the abuse stopped as we rounded the corner where our pit crew was stationed. Ahhh flat land!
The bullhorn went off a few minutes past 7:00 and we shuffled across the start line. Thus began my 13.1 mile journey through the small town that was once my home.Our first landmark was the 'iconic' 34th Street Wall. The race description says this wall is "where thousands of UF students and Gainesville residents have commemorated important events in their lives and in the community." Translation: The only place in the state of Florida where graffiti is not only legal, but encouraged. Allegedly, there's something like 4 inches of paint built up from over the years...
Then we passed a bike store that use to be my all time favorite running store (they sold shoes for cheeeaaaap!). Nostalgia begins. We get going for a few miles before turning on to the dreaded 16th Ave. Again, as the race description put it, "you’ll be challenged by the historic hills of 16th Avenue, a popular training route of Frank Shorter who won the 1972 Olympic gold medal in the marathon." Yeah, they weren't kidding.
At mile marker 4, there was a sign that said, "Most people won't ever make it this far." For some reason, that stuck with me. I guess I've been so immersed in my own runner's thoughts, running blogs, and Runners World that I lost sight of what the general public thinks of distance running. It's true, so few people run a distance over 5k. I was feeling pretty good about myself. And then I ran up the first hill.
And then another hill, and another hill, and another hill.... in all honesty, I was getting a little worried that I had gone out too fast, should have walked more, and I wasn't prepared for the heat and humidity. Everything was getting tired and my hip was starting to hurt. Finally, the abuse stopped as we rounded the corner where our pit crew was stationed. Ahhh flat land!
See how pretty Gainesville is??? Alachua county is one of the poorest counties in Florida. This is because most of its residents are college students who aren't really "residents." Or next journey took us behind the house I rented with two friends for a summer, and on into "Duck Pond." Ironically, I didn't see any ducks. (No duck soup, either)
We were suppose to go through the downtown (I use this term loosely) but I don't think we actually did. After Duck Pond, we crossed into student housing and then Sorority Row. I think this was around mile 9 or so. I tried to eat a bite of my Clif bar, but never took long enough walk breaks to really get anything down. I was definitely going at a faster pace than my training runs. We were keeping a fairly consistent 10 something pace, and even though my body was slowing down, my mind was so happy with my time that I kept pushing. When I stopped to walk, I didn't walk for too long. I just can't stand people passing me!
I also felt the heat radiating off my body everytime I stopped running, which reminded me of how soft these Northern winters have made me! But by any Floridian standards, it was a nice day. At mile 10, I said something to the tune of, "Only a 5k left!" There was an older gentleman we'd been running with that appreciated that. Well, at least I had encouraged one person. When we got to the 13th Street Tunnel (left) I knew the end was in sight. On the other side of this picturesque tunnel lies the beautiful UF Campus. 11 miles down, 2 to go.
We ran past the music buildings (oooooh memories), Century Tower, the University Auditorium... I'll stop reminiscing now. We ran through campus, waved hello to all the campus police who had taken the day off from ticketing bicyclist who run stop signs (no kidding) and started coming up on The Swamp. Any self-respecting college football guru knows The Swamp, and it is perhaps the most sacred place on any college campus (and I'm completely biased!). There was an aid station right before our course brought us into the stadium that had Girl Scouts holding the most glorious bowl of Thin Mints- I could smell them before I could see them! Smelling was all I was capable of, I'm afraid.
We were looking at the bowl of cookies... they smelled SO good! See the blue shirt guy behind us? He was getting his Thin Mints on.
Yeah, we're goofy. I love running with my dad! This is us coming out of the stadium. I think he had just finished singing. He's done so many races and run for so long, he knows just what to say or do (or sing) to get me going again.
Shortly after this picture was taken, I finished the last of my Gatorade and was able to con some off my dad (can you see the hydration pack he's got around his waist?). It definitely helped to get some more fluid down (I had been rationing for the past half hour). Even still, I was feeling pretty beat. I was entering the stage of just wanting to get it over with.
Remember that guy who I was able to encourage with my 5k comment? He turned around and looked me dead in the eyes and said, "You got this. Go!" He'll probably never know it, but that is what carried me through to the finish line. At mile 12, I wanted so badly to stop and take a walk break, but with the finish line "just around the corner" I kept telling myself "you'll walk when you finish!"
After what seemed like an eternity, I started hearing the DJ and music. I looked over and saw my in-laws, cheering us on! Everything started happening in slow motion and I could hear the Rocky theme off in the distance... ok not really. But we did finish in 2:13:56! That's 10 minutes faster than my previous Half!
I had such a great time at this run, partly because it went through my old stomping grounds, and partly because I got to run it with my Dad. I gave it my all and had a blast. Now, I can't wait to incorporate more tempo and interval runs into my training to see what I can do for the next one!
We were suppose to go through the downtown (I use this term loosely) but I don't think we actually did. After Duck Pond, we crossed into student housing and then Sorority Row. I think this was around mile 9 or so. I tried to eat a bite of my Clif bar, but never took long enough walk breaks to really get anything down. I was definitely going at a faster pace than my training runs. We were keeping a fairly consistent 10 something pace, and even though my body was slowing down, my mind was so happy with my time that I kept pushing. When I stopped to walk, I didn't walk for too long. I just can't stand people passing me!
I also felt the heat radiating off my body everytime I stopped running, which reminded me of how soft these Northern winters have made me! But by any Floridian standards, it was a nice day. At mile 10, I said something to the tune of, "Only a 5k left!" There was an older gentleman we'd been running with that appreciated that. Well, at least I had encouraged one person. When we got to the 13th Street Tunnel (left) I knew the end was in sight. On the other side of this picturesque tunnel lies the beautiful UF Campus. 11 miles down, 2 to go.We ran past the music buildings (oooooh memories), Century Tower, the University Auditorium... I'll stop reminiscing now. We ran through campus, waved hello to all the campus police who had taken the day off from ticketing bicyclist who run stop signs (no kidding) and started coming up on The Swamp. Any self-respecting college football guru knows The Swamp, and it is perhaps the most sacred place on any college campus (and I'm completely biased!). There was an aid station right before our course brought us into the stadium that had Girl Scouts holding the most glorious bowl of Thin Mints- I could smell them before I could see them! Smelling was all I was capable of, I'm afraid.
We were looking at the bowl of cookies... they smelled SO good! See the blue shirt guy behind us? He was getting his Thin Mints on.Unbeknown to me, one of my dad's ultrarunning buddies had come to cheer us on. She took the above picture and a few others of us leaving the stadium. It was a nice pick me up to see her!
Yeah, we're goofy. I love running with my dad! This is us coming out of the stadium. I think he had just finished singing. He's done so many races and run for so long, he knows just what to say or do (or sing) to get me going again.Shortly after this picture was taken, I finished the last of my Gatorade and was able to con some off my dad (can you see the hydration pack he's got around his waist?). It definitely helped to get some more fluid down (I had been rationing for the past half hour). Even still, I was feeling pretty beat. I was entering the stage of just wanting to get it over with.
Remember that guy who I was able to encourage with my 5k comment? He turned around and looked me dead in the eyes and said, "You got this. Go!" He'll probably never know it, but that is what carried me through to the finish line. At mile 12, I wanted so badly to stop and take a walk break, but with the finish line "just around the corner" I kept telling myself "you'll walk when you finish!"
After what seemed like an eternity, I started hearing the DJ and music. I looked over and saw my in-laws, cheering us on! Everything started happening in slow motion and I could hear the Rocky theme off in the distance... ok not really. But we did finish in 2:13:56! That's 10 minutes faster than my previous Half!
I had such a great time at this run, partly because it went through my old stomping grounds, and partly because I got to run it with my Dad. I gave it my all and had a blast. Now, I can't wait to incorporate more tempo and interval runs into my training to see what I can do for the next one!
Yay! Awesome job! I was the same way with my half marathons, I took huge chunks of time off each one. It's a great feeling to beat your time, isn't it??
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