Another Medal for My Shadowbox

My current finisher's medal count it up to 8!

I had one of the best runs I've ever had. Usually, I decide the quality of my run on my speed/time, but today I didn't. I couldn't, really, since I was injured, but the injury wasn't so bad.

My time was (according to the Garmin) 3:15:05. This was my slowest half-marathon, with VA Beach coming in a close second at 3:12. Originally, I wanted to complete it in 2:45, but those hopes flew out the window with my running accident 3 weeks ago. When I picked up my race packet, my hope was to finish. When I arrived at GRB, my hope was to finish without hurting myself. When I lined up in my corral, my hope was to finish without hurting myself.

Not only did I finish, I finished without hurting myself, and I had a fantastic time! Yes, I did run. No, I did not run the whole way, nor did I run nearly as much as I usually do, and the jogging was very slow. I started out jogging 2 minutes, walking 3. As the miles passed by, I upped my jogging to 2:30 and walking 2:30. Finally, in the last 4 miles or so, I upped my jogging to 3 minutes and walking 2 minutes. I used good judgement and if I started to hurt, I walked. I stopped and chatted with friends, I played tag/catch with a couple of people around me, I was in good spirits. AND I managed to have a pretty even pace throughout, which rarely happens.

Mile 1 - 14:59
Mile 2 - 14:57
Mile 3 - 14:51
Mile 4 - 14:09
Mile 5 - 14:35
Mile 6 - 14:39
Mile 7 - 14:17
Mile 8 - 15:00
Mile 9 - 15:04
Mile 10 - 14:41
Mile 11 - 14:53
Mile 12 - 15:09
Mile 13 - 16:29 (I stopped to chat with Coach Bill)
Mile .1 - 1:19

I felt good, my knee ached a bit but nothing serious. Finishing in 3:15 makes me very happy. The time flew by, never did I want to quit and never did I think I was going to (although I did tell my Mom and the Sailor that I would quit even at mile 1 if my knee hurt). I was busted by TNT Erin and Carmen at mile 10, who shouted "Erica! Why are you running! You need to walk! I'm going to tell your Mom!" But I swear, I wasn't going fast and I was very cognizant of every step my knee took.

Also, keeping in mind that I haven't run AT ALL in three weeks... I'm pretty damn proud of myself!

Even afterwards, my knee only stiffened up a bit. The stairs hurt a bit, but not as much as you'd think after jogging/walking 13.1 miles. I'm fine.

Despite the fact that I feel very happy about my run, I will not run again for at least a week. I'm taking a break and will pay attention to my knee, only running again after there is no pain whatsoever. And even after I stop hurting, I plan on running 3 or 4 times a week, 3 miles at a time. I'm going to keep having fun.

Congratulations, by the way, to Steve B., Steeeeve, Barbara, Bill, Cassie, Jessica, Beverly (who shook hands with President George Bush (42, not current), who was shaking hands with some finishers with Barbara for a bit), April, Jill, and anyone I might have forgotten. And a BIG congratulations to Junebug and Vic - they did it! They finished their first marathon!

I'll end with a statement I saw on one of the runner's shirt:
"Marathonning: When desire overcomes reason."

Cheers!