I've been training for a 5k for a couple months, and it's been a bit of a slog. I've never been a great runner, but I have to REALLY push for a 12 minute mile. I average 14 minute miles. I'm traveling this week, and I went down almost 2000' in elevation to Denver. I ran 5k yesterday EASY! 12 minute miles all the way through. No breaks to walk. Felt great the whole time. For a newbie like me, it was a BIG DEAL! It also has been a bit of a confidence boost after comparing myself to a lot of people on the internet. What a big difference oxygen makes! I guess I should be glad I get more bang for my buck at home. 😹

What elevation do you guys run at?? Any other fun altitude-related training stories?

so i’m female 19 in university. i have really bad anxiety. when i run in the day i get men beeping their cars at me, pub men yelling, men yelling out their cars at me, and twice i’ve had men follow me i had already crossed the road twice and gone in a circle. i like running at night between 1am and 6am there is nobody on the roads really no people out and about. i stay safe by running next to houses and by lamp posts so it’s bright. it’s happened 3 times now, and it’s been male teenagers every time. they slow their car down and yell at me. it’s not bad considering their in a car it’s not like their on the pavement with me but it’s really scary for me. it was different this time because they weren’t just yelling they were also taking photos of me their, camera was flashing a bunch i started crying and had a panic attack after it happened but i still managed to complete my 10 miles i am so proud of myself. what im asking for is advice on how to handle these situations better or even maybe a good camera so i can whip it out and take a photo of license plates and be able to report to the police because they drive dangerously at well.

i want to add even though i believe it shouldn’t happen to anyone wearing whatever they want to wear, i cover up i wear a jacket and leggings that aren’t too tight, i’ve got larger boobs so i have a tight sports bra to stop them from bouncing when i run, i do nothing to attract any attention from men i literally keep my head forward and down. i also want to add i don’t like gyms as when i go sometimes i get men coming up to me to chat or they just stare at me or follow me around the gym. i just feel super paranoid at gyms because i feel eyes on me. there’s a women’s only gym section near me but it’s too expensive and too far to travel to. anyone saying i should go in the morning i.e 6am to 9am before my lectures i like doing lecture prep or yoga in the morning and i really don’t want to have change my routine. i also want to add i don’t want to join a run club because i don’t want to talk to people i just want to run by myself as it’s therapeutic to me and i don’t have any friends at uni who would run with me. i also want to add im on medication for my anxiety but i have had not good experiences in the past with men and i just find these situations really scary. i don’t want to stop running or switch it for pilates classes, i’ve finally got into the hang of running and it really positively effects my mind and i can see a big difference in my body.

anyway does anyone have any tips to just get over these situations? make it so it doesn’t bother you? or maybe suggest something i can do to get licence plates quickly? or just tips that help lessen these situations? thank you!

How’s your week of running going? Got any Complaints? Anything to add as a Confession? How about any Uncomplaints?

I am new to outdoor cold weather running. I looked on Amazon and found running tights so ordered a pair to try them out. The pics all showed them being worn with nothing over them, and looked ok.

Yesterday it was cold enough that I tried them out. My 17 year old daughter was flipping out because there was definitely a noticeable bulge up front.

I'm definitely planning to keep these around and break them out when she tries to wear clothes that are too revealing, but does anyone have suggestions for something less revealing?

Edit: Your comments are exactly what I was hoping for! Lots of humor, some that I can show my daughter to embarrass her further, and some actual gear recommendations. Thank you all!

Hey runners, it's another day and it is time to post your accomplishments you'd like to share - big or small.

Note: No need to preface YOUR accomplishments with something like, "this may not be an accomplishment to most of you...". Be proud of your achievement.

With over 3,650,000 subscribers, there are a lot of posts that come in everyday that are often repeats of questions previously asked or covered in the FAQ.

With that in mind, this post can be a place for any questions (especially those that may not deserve their own thread). Hopefully this is successful and helps to lower clutter and repeating posts here.

If you are new to the sub or to running, this Intro post is a good resource.

##As always don't forget to check the FAQ.

####And please take advantage of the search bar or Google's subreddit limited search.

Hello y’all Hope you’re well, I’m wondering what type of lighting I should be looking into purchasing. I have a headlamp, but would like something mounted from my chest, and I’m wondering if this is a valid inquiry.

Again, what lighting do you use and not use. Explanations would be preferred.

Thank you.

Yours In the dark.

Hey runners, it's another day and it is time to post your accomplishments you'd like to share - big or small.

Note: No need to preface YOUR accomplishments with something like, "this may not be an accomplishment to most of you...". Be proud of your achievement.

With over 3,650,000 subscribers, there are a lot of posts that come in everyday that are often repeats of questions previously asked or covered in the FAQ.

With that in mind, this post can be a place for any questions (especially those that may not deserve their own thread). Hopefully this is successful and helps to lower clutter and repeating posts here.

If you are new to the sub or to running, this Intro post is a good resource.

##As always don't forget to check the FAQ.

####And please take advantage of the search bar or Google's subreddit limited search.

It's that time of week already...the gear thread! What have you picked up lately? What's working for you now that it's whatever season you believe it to be in your particular location? What have you put through rigorous testing that's proved worthy of use? We want to know!

To clear up some confusion: We’re not actually asking what you’re wearing today. It’s just a catchy name for the thread. This is the weekly gear discussion thread, so discuss gear!

NOTE: For you Runnitors looking to sell/trade any running gear (as well as bib transfers), head over to /r/therunningrack.

#Would you rather not be a lurker?

Then what are you waiting for? Tell us all about yourself!

The LW thread is an invitation to get more involved with the /r/running community.

New to the sub in general? Welcome! Let us know more about yourself!

So my go-to pieces of running clothing always include pockets. I prefer a sports bra or crop top with a pocket on the back in between my shoulders and bike shorts with at least one pocket on the side. I'm always on the hunt for these items. I decided to make a spreadsheet that includes all the sports bras and crop tops I could find with this type of design. I started doing bike shorts as well, but there are sooo many out there that I don't think I could include them all.

I thought you guys might find this helpful when looking for running gear so here you go! Please let me know if I'm missing anything!! If there are a lot of responses, I might make this public for everyone to add to.

Pocketed Bras/Crops/Bike Shorts

By the time I get off work it is now dark and cold, so I’m looking at picking up a second hand treadmill. What should I be looking for? Anything from brands to red flags or any other tips are very welcome.

I don’t need anything fancy, and probably not more than 7 or 8 MPH max speed. That and I’m on the heavy side, is that something I need to factor in?

(UK based)

Has anyone used Sports Tours International for the New York marathon? I desperately want to run it next year but haven’t had any luck in the ballot over the last few years.

There’s a £200 refundable deposit to ‘pre-register’ but does anyone know the pricing from this year? Or have used them.

Can you pay the money even if you don’t actually stay with them etc. (a very expensive entry route).

Back once again for everything you wanted to know about running but were afraid to ask.

Rules of the Road:

This is inspired by eric_twinge's fine work in r/fitness.

Upvote either good or stupid questions. Sort questions by new so that they get some love.

To the more experienced runnitors, if something is a good question or answer, add it to the FAQ.

Post your question -- stupid or otherwise -- here to get an answer -- stupid or otherwise. Anyone can post a question and the community as a whole is invited and encouraged to provide an answer. Many questions get submitted late each week that don't get a lot of action, so if your question didn't get answered, feel free to post it again.

As always, be sure to read the FAQ first. Also, there's a handy-dandy search bar to your right, and if you didn't know, you can also use Google to search runnit by using the limiter "site:reddit.com r/running".

Be sure to check back often as questions get posted throughout the day. Sort comments by "new" to be sure the newer questions get some love as well.

[Posting on behalf of /u/Percinho who is busy organizing his collection of cabbage patch kids. ]

Hey runners, it's another day and it is time to post your accomplishments you'd like to share - big or small.

Note: No need to preface YOUR accomplishments with something like, "this may not be an accomplishment to most of you...". Be proud of your achievement.

With over 3,650,000 subscribers, there are a lot of posts that come in everyday that are often repeats of questions previously asked or covered in the FAQ.

With that in mind, this post can be a place for any questions (especially those that may not deserve their own thread). Hopefully this is successful and helps to lower clutter and repeating posts here.

If you are new to the sub or to running, this Intro post is a good resource.

##As always don't forget to check the FAQ.

####And please take advantage of the search bar or Google's subreddit limited search.

Rules of the Road

1. Anyone is welcome to participate and share your ideas, plans, diet, and nutrition plans.

2. Promote good discussion. Simply downvoting because you disagree with someone's ideas is BAD. Instead, let them know why you disagree with them.

3. Provide sources if possible. However, anecdotes and "broscience" can lead to good discussion, and are welcome here as long as they are labeled as such.

4. Feel free to talk about anything diet or nutrition related.

5. Any suggestions/topic ideas?

Shoes are a big topic in this sub, so in an effort to condense and collect some of these posts, we're introducing Shoesday Tuesday! Similar to Wednesday's gear thread, but focusing on shoes.

What’ve you been wearing on your feet? Anything fun added to the rotation? Got a review of a new release? Questions about a pair that’s caught your eye? Here's the place to discuss.

NOTE: For you Runnitors looking to sell/trade any running gear (as well as bib transfers), head over to /r/therunningrack.

Race Information

• Name: Indianapolis Monumental Marathon
• Date: 11/9/2024
• Distance: 26.2 miles
• Location: Indianapolis, IN
• Time: 3:44:09

Goals

Splits

Training

I returned to running in the spring of 2024 after a decade+ long hiatus. I ran the Eugene Marathon in the spring in 3:58:49, so I started with a decent base. My goal for a fall marathon was to really push myself... I say this because most marathons I've run, I've ended the race feeling 'good'. I would basically just run at a pace that felt 'comfortable' and try to push through the fatigue that would ultimately hit later in the race. Through this forum and friends, I've since learned that the marathon is still a race :) and that your pace should reflect that.... races are not 'comfortable' or easy. I went into this training block and this race with that mindset. I never really had a true time goal in mind... I just wanted to push myself to the edge of my fitness and see what would happen.

I hired a coach, upped my mileage, ran mostly 'easy' runs, and had a dedicated track/speed session each week. I peaked at 50 miles (up from 40ish in my last block) and had 8 weeks that surpassed the 40-mile threshold. My typical week was as follows:

Monday: Medium Long Run (ranging from 6-12 miles depending where I was in the training block) around a 9:45-10:15min/mile pace + lower body strength

Tuesday: 4-6 mile recovery run (10:30-11:00 min/mile pace)

Wednesday: full body strength

Thursday: 8-mile quality workout (typically at the track) - this would consist of a 1-2 mile warm up/cool down and about 5 miles of speed work

Friday: 3-4 mile recovery run (10:30-11:00 min/mile pace)

Saturday: Long run - I ultimately ran 3 20-milers and 1 22-miler. 2 of the 3 20-milers had pace work. All other long runs were run between a 9:55-10:30 min/mile

Pre-Race

I had a call with my coach on Tuesday before the race and he hit me with a race plan that had me finishing at 3:44:40. Sub-3:45 never really crossed my mind until a few weeks before taper. I had a very strong 20-mile workout. My coach felt confident in 3:45. I, on the other hand, didn't think that would be possible and wanted to shoot for a 3:50. That said, my A goal was to really push myself... I decided to trust my coach and my training and committed to the 3:45 game plan. WILD! At this point, I still couldn't comprehend how running a majority of my training miles at a 10:00min/mile or slower would somehow translate into 26.2 miles at an 8:33 pace.

Race

The plan was to run the first three miles 20-30 seconds slower than goal pace (8:33ish). By mile 4 I was to settle into goal pace. This went relatively according to plan, although miles 2 and 3 were a little quicker than expected. I used miles 4-10 to really settle into a rhythm. My coach told me that these miles would dictate the rest of the race... if goal pace felt too hard and my body felt more comfortable running an 8:45, then that was okay and this would be the point in the race where I'd make that decision. I'll be honest, the pace didn't feel super comfortable and around mile 7 I gave myself permission to slow down... that said, the miles kept ticking by and I kept hitting goal pace. By the time I hit mile 11 I had mentally committed to running 8:33's and just seeing what happened.

At mile 12 I hit a water stop that was fairly understaffed. I ultimately had to STOP and pick up water at a table. You know how your legs feel when you end a long run and they start to seize up? This happened to me at the water stop.... at mile 12. My legs just felt heavy and tired. At this point, I thought I was in for a rude awakening for the rest of the race. Oddly enough, my legs never really got more tired as the race went on? The level of fatigue I felt at mile 12 stayed with me throughout, but didn't get much worse. The next few miles were a bit of a blur. When I hit mile 16, I told myself that I just needed to 'do my job' and get to mile 20.

When I hit mile 20, that's when mantra's really helped. There was carnage all around with people walking and cramping up. I kept my head down and told myself "when it hurts, push harder" - I had started to pick up the pace a tinnnnny bit. Strangely, 8:35's were hurting, but 8:25's-8:30's felt a bit easier... almost like it was the natural rhythm my body wanted to run. While my legs didn't "hurt" I was definitely starting to feel the overall fatigue.

I saw my husband and friend at mile 23.5 and this gave me SUCH a mental boost. Seeing them gave me newfound energy and really helped me pick up the pace. I saw them again at mile 25 and the same thing happened. It wasn't until mile 25 when I realized that I could possibly break 3:45. At this point, I had just shy of 10 minutes to run 1.2 miles. Anything can happen that late in the game, so I cautiously picked up the pace even more. I caught up with the 3:45 pacer at mile 25.5 (who I started behind) and asked if he was on pace. He said he was so I kept at it. I rounded the final corners and gave it a bit of a sprint (although looking at the video my "sprint" was definitely more of a "plod")... I stopped my watch and honestly didn't look at it. I immediately found my husband and he told me my finish time... 3:44:09. I couldn't believe it! I still can't believe it.

If you've made it this far, thanks for reading. I wanted to write this recap for those who doubt that 'running easy' a majority of the time can lead to faster race times. I'm proof of it :)

### Race Information

* **Name:** Madison Marathon

* **Date:** November 10, 2024

* **Distance:** 26.2 miles

* **Location:** Madison, Wisconsin

* **Website:** https://madisonmarathon.org/races/

* **Time:** 4:48:45

### Goals

| Goal | Description | Completed? |

|------|-------------|------------|

| A | Sub 4:40 | *No* |

| B | Sub 5:00 | *Yes* |

| C | Finish | *Yes* |

### Splits

| Mile | Time |

|------|------|

| 1 | 10:21

| 2 | 10:36

| 3 | 10:29

| 4 | 10:31

| 5 | 10:41

| 6 | 10:52

| 7 | 10:52

| 8 | 10:19

| 9 | 10:39

| 10 | 10:21

| 11 | 10:29

| 12 | 10:19

| 13 | 10:14

| 14 | 10:24

| 15 | 10:24

| 16 | 10:19

| 17 | 10:34

| 18 | 10:26

| 19 | 11:00

| 20 | 11:11

| 21 | 11:19

| 22 | 11:52

| 23 | 12:22

| 24 | 12:02

| 25 | 12:08

| 26 | 12:46

| 27 | 4:35

### Training

I (30F) started running during the pandemic, beginning from a place of not even being able to run one mile. I worked my way up to a half marathon in fall 2022 (2:18). I really wanted to run sub-2, despite being nowhere near sub-2 shape, and ended up going out way too fast trying to catch the 2 hour pacers. I spent the second half of the race on the phone with my husband crying and begging him to tell me not to quit. A lot of lessons learned from that experience lol. In fall 2023, I spectated the Chicago Marathon with a friend, and we decided we would run it the next year (fall 2024). I decided to do another half in the spring of 2024 as a buildup to the marathon and managed a PR of 2:11, despite run/walking the last three miles because I was very over it mentally: better than my first half, but I was still obsessing about time rather than having fun. I knew my main goal for the marathon needed to be just to have fun and finish and that whatever pace I decided to go at needed to be reasonable and in accordance with my fitness. I didn't follow a formal training plan but pulled from a lot of sources: Jack Daniels, Hal Higdon, and my Garmin DSWs. I prioritized building a base of 30-35 mpw and getting my weekly long run in. I averaged 5-6 runs per week, with at least one session of intervals or a threshold run each week and a few tempo miles during my long runs. I was feeling pretty good until I got COVID about a month before the race. My husband has Long-COVID, so I know first-hand how dangerous the disease can be, especially when mixed with intense exercise. My symptoms were very mild, but I still took an entire week off from running, costing me my two longest runs (including my only 20-miler) and my peak week of training. I decided I didn't feel comfortable attempting my first marathon so soon after COVID and with my longest run being 18 miles five weeks out, so I got a note from my doctor to refund my registration and decided to do the Madison Marathon instead since it was a month later and would give me a chance to get in a few more weeks of solid training. Of course, I researched the Madison Marathon AFTER already registering and realized that it's incredibly hilly. Rather than freak out though, I decided to hit as many hills as possible in the few weeks of training I had left, even squeezing in a little more elevation during my 20 mile run than would be in the race overall. I felt FANTASTIC. Even better than I did a month out from Chicago. I felt really strong and prepared going into my taper.

### Pre-race

I started increasing my carb intake during race week and hydrating like crazy. I prioritized sleep and baths and foam rolling, as much recovery as I could. (I was a little nervous about working the polls the Tuesday before the race, but it didn't seem to mess with my recovery too bad.) My husband and I drove to Madison (a little over an hour) the day before the race, and I hit up the expo. I gotta say, this was one of the best organized and well executed races I've attended! They got through a line of probably 1,000 people very quickly and efficiently. I was super impressed. (The race itself was also very well organized.) I got my bib and shirt (AWESOME shirts, too! Lightweight long-sleeve tech shirts in a beautiful blue color. The women's shirts are fitted). Then I did a super easy two mile shakeout before walking to an Italian restaurant for dinner with my husband. (We found a hotel room right by the Capitol, so everything, including the start line, was super close!) I ordered pasta and meatballs for dinner, and we were back to the hotel in bed by 7:00. I didn't sleep the greatest, but I didn't feel tired in the morning. I got up around 4:30, had some oatmeal with peanut butter and a banana, a glass of tailwind, and did some warmup stretches before heading to the start line around 6:30 (Race started at 7:00). I found the 4:40 pace group (which, based on my training, seemed like a conservative pace) and quickly made friends with the people around me. I had a UCAN Edge just before we took off.

### Race

Overall, the race was AMAZING. The weather at the start was PERFECT: 50 degrees and overcast, which I was grateful for because Madison has a history of being cold and windy and sometimes even snowy. The energy was great. They had us start in waves, which was awesome! Really minimized bobbing and weaving and kept the course from being too crowded. My only complaint is that the pacers were going way too fast. We should have been averaging 10:40 miles, but, as you can see from my splits, we were sometimes dropping closer to 10:20. I thought maybe they were banking time for the hills, but they didn't seem to slow going up them. I was a little nervous, but the effort felt easy, so I decided to stay with the group. My heart rate was where I wanted it to be, and I was dancing through all the aid stations (another shoutout to the Madison race organizers: SO MANY AID STATIONS! And they were all fully stocked with Gatorade, water, and Gu. And each one had a few portapotties). My nutrition was working really well. I did one Clif Bloks chew every 15 minutes, a salt chew every 30, a UCAN Edge every 45, sip on Tailwind from my personal bottle, and grab water at every aid station. (Complicated, I know, but it gives me something to focus on, and I like the mix of chewing vs. slurping lol.) I saw my husband just before halfway, and it lifted my spirits even more. I was having a blast! The people in my pace group were amazing, and we had so much fun chatting and laughing together. I felt really really good until about mile 16, when I started noticing some pain in my knees. I was a little surprised given that it's usually my hips that bug me. I thought maybe it would work itself out, but by mile 18, the pain was strong and persistent, and I knew I would need to start walking the hills or I would become too hurt to finish. I was never dejected though. I put on music for the first time and just focused on moving forward. I trusted my training and knew I could finish. At mile 22, a woman who had started with our pace group and slowed around mile 14 caught up to me and encouraged me to finish with her, promising we could walk all the hills together. She was amazing! I couldn't have done it without her. I was in so much pain at that point, but we got through that last few miles together. It started pouring down rain, but I didn't care. I was about to finish a marathon! The biggest hill was right at the end going up toward the Capitol. Once we topped it, I let myself run (hobble) to the finish, not realizing there was one final tiny uphill push. A course worker on a bike rode beside me, looking extremely concerned but encouraging me to keep going. I crossed the finish line in 4:48 with a huge smile on my face. I ran a freaking marathon! And more importantly, I had fun while doing it! Despite the pain and having to walk the hills the last few miles, I had an absolute blast.

### Post-race

After crossing the finish line, I immediately grabbed a baked potato from the potato bar (again, Madison Marathon knows what's up!), and my husband and our mutual friend stood and watched me while I sat on a bench eating the thing in the pouring rain lol. After some sustenance, I walked (hobbled) with my husband to a coffeeshop for a warm drink and some shelter, just smiling from ear to ear. I couldn't believe how much fun I had had. While Chicago would have been great, I really think Madison was a perfect first marathon. Well-organized, a beautiful (albeit, hilly) course, great energy, and the perfect size crowd, imo. My legs are a little less stiff today, and I thankfully don't think my knees are injured, just really, really sore. This will definitely not be my last marathon, and I learned a lot from the experience. I think being undertrained is what got to me. I definitely plan to build up my base even more, adding more weekly mileage overall and to do even more strength training. I would also be curious to see how I do on a course that isn't quite so hilly, as I wonder if that also contributed to the issues with my knees. Most importantly, I learned that I have a much better time when I don't let myself be so dictated by finishing in a certain time. I'm learning that running is a lifelong sport and trusting that I've got plenty of time for speed to find me.

Made with a new [race report generator](http://sfdavis.com/racereports/) created by u/herumph.

I'm looking for a recommendation to help me track my fitness while doing outdoor workouts. I can't have any device on me at work that connects to the internet or tracks GPS. Fitbits are explicitly prohibited. I'm looking for:

-Tracks either heart rate, calories burned, and/or steps
-Lights up, digital preferably (early morning workouts in the dark)
-Water resistant

-Cannot have bluetooth or smartphone interactivity.
-Cannot have GPS.

I'm really struggling to find anything. Every watch I see that tracks heart rate has bluetooth, it's quite frustrating for me. I feel like I need to go back to the 90s to find anything. Please let me know if anyone has any suggestions! Thank you!

Happy Monday, runners!

New week, new opportunities. How was the weekend? What’s good this week? Let’s chat about it!

Hey runners, it's another day and it is time to post your accomplishments you'd like to share - big or small.

Note: No need to preface YOUR accomplishments with something like, "this may not be an accomplishment to most of you...". Be proud of your achievement.

With over 3,650,000 subscribers, there are a lot of posts that come in everyday that are often repeats of questions previously asked or covered in the FAQ.

With that in mind, this post can be a place for any questions (especially those that may not deserve their own thread). Hopefully this is successful and helps to lower clutter and repeating posts here.

If you are new to the sub or to running, this Intro post is a good resource.

##As always don't forget to check the FAQ.

####And please take advantage of the search bar or Google's subreddit limited search.

The Li’l Race Report Thread is for writing a short report on a recent race or a run in a new place. If your race doesn’t really need its own thread but you still want to talk about it, then post it here! Both your good and bad races are welcome.

Didn't run a race, but had an interesting run to talk about. Post it here as well!

So get to it, Runnit! In a paragraph or two, where’d you run and how’d it go?

Race Information

• Name: BAA Half Marathon
• Date: November 10, 2024
• Distance: 13.1mi
• Location: Boston, MA
• Time: 1:31:57

Goals

Splits (Based on Strava)

Note: These splits are based on strava which does not correlate properly with the actual chip time.

Training

About me - 26 male, 164lbs, lifting for several years. I played a few sports recreationally growing up but was primarily a fluffy couch potato gamer with a little bit of muscle until this year.

I tried to get into running for the first time early this year and ran about 100 miles across 2 months before going on vacation and having the habit slip. During this time I worked from a 13:00/mile zone 2 easy pace to about an 11min/mile zone 2 easy pace.

In June, my friends told me they had signed up for the BAA half and I signed up with a 1:50:00 estimated finish time not knowing it was a very good time for a half marathon. After finding out how difficult the goal would be, the desire to avoid embarrassing myself made me go all-in on getting into running. You can see my worry in this earlier post https://www.reddit.com/r/nikerunclub/comments/1dt8l0y/first_half_marathon_prep_am_i_delusional/

After mulling it over for a bit I hired a coach and went from no running or race experience to racing two 10k's (49:23, 41:08) before this half marathon. Ran ~600 miles across 4.5 months from late June to present, peaking at a 44 mile week. During this time I kept lifting and went through a cut and started a bulk. During my cut and running noobie gains period, I saw massive improvements at a rapid pace over the first three months of training. Seeing the miles get longer and the pace get faster week after week was addicting, and the process of getting up early to get miles in became a core ritual in my life.

However, the last month of my training I got sick at some point and everything started feeling off. I had to run slower to match my effort from a month ago, my sleep wasn't so great, and in general the workouts felt sluggish. During this time I was bulking and gained about 5 pounds so I chalked it up to that and maybe overtraining. As my training progressed I corrected my goals from a 1:50:00 time to 1:30:00, but decided to rein it back to 7:00/mile because of this sluggish training period. In the end I just trusted in the taper to bring it home on race day for the adjusted pace goal.

Pre-race

The day before the race I went to a tracksmith shakeout run. Turns out they planned do 3.8 miles at 8:30/mi pace and I was like wtf? Did 1 mile with them and swiftly ditched to do 2 easy miles at 10:00/mi pace.

Wave 1 start (my intended wave) starts at 8:07am. Woke up around 5:00am to eat about 100g carbs after carb loading about 500g the night before. Accomplished this carb load through a bunch of burritos, tacos, potatoes, and Chinese food the day before. In the morning of, I felt the spicy Chinese food brewing in my stomach and regretted my previous night's decisions. Took some caffeine and electrolytes to try to get everything moving and took care of business before leaving the hotel and taking the shuttle to the race.

Arrived at the race at 7:30am and rushed straight to the bathroom because I knew the Chinese food was gonna come out one way or the other in the next 2 hours. Waited right up until 8:00am to take the swiftest dump of my life before jogging to the start line. I ended up getting stuck in the mob around the start time and had to walk among the crowd for a long time. As I was walking with all the fellow runners, the gun shot and I patiently walked with the crowd until I could do a light jog across the start line.

Race

Mile 1: I knew this was going to be the single largest and longest descent of the course where I could bank some time. Unfortunately due to my dinner decisions of the last night, I was stuck in a massive blob with no hope of running my goal pace down the glorious downhill. The first quarter mile was likely around a 9:00/mile pace which was frustrating. Tried my best to keep calm and play it smart. By the end of the first mile, I made it up to 7:15/mile after the crowd thinned out a bit.

Mile 2-4: Spent these miles feeling things out given that it was my first time racing this distance. Still had to weave through some folks so I played it safe and just tried to keep near my goal pace, trying to get a gauge on how I felt. Overall, felt good but I knew the real race starts after the first 8 miles so I kept it to the effort I thought was 7:00/mile. At mile 4 I took my first ever cup from a hydration station and did better than I thought! Although I did splash a little water on the volunteer by accident I'm sorry.

Mile 5-7: Took my first gel at mile 5 and was still feeling good. The hills were tough but I kind of got into a groove where going uphill was the working period and going downhill was a rest period. Still was feeling good but stayed at the existing effort because I was concerned for the remaining miles. Mentally I realized how much of a blessing it was to be able to experience this race. The amazingness of an event with so many runners, so many amazing people coming to cheer on complete strangers, so many volunteers, and logistical feats like hydration stations and bag check to accommodate thousands and thousands of people. In these moments I became thankful that the tides of life had somehow carried me to the sport of running.

Mile 7-11: These miles I thought were gonna be pain, but they were not! My legs were a bit fatigued but I think the crowd support, adrenaline, and most importantly, training, was still keeping my mind and body strong. I knew I had to gotta start pushing it. I knew what a true all out effort felt like from my second 10k, and I knew I was nowhere near that. So I took a second gel at mile 8 and pushed the pace a bit faster and reminded myself to take in everything, the cheers, the high-fives, the running with like-minded individuals, and everything else that made up what was my first ever half marathon.

Mile 12: Man, who put this hill here?

Mile 13: After what was just hill after hill after hill in the last few miles, I came across the 12 mile sign and felt two emotions: relief and regret. I knew I had not put in my best effort in this race. My legs were not numb nor on fire, I did not feel like puking, and I did not at any point of the race feel like quitting. Nonetheless, it was what it was and all I could do was put in my best effort until the end. After one more painful as heck hill climb, I saw the finish line and crossed it with a swirl of emotions

Post-race

Despite what I wrote about knowing I had left fuel in the tank, the race was by no means easy. I am proud of completing it and proud of my time. Most of all I was proud of the attitude I held to appreciate the race itself and proud of the fact that this result was made possible by ruthless dedication and discipline.

In true spirit of completing a long race, I went out to eat with friends and we all ordered two entrees ourselves. I think we had 3 different staff members all confirm that we wanted two entrees each lol. Food was glorious, legs were dead, and it was time to move on from the race. I've already signed up for a full marathon and I know my long term goals are to run a sub-3 marathon and eventually Boston qualify. After experiencing a race like today's, I know I'll be racing more in the future!

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