it's done!

i was seriously anxious on Friday.

So for dinner I would've had made pizza but we had thirsty dog pizza on thursday.

so i picked up some veggies from the salad bar & came home and made pasta with sauteed veggies.

I was in bed by 10:30...and my alarm was set to go off at 5:45. I was up and at 'em and ready to go at 6:30. I brought my breakfast cookie with me, had everything packed in a bag.

I drove us to Baltimore while he was still sleeping. the drive was so easy until we got off on the exit, then that took us 1 hour and 45 minutes to park. Luckily I didn't have to be ready to run until 9:45. there were full marathoners that were getting out of the car on the exit ramp to run to the starting point! it was that crazy!

we were literally driving around in circles. it was insane trying to find parking.

When we finally did - i really had to pee. It was to the point where it hurt so bad. i finally got a port a potty - so DISGUSTING! then we walked to the spot where my starting point was. It was quite a walk away. When we got there, lots of marathoners were passing by.. that was mile 7.....then they came around again at mile 10. next time we'd merge with them on mile 3 - mile 13 for them.

While waiting for everything to start, we ran into our neighbors-- the wife was running too! so hey, it was awesome to have someone to start the race with. there had to be at least 20 thousand people here.

so we started! it was just mobs of people. so freakin' crazy. there was never a point where i had plenty of room to run, it was just always someone within a foot of you. it was insanely packed.

Mile 3 -- I had to pee so bad! i was hoping i'd sweat it off. but that wasn't happening. so i stopped. and i think it was about a 7 to 8 minute wait. there were so many people in line for 1 portapotty. It was tough for me to see all those people running right by. But what are you gonna do about it!

after that was done, i just kept running. There were so many hills! so many hills! it was such a challenge! it was pretty much up hill from mile 4 to 10.5. i didn't walk up a single one! i just kept going and going!

There were a couple of water stops that i had to pour my own water?! What the hey?! i was like huh? it was nothing like my first half -- they'd have garbage buckets where they'd be constantly filling the cups, and never ever a shortage! i'd have to scramble to find water - do not like drinking gatorade.

it was drizzling most of the race. i had my sunglasses on at first, but then it impeded most of my vision, so I took them off and stuck them in my waist pack. i think around mile 9 is when it started raining more steadily!  there were points where i was barely able to get a good feel of the ground! i was so worried i would start slipping, but i pushed through it. the rain eventually subsided.

by mile 12 -- we hit the busiest part - i swear i was running the fastest i've ever run! i was passing people. the crowd was cheering everyone on. it was great, the finish line was kind of tricky, you'd think you were there, then you had to keep running for another .2 miles and it was like AGH. and i finished.

I did 2:19 -- if i took off that stop i basically did hit my goal of running under 2:15. i just had so many things working against me. But you know what i'm gonna work at speed intervals, and improve at my distance running!

the end was tough cuz he couldn't even get to the finish line. he felt like people were so RUDE there! he got so agitated and just walked away and waited for me at the stadium. they would corral all the runners in to one spot. and it was tough cuz you couldn't tell where you were walking. the food selection was kinda meh. plain bagels which kinda sucked. i had a banana and some water.


I wish they had chocolate milk!
Only got 1 blister. Whee! i was feeling really good at the end.

we were home in less than an hour and chilled out. i don't do ice baths, i don't feel like it would make a difference with me. i actually felt pretty good! i stretched, just let my legs relax.

i hit the gym this morning...and tried running, but my left calf was really bothering me. so i'll give it til wednesday, otherwise i feel just fine. not immobile at all!


Will I do the baltimore half marathon again, probably not.

I figure the next race will be the cherry blossom 10k. then i'll figure the next couple half marathons out!

Stay tuned for more news tomorrow!