Oak Brook Half Marathon

The weather was just about perfect- around 70 degrees at the start, a little humid, light hazy sunshine. I arrived early, like I always do. I was relaxing on a bench, talking to my parents, when they announced that the race would be starting a half hour late. WHAT?! If there's one thing that bothers me the most, it's lateness. Besides the fact that I woke up at 4:45 to get ready, and the food I ate that early won't really make a difference. What a bummer!

So I line up behind the start line at around 7:15. I was chatting with other runners who were just as irked as I was about the start time. I got my Garmin all set up, and then the people in front of me started moving. The gun went off, what?! It's time to go? I guess starting at 7:30 was just a ballpark, because the race actually started at 7:21. So weird.

Mile 1: Passed by in a total blur. Tons of spectators cheering us on. Flat roads so far!

Mile 2: Scariest bridge EVER! It started shaking with all the runners pounding on it. When I got off it, I still felt like I was running on shaky ground. Vertigo, anyone?

Mile 3: My Garmin is off by .07 as of right now. I hope it doesn't get any worse!

Mile 4: Yikes, my legs might be sore tomorrow from the rolling hills on gravel. Ooh and that Carb Boom drink tastes like fruit punch! Yum!

Mile 5: There's a guy in a yellow shirt that I desperately want to pass. For what reason, I don't know.

Mile 6: I passed him. But- Holy huge hill. It's one of those where you can see the people get to the top, and then they just disappear. Reminds me of some of the hills in Little Rock!

Mile 7: Survived the huge hill. Get to the entrance of the woods, and the volunteer says, "Highest point in the course! It's easy from here on out!"

Mile 8: He's a liar. There are STEEP hills in the woods. People are walking up them. But not me. I slow to a trot, but I'm still running.

Mile 9: There's a mill here?! And a dam?! Uh oh, the terrain changes to bricks- please God, don't let me face plant!

Mile 10: Crisis averted! And Carb Boom consumed!

Mile 11: A half marathon is just a 10 mile race and a 5K. Time to start the 5K! I'm going to tempo it and see how it goes.

Mile 12: Stupid Ipod! Just randomly stopped working. And I can't resurrect it. Dammit! And I was totally in the zone, argh!

Mile 13: Last mile was 8:55. Time to air it out now. I'm not going to break 2 hours, but I'm definitely going to PR today. Sooo exciting!

Mile 13.1: I wave at my parents and give a whoop. I cross the finish line, victorious. A new half marathon PR of 2:03:04. Hooray!