This was my third year running an event in the Tybee Run Fest. There are five events that add up to a full marathon in length — 5K, 10K, 1/2 Marathon, 2.8 mi beach run, 1 mi run. Last year I ran the 5K as a way to jumpstart my running again. Year before I ran the 10K. One year I’m going to run all five events and get that challenger’s medal.

When I signed up in November, I was really ambitious with a time goal of 2 hours. However, I really did not take into account mental recovery time from my marathon, experimenting with new shoes, the holidays, tumultuous work situations, and planning a wedding. It was not the time to do my first significant speed training. So in fact, I don’t think I’ve tried to run a specific pace since November.

So last night I looked up my half-way time for my marathon, which was 2:30 and said to myself, “let’s just beat that”. I decided to aim for 11:00-11:30 minute miles, which is where most of my running with Oakley lie. I ate spaghetti, drank two beers, pretended that I ran more than once this week, and called it a night.

I went by myself and was worried about parking, so I was parked by 6:30 AM in an excellent spot. Learning from last year, I brought quarters with me and had no problems when the meter refused to read my credit card. 10K started at 7AM and I sat in the car, stayed warm, and read my running magazine for the 8:30 start.

My stash

My “Why am I here this early?” face

As the sun rose, it got much warmer and it became a beautiful day to run. I spent some time talking with an army officer who was running all five events (AND had already run with his troop this AM). He asked me if I competed. hahaha… I told him I was proudly middle of the pack. And after a little waiting, it was time to go.

I ran 10:45-ish for the first three miles, assuming I’d slow down as the miles went on. I stopped to loosen my laces just after the first mile, but that was the only time I stopped running. No walking breaks! I started running 10:15-ish.

At mile 8 I decided I should call it a race and speed it up. I knew I couldn’t make 2 hours, but I could try for 2 hr 10 min or 15 min. 9:32, 9:11, 9:12, 8:59, and 8:54 splits. I did not know that was in me. And I have to admit, it was so much fun passing people.

I ran past 5 men in the last stretch. The clock read 2:10:59 (guntime). I just hit refresh on the website and it looks like chip-times are in…

2:10:12.13

I’ll take it!! And really moreso, I’m excited that with proper, extensive training, I think a sub-2 hr half is possible. And that is scary and also awesome.

Getting married on this island in one month

Finisher’s medal

20th place out of 52 females in my age group. I AM SPENT. I don’t think there will be any wedding to-dos done today. I’ll rewatch The Walking Dead and get hyped for tomorrow’s mid-season premiere, knowing that in the zombie apocalypse I’ll be just in front of the middle of the pack.