My First Half Marathon – Recap
March 4, 2012 § 28 Comments
I ran a half marathon this morning everybody!!! 
Yes, today was the day. I’m still in shock – I can’t believe I actually did it!
Because of the race, my day started unusually early. My entire family got up at the crack of dawn (okay, 6:30AM) and drove a couple of hours to the race. In the car, I had my typical pre-run breafast of a banana with peanut butter and pretzels.
Once we got there, I was in a bit of a rush so I (quickly) got my bib, drank some water, did some streching and, before I knew it, the race director was calling everyone to the starting line.
Aaaaaaaand then we were off!
I started out slow and steady as my original plan was to keep an average 10-minute mile pace the entire time and try to finish under 2 hours and 15 minutes, but that plan went out the window around Mile 5. 
By the time I reached Mile 5 I had run up and the steepest hill of the entire course (dare I say it was comparable to The Bowl) and still managed to keep a 9:10-ish pace. I was feeling great so I decided to “just go with it” and tried to maintain that pace for as long as I could.
Photo credit goes to my Dad for the above picture. He took it around Mile 10 and I think it describes how I felt the entire race perfectly!
It turns out I was (almost) able to maintain that pace for the rest of the race! Miles 6 through 12 were uneventful (just a few water stations and lots of farmland.) I actually feel bad that I don’t have any crazy or exciting stories to share with you about the race because, honestly, it went by so fast and I was “in the zone.” I must have been pretty well-trained!
The last mile of the race was actually pretty fun. I was neck-and-neck with this woman that I had been running with for the second half of the race. She started to kick early so I did too and managed to finish the last mile in 8 minutes and 19 seconds. It was such a rush!
It wasn’t until after I crossed the finish line (in 2 hours 3 minutes and 17 seconds) that it finally hit me: I had just run a half marathon! And I loved it!
That’s so exciting! Such a great accomplishment, too. Congrats!
GO GIRL!!
Wow that’s amazing you inspire me to run a marathon!
So awesome!!!! I just started running again, so this is super inspiring!
Hope you have a great week!
Congratulations, Erika! When I ran cross country, I loved having a sense of competition at the end of the race. I would sprint the last leg of the race (because I was so happy to be finishing!) and would outrun everybody. So I have to ask–do you beat the woman?!
The end of races are always the best. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to pass her, but it was close!
So proud of you!!! You are awesome!!
I am so proud of you girl (I was secretly hoping you’d post about it today). Anyways-great job and you did amazing! Here is to more to come!
I’m so happy for you!! I know you feel amazing right now and you need to hold on to that for as long as possible! You’re a perfect example of how committing to something and putting in the time and energy really pays off. Now go get one of those 13.1 stickers for your car (when you drive…do you drive yet?…well get one anyway for your locker or something!)
congrats!!! sounds like it was a really good race!!
Congrats!!! Great job!!
Congrats! That’s such an amazing accomplishment!
Great job, and excellent results for your first half!
Congrats Erika. Great effort!
Congratulations! I would have hit the wall after the first mile!
Whohoooo!!! Congrats girl! You did awesome!
woot! Congrats
Congratulations, that’s awesome! And I love your shirt!
Well I may be the only one here who understands how legit that hill was. If it compares to the bowl… it doesn’t belong on a half marathon course! Obviously it didn’t faze you though
CONGRATS!
When I first saw it I was like “YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME?!” but I sucked it up and powered up it. Thank goodness it was only at mile 5!
Well done! That’s amazing – sometimes you can just listen to your body and know that you can do something. Way to go!
Congrats on an amazing race!
What an amazing race, Erika! YOU GO GIRL!
CONGRATS!! What a wonderful first 1/2 experience! Congrats!!!
CONGRATS!!!! im planning to run my first half marathon in january and will be training all summer and in my off season (after xc). im nervous to start training, especially since summer in texas are BRUTAL!! the most i’ve ever run is about 3.5 miles and sometimes i feel as if i’ll never make it to my goal…
any advice? btw, how old are you? im 15 but will be 16 when i run it!
Hi Hallie! Thank you for your comment. When is your half marathon? You will definitely be able to do it given you give yourself enough time for training! Before I started training for my half I had only run 5 miles straight so it took me around 4 months to really build up, but I’m sure it could be done in 3 if you are really strict with your training. Right now I am 16 years old but when I ran the half I was 15, so we’re about the same age!
okay im back
im starting my first official training this saturday with a running group…and im super nervous!! any advice??
Oooh, how exciting! Do you know how far you will be running?
My main advice is don’t be afraid to go slow. One of the mistakes I made early in my training was starting out too fast for my long runs and then fizzling out and feeling terrible at the end. Good luck!