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If you happen to have read my Monster Mash RR, you'll remember the rain.  It's been doing that a lot in Houston.  However, if you live where it's hot and humid, you'd rather rain than 80 and humid.

I've been training for the San Antonio RnR HM on 11/17 and had not intended on running this race at all.  The problem with making lots of running friends is that they talk you into things you really don't plan on doing.  I knew I could finish it and probably do much better than my first HM last Dec.  My training has been going well.  I did intervals once a week at the track all summer and actually ran at a pace less than 10 mm on occasion.  I truly had no clue I had it in me.  Now it wasn't for far, but I was shocked that I did it at all.  I've been doing 8/10/12 on my long runs and have been doing track one day and 3-5 mile runs (occasionally a tempo or whatever) 2 days.

The race was Sunday morning starting at 7.  I car pooled downtown with some running friends.  There were major thunderstorms in the forecast, pretty much for race time.  This race is run my a local running club and most of the other local running clubs (every suburb has one) were participating.  If you had over 40 participants they set up a tent for you in the start area.  This turned out to be a REALLY important detail.  We had 2 EZ Up canopies.  YAY!!!

We took our group picture at about 6:15 because it was getting windy and seeming like the storm was coming.  It hit hard about 6:30.  They announced that the race was postponed for an hour.  There were a LOT of us huddled under those tents.  I was lucky enough to be in the middle!  That kept off most of the blowing rain.  At one point they even announced that they wanted us to all go to our cars or a packing garage for safety, but nobody under any of the tents left!  We figured we'd stay dry as long as possible.  One friend suggested the night before that we bring rain ponchos or trash bags.  I had a big trash bag and put it over me with my head sticking out.  But it kept me dry!!!  The storm moved on thru and the lightning finally stopped.  It was still raining quite a bit, but no lightning, so they announced that the race would begin at 8 AM and for us to head over to the start.

Sang the National Anthem, and we're off.  I still had on the trash bag and many people had on ponchos.  If the weather had been nice, the course would have been about the best you can have in Houston.  We left out of downtown and went down a parkway toward Memorial Park, which is a very large park west of downtown.  I started towards the middle because with only a few minutes to get to the start, everyone was pretty mixed up.  People just kind of ended up out there however.  I would have gone towards the back, but there really wasn't a way to get there.  After a few miles, I felt really good and in my groove.  I walked all the water stops and 3 big hills...well they weren't really hills...they were going up to an overpass.  Other wise, I did not walk at all until a bit in mile 11 and after mile 12.4!!!  So different from last year!!!

I have issues with cramps in my legs.  I pretty much have always dealt with this.  When I was young (in my teens) I got them often.  I got them while pregnant.  I get cramps in my toes at least once a week, maybe more...especially when they are cold.  So it's no surprise to me that I battle cramps when doing long runs.  I had them at about 7 miles on a 10 miles race a month ago when it was really hot.  I got them around 10 miles on a training run.  I'm finding that if it drink Gatorade instead of water and take gu or something like it every 40-50 min. it helps ward off the cramps.  I truly feel the culprit this time was that the last water stop at about mile 10-11 had only water and not Gatorade.  I felt strong enough not to need another Gu, so I didn't take it.  I feel like either Gatorade or a Gu might have helped me avoid the cramps....they we're true cramps which stop you in your tracks, but if I tried to run, if felt like I would cramp, so I had to mostly walk the last .7 miles.

This race was so fun for me!  It was so different from my first HM last Dec.  Last Dec. a few times I wondered if I'd finish.  I thought about quitting.  At about mile 10 I really was struggling!  I NEVER felt that way at all this race!  I truly felt good.  Yeah, there was a blister on my right foot that's been giving me fits, but I knew what it was and that it would be ok.  I'm sure the rain throughout almost the whole race contributed to the blister.  Squishy feet all the way!!!

Paces:

Mile 1  13:03

Mile 2  12:48

MIle 3  12:43

Mile 4  13:08

Mile 5  13:23

Mile 6  13:12

Mile 7  12:59

Mile 8  13:09

Mile 9  12:47

MIle 10  13:01

Mile 11  12:44

Mile 12  12:47

Thru 12.43  It took me 5:46 to go .43 miles and then my phone died.

It took me a little over 10 min. to go the last .7 miles.  That's when I was really having cramping issues.

My time was 2:52:09!!!  Yay for less than 3 hrs!!!

This was a PR compared to last year of 20 minutes!!!

Here's a picture and I'm so proud to say that it's my very first floater!

Congrats!  Great job breaking 3 hours and getting that course PR!

That course sounds like part of the course for the Bayou City 10K, along the parkway there.

Crazy darn weather!   Congrats on your half on a miserable Mother Nature day and on getting a new PR!

When will you be coming up to San Antonio?  Are you staying in the downtown area?   I know after you get here you probably will not want to run before you do the half, but if you have time, let me know and maybe we can have lunch or something.

I know half/marathon time is hectic what with packet pickup, the expo, etc., so I completely understand if you will be going helter-skelter for the time you are up here.  Whatever happens, wishing you all the luck for the RnR half!

Congratulations!  I remember you from the dailies threads when you first started, and it's good to see how far you've come!  And overpasses absolutely count as hills!  Good luck in San Antonio!

PS- Your shirt has my daughter's name on it.

Wow, I can't believe the weather was so bad they postponed the race for an hour?  That would have played some mental games with me - I barely tolerate when they postpone a few minutes to deal with long the portapotty lines.

Congrats on a 20 minute PR!  Way cool.

Nice job - a PR, a floater, and a big happy smile all in one race!

Great PR! Man, bad weather, cramps... And you still have an ear to ear grin! I love it!!

Big congrats and great job on the PR!!