The ShamROCK’n Half and a Personal Best

This past Sunday, I joined thousands of other crazy runners to run 13.1 miles. around downtown Sacramento, California.  I ran my fifth half marathon, the Shamrock Half.  I loosely followed a training plan leading up to this race. I ran the desired long runs but failed to follow through on the speed training (not my favorite workout).

The week before the race I was solo parenting, my husband was out of town on business.  Two of the boys had goopy green snots and juicy coughs.  I was doing my best (or so I thought) to stay healthy and prevent the cold from being shared with Mommy.  I failed.

Thursday night I started to have a dry, scratchy, nagging cough.  By Saturday, the head cold had dropped to my chest.  I felt like there was an elephant sitting on my chest and I was breathing through a straw.  I was continuing on with my natural remedies and praying for the best come race day.

I had already paid the race fee, picked up my packet… all I needed to do was run.  I wasn’t sure if I was going to set a personal record or even finish… but I was going to do my best.

I let the excitement and the adrenaline of the race get me started.  I had a strong first half of the race.  I even set a new 10k personal best for me while running this race.  Right around the half way point, I could tell I had started too fast.  I was struggling.  I began walking more.  At each water stop and mile marker I would walk for a few meters to regain my composure, and then begin running again.

Reviewing my split (mile) times, I am very pleased with my first half of the race.  The first half of the race was relatively flat and fast.  There was a lot of crowd support and the energy was high.

I am not sure of the exact details but it seemed (to me) that from miles 6-10 we were out in no mans land on a bike trail.  There was very little crowd support.  I began to lose my momentum.  I was struggling to breathe.  I started having coughing fits.

Mile ten and eleven were rough for me.  I hit the wall.  My lungs were struggling.  I lost all motivation.  My head got in the way of the race.  I really didn’t care how I did or my time (at that moment).

I kept pressing on, knowing that I could and would finish.  I knew that even if I walked the rest of the way, I would be content with my time… but I knew that I had it in me to keep running.  Keep pushing. Keep going.

At mile twelve the 2:10 pacer passed me.  I was bummed.  I struggled to keep up with her and the group… but the desire to walk was stronger.  I managed to stay close… but thought that goal ship had sailed.

Mile twelve I did a mixture of run/walk… depending on the crowd support and my bursts of energy.  I even found myself walking at 12.5 miles right outside the stadium… I was spent.

I reigned it in and finished strong the last .2 miles.  I even passed a people on the cinder track in to the finish line shoot.  When I went to press stop on my garmin I was pleasantly surprised by my finishing time.  My official race time was 2:09:33.

I set a personal best for the half marathon by a whopping NINE MINUTES.  I ran sick… and still set a personal record.  I am proud of myself, knowing that I did the best I could at that race.  But of course, in hindsight, I wonder how much better I could have done if I were healthy!  I guess next year I am going to have to tackle that question head on.

Even though I didn’t run with my two speedy friends, Tammy and Yvonne, it was great chatting with them and drinking a beverage at the finish line.  They set a personal record for this race too.  It was a great running day for all!

Today, I went to see the doctor to have my chest examined… making sure that it isn’t anything more serious than a wicked cold.  She assured me that my lungs sounded clear.  I was told to drink plenty of fluid and to rest (as she laughed while checking out my three crazy boys in the examining room with me).

So for now… I will take a few days to rest and take care of Me. My next big race to train for is 4 weeks away, Ragnar Relay’s So. California. I am running with a few great blogging buddies… and am excited for the next running adventure! I want to make sure that I am healthy and able to run my best for the team.

So as I type, I am chilling out in my Zensah argyle compression socks, chugging a great big water and a Zico Chocolate Coconut water { Yum! }  I am going to do my best to rest … as well as any mom can!

I would love to hear how YOU find REST when you are itching to workout or train!
Do you have any natural healing cures (or products) that work for you and your family?