So I ran 13.1 miles
This wasn't my first half marathon, but it was my first race in a new city. I started running races when I moved to Cincinnati in 2016, and it's always been one of my favorite ways to a explore a city, and honestly, challenge my mental toughness. I didn't really go into this race with any particular goal about my pace, but I wanted to run a race that felt strong, steady, and fun.
My training cycle consisted of following my 12 Week Half Marathon program, which included 2 interval runs, an easy run, and a long run. There were some weeks where I skipped a run or didn't do the last interval (oops), but I felt ready on Sunday morning for the mileage ahead.
The race was big. 22,000 runners. But maybe that’s big for a girl raised in a town of 10,000. The start time for my wave was 8am, so thankfully that gave a little room of buffer to get from Jersey City to Brooklyn. Raise one for NJ Transit. iykyk
We started in McCarren Park and ended in Prospect Park, and weaved our way through different areas of Brooklyn with miles 6.5-8 being the toughest mileage for incline. I cued up Taylor’s latest album coming in at 2 hours and 3 minutes, and pressed play as I crossed the starting line.
I have done enough races to know that it’s tempting to go FAST in the first mile or so, because the adrenaline will carry you. BUT… 13.1 miles is a long time to try to keep that energy going. So I really dialed into the first 3 miles by sticking to my comfortable pace and watching my heart rate.
For the first 4 miles or so, there was a lot of bobbing and weaving between runners…. and a LOT of people trying to cross the street to get to where they needed to go. I think I had to dodge a couple wagons, a wheelchair, and a fishing pole. Eventually, there was a little more space between runners as people started to settle into their paces. Also… those miles were quite flat. So cruising was nice and easy.
When mile 6.5/7 rolled around, I knew what to expect. I shortened my stride and made sure the turnover of my feet was staying between 160-180bpm. According to Strava, mile 7 was one of my faster miles. Maybe I like an uphill?! Thank you Cincinnati, especially Hyde Park, for your hill training.
When the downhills finally arrived, I reminded myself to relax. Let your legs take you and settle into the pace on the flat. This was also the point where the route goes into switchbacks. Switchbacks can be tricky. It can be daunting to see other runners on the other side of the lane ahead of you by a mile or so, and you know you have to turnaround to do the exact path again. The one thing that made these moments a little less daunting was the amount of people watching, cheering, and being around. I’ve done races where there are multiple miles where you see no one. That’s the mental game. But this race had people the entire route.
Around mile 8, I noticed a person’s shirt with a saying that I used to say to myself all the time but kind of forgot about. “The body achieves what the mind believes.” This became my inspiration for the last few miles when we started to weave into Prospect Park. And you know… I don’t think I’ll be forgetting about that moment anytime soon.
Prospect Park is that final mile+ push. It contains a bit more rolling hills and the final .1 is an uphill finish (who decided that?!) But as I crossed the finish line, the final song of TTPD “The Manuscript” came to an end. I crossed the finish line in 2:03. Now Strava says that I ran an extra .34 miles and with all the weaving, I wouldn’t doubt it! Most races you’ll have a bit more mileage because you aren’t running the shortest distance of the route. (don’t get me started on the extra .5 for my last marathon)
After the race, I was really proud of how I stayed focused on keeping my pace steady and crossed the finish line with an average mile of 9:14.
Now as I sit here a few days out, I’m excited to see the progress made in my training. Trusting my body, listening to the pace that is good for ME, and centering on mental grit. And all I can think about now is…
When’s the next one?