
My sister picked up my packet downtown, so that was easy for me ... This morning, I roused at 3:30 and made the hour drive north to the parking lot before boarding the first bus to the start line. I was at the start line with an hour to spare and was the first to use the port-o-potties. Already winning, in my opinion. I met up with Erin and Valerie and started the race with them promptly at 7 a.m.
The first two miles were tough, so I chatted with the ladies for distraction. Then, at mile two, I experienced "flow" for the first time. It's a state in which you're totally engrossed in an activity and feel like you could go on forever. My pace picked up, my breathing slowed and I passed the 9:30 pace group like it's hot. I chased down runner after runner and felt awesome. I caught up to and then passed the 9:00 pace group around the ninth mile and tried to stay ahead. There were aid stations every two miles with bathrooms, gatorade and water.
The flow broke down somewhere around 10 miles, right before hitting Hero Hill. I had to walk part of it and felt gassed, even though I had been eating my homemade running fuel throughout. I think the 8:30 miles in 80-degree heat caught up with me.
The finish line felt awesome. Two years later, the thrill of my accomplishment is still there. I clocked a 1:42:41, which is a PR over my time two years ago (ever so slightly). I feel OK about this because I didn't train in the same way I did the first go around. It's amazing for me to think how far I've come in two years. I remember that bus ride over to the start line the first year and the anxiety I felt rising in the middle of my chest - would I finish? What would I do if I had to wimp out? I push through pain and a bonk in 2011, but the exhilaration at the end was just as intense this year as in the beginning. Pure pride, pure joy.
At the finish line, we got our medals, water bottles, bananas, Gatorade, PowerBar sampes and Sports Beans. There were Muscle Milk and Cabot cheese samples, too.

Overall, I think this race keeps getting better each year. The course is well marked and everything moved smoothly throughout the day. I liked the shirts the previous years better, because they were quarter-zip pull overs, but that's not really practical in August. I wish the date didn't move every year because it's difficult to plan for, but the Navy calls the shots there, so it is what it is. The medal is BALLER though, and super heavy. Napoleon needed a little assistance in modeling it today, but the fake bacon helps.
Time: 1:42:41 for 11.5 miles
Cost: Free for me, as low as $45 for the 10NM and $25 for the 3NM
Pros: Access to a place civilians normally don't go, well-run race, great post-race goodies, really nice medals
Cons: A long day with the off-site parking, floating race date each year, spectators have to take a bus on base from a nearby parking lot
12 comments:
That sounds like a fun run and unique distance! Congratulations on another great race, and we have a few races we have done every year and we love them! It's always fun to do something that you have already done before.
awesome job!
Congrats on your PR!!
I was sad to miss this year to be at the Chicago Triathlon. It was my one of my favorite races last year and SO beautiful. I had a number of friends who did it and it sounds like they all had a great time this year too!
I experienced the "flow" last year (although I didn't think that was what you were talking about at first!) at F2B as well. I am still trying to get back to that type of pace for my half marathon distances! It was a magical day!
I watched a documentary called "Happy" and it talked about flow. It seems more eloquent than saying I was in the zone, and it appears there has been some research on it, too. People who experience flow are more likely to be happy.
Loved reading your race report. Congratulations on a great race...you should be so proud of yourself. Though I have to say, Napoleon looks great in your medal. Hope you got a chance to sample some yummy Cabot cheddar after the race.
Thanks, Candace!
the shuttle got me there about an hour beforehand as well and my only complaint is that it would have been nice to have water at the start. a few people I happened to be running near commented they were extra thirsty by the time they hit that first water station. The rest of the course had plenty of stations and I actually didn't even realize the heat had reached the 80s I stayed pretty cool the entire time!
Congrats! That is a great race. I ran the inaugural but have not been able to make the dates work out since.
Congrats on a great race! Love the blog!
Congrats on a great race! Love the blog!
Congrats, speedy! Cool medal, and distance to race really.
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