Maine Coast Half Marathon 2018

Well hello friends! Guess what I did yesterday....... I set a PR in the half marathon and finally broke 2 hours! If that's enough information for you, great, that's all you need to know. If you want the long version, keep reading.

I signed up for this race on New Year's Eve (after several margaritas). I thought "I gave myself a year after having a baby and now I am finally going to break 2 hours in the half." I started my training feeling very motivated. Then we had a terrible winter/spring where the cold, snow, and ice just never ended. And trying to find time for long runs with a baby and a husband who works overnights turned out to be more difficult than expected. The final straw was feeling absolutely horrible at the Portland 10 Miler, which I ran several weeks ago. I resigned myself to the fact that my life was not conducive to setting a PR right now and prepared to just run the race for fun.

I wasn't able to make it to packet pick-up Friday night, and I'd been warned that the parking could be a long walk from the start, so I left my house by 6am so I was there at 6:30. I parked, walked to the start, and got my bib all within 10 minutes of arriving. Luckily, the race started at UNE and we were able to hang out in the student center while we waited. So I was warm and had real bathrooms to use! My college friend Jen (who had to chaperone a school dance Friday night and thus had to leave her house in MA at 4 am!!) arrived a few minutes later and we caught up on life while we waited for the start.

Even though the race had less than 2,000 runners, it was a wave start. The first wave (with Jen in it) went off at 8 and my wave started 3 minutes later. At the 10 miler I went out as hard as I could and then tried to hang on. This time I was smarter and made myself hold back and go out at a comfortable pace. I turned my Garmin to the clock, so I couldn't see my pace, and ran by feel. I decided to do 6 minute run, 30 second walk intervals. The run-walk intervals really work for me. It breaks up the time mentally, helps keep my heart rate in check, and helps limit fatigue from the repetitive motion of running.

The first half of the race went so quickly. It was an out and back loop. We ran right by the house my childhood best friend's family rented in the summer, so I was busy reminiscing about that, listening to podcasts, and admiring the scenery. The majority of the course was right along the ocean and it was stunning. I alternated between looking out at the ocean and at the crazy, fancy houses along the water.

The second half did not pass quite as quickly. I really wished I'd studied the course map more carefully because I didn't realize we did an out and back loop in the other direction before returning to UNE. It was much longer than I expected and I just kept wondering when the heck we were going to turn around.

I brought one packet of GU Chomps and took 2 at miles 5,6,7, and 9 (I totally missed the mile 8 marker when I was going to take my last 2). I also took water at every water stop, which was every 2 miles. The chomps seem to work great for me in the half. I found they aren't enough in a full marathon, but they keep me going in the half, without feeling like they are weighing me down. I also find they are easier to munch on while running than gels.

I kept running by feel, I peeked at my overall time at mile 9 and realized that sub 2 might be a possibility. From that point I pushed a little harder, but didn't let myself obsess over my pace. I truly wanted to enjoy the race and not spend the last 4 miles trying to do the math about exactly how fast I would need to run.

Just before mile 12 I turned my watch back to the time screen. I saw 1:51 and realized that sub 2 was a definite possibility. It was game on! At that point I let myself go all out and gave it everything I had. I was passing people and felt great! Once again, I wished I'd studied the course because it turned off when I didn't expect it to. We ended up approaching the finish from the opposite direction we started. Since I didn't know exactly where the finish was, I had to trust the distance on my watch and just kept pushing. I saw the crowds and knew we must be getting close, but you couldn't see the actual finish until you were there because they had us turn off the road and go into a field.) I crossed the line and immediately looked at my watch. 1:59:20. I'd done it. Looking back after the race, I ran that last mile at almost an 8 minute pace!

Thankfully no one was waiting for me right there because I was doing a very unattractive combination of happy crying and dry heaving. I was just so darn happy and proud of myself.

I got my medal and my water bottle and found Jen. We headed over to the finish party area to stretch and chat about the race. We both agreed that the water was perfect. They had been calling for rain, but it ended up being partially sunny and in the low 50's with a nice sea breeze. I am so relived it wasn't hot!

We grabbed some food, but skipped the free beer. It was only 10 am, and I needed to be functional the rest of the day. I'm pretty sure the post race beer at the 10 miler contributed to my complete lack of desire to do anything the rest of the day. We definitely used our free ice cream tickets though- its never too early in the day for ice cream.

I would definitely do the race again. It was well organized, the course was beautiful, and the after party was fun. My only complaint is that it was fairly expensive to not have the race shirt included.

My Mom had come down to watch Cooper and told me to take my time, so after the race I enjoyed a solo trip to Khols to spend a gist card from Christmas and getting to grocery shop at the fancy new Market Basket in Biddeford. For a Mom, getting to shop alone and not rush is a real treat.

A day later and I'm still basking in the thrill of my PR and finally breaking 2 hours.

Happy Mother's Day all!