Tri-City Medical Carlsbad Half Marthon 2012

Fantastic!  I got there 2.5 hours before the half marathon started & parked near the port-potties; great advised from a friend who runs marathons & has race this one in the past.  This is my second half marathon.  For breakfast, I have a half of peanut butter sandwich.  I'm not a huge fan of protein bars.  There's some sorta weird after taste to most of them.   At about 7:00, I head to the Expo tent to stay warm.  This event is huge & there are gobs of runners.  It smells like wet dog in there.  Around 0715, I head for the start line. 






I forget I hadn't stretched!  No problems, there's plenty of time.  I'm in wave 5.  It's about 48 degrees outside.  I wore a head warmer, running jacket, light weight long sleeve, running skirt; thanks http://www.runningskirts.com/,  no under layers, & gloves.  Hahaha I'm ridiculously nervous for no reason.  The headband mushes my forehead, but it keeps my ears warm :)  Before the race started there was a lot of guys running up onto the hill next to the road. I figured out pretty quickly what they were doing & ewwwwwwwww! Look away! Look away!


My tunes are all fast tempo songs to keeps my pace going.  The event is well organized for this many people.  I LOVE California for the weather & most of us are very laid back attitudes. Especially runners. These guys made everyone smile!

About 15 minutes after the elite runners start, my wave moves up & off we go!  The scenery is amazing!  The first 3 miles take me through a residential area.  There are a lot of hills.  I had been considering signing up the the La Jolla Half Marathon, so I had changed my running schedule to focus on running nothing but hills.  The new training schedule worked!  The website for the Carlsbad Marathon/half states:
The marathon course is rolling. Much of it is along the beautiful Pacific Ocean. The highest point of elevation is 308 feet above sea level reached gradually between miles 5 and 9. 
My posted pace split time at 6.6 miles is 1:11:50 Pace: 10:53. At the 5th mile is a large steady hill, difficult for about 1 mile, then continues up through the 6.6 turn.  I didn't need a watch to tell me I was going slower, but I kept going.  I had already mentally prepared at mile marker 8, I will need to begin picking up the pace.  The Silver Strand Half Marathon is flat compared to this course.  The challenge was accepted & conquered!  It's hard to keep a steady pace because runners are EVERYWHERE!  I had to run around people constantly throughout this race or run slower. At the 5 mile and the 8th mile I take a BLOK.  

 Mile markers are hard to see and it could of been because of all the runners. The wind wasn't bad & the weather stayed cool.  My gloves came off pretty quick at the 2nd mile & my head warmer & jacket came off at the 8 mile marker.  Who wouldn't love looking and see beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean as you run?  There's a large down hill through the 10 mile.  Race information stated there would be water stations about every 2 miles, but it seemed like there was more.  As miles 11 came up, two guys ran with large flags one of the United States & the other of USMC go running by!  How's that for motivation!  I finished the race:
Overall: 3885 out of 7269
Women: 1850 out of 4289
F 40-44: 293 out of 664
Age/Grade: 51:50%  Place: 3207
Finish/Tag time: 2:14:53 Pace: 10:18

At the finish line, my friend surprised me by being there to congratulate me!  I was so shocked & happy!  I even teared up!  Thank you Ann. She took this photo of me.  Can't wait until next year!!!