This morning I ran my fourth half marathon!
I finished the Women’s Half Marathon, but it wasn’t pretty.
I awoke at 5:50 a.m. and ate a Luna bar (my usual pre-race breakfast) and bowl of oatmeal. (I normally try to keep my pre-race meals on the smaller side because I cramp up so easily and paid for eating that bowl of oatmeal around mile two when I cramped up a bit! Luckily the cramp didn’t last long and I breathed my way through it, feeling better within five minutes.)
My sister, Leslie, was signed up for the 5K, so my mom and Ryan dropped us off at the start line about 10 minutes before the scheduled start. (My dad couldn’t make it to cheer us on because he had an early morning flight to catch to Arkansas.)
Leslie walked me to my corral as they were singing the Star Spangled Banner and we exchanged hugs and wished each other luck on our respective races. I had about five minutes of time to kill once I entered my corral and felt my nerves start kicking in.
When the race kicked off, it was relatively congested for the first mile, but I saw my mom and Ryan cheering!
See those two hands waving in the air? That’s me!
Almost immediately I saw the 2:00 pace group and decided to stick with them for as long as I could, thinking I might have another sub-two hour half marathon in me. Their energy was awesome!
The first few miles of the race were absolutely gorgeous. We ran past the historic Vinoy hotel, along the water and through some nice neighborhoods. I passed the 5K mark at 27:00.
I started to feel the humidity and heat getting to me around the fifth mile and was sweating like a beast. It was around then that I saw the best sign of the day that read, “That’s not sweat! That’s your fat cells crying!”
I took some Gu Chomps at mile five and kept on trucking, averaging around a nine-minute mile pace.
When we ran back the way we came and toward the pier around mile eight, I felt very overheated and changed my goal from finishing in under two hours to simply running the whole race.
I saw my mom, Leslie and Ryan at the pier and told them I was so freaking hot! Ryan said he knew that was the moment when I decided to let the two hour pace group out of my sight and he was absolutely right.
Don’t be fooled by the smile. Focus on my red face and sweaty forehead to know how I was really feeling.
Miles eight to 11 were definitely the hardest for me. We ran along a road with absolutely no shade and I saw so many people stop to walk and even passed a handful of runners from the 1:45 pace group who I heard complaining about the heat and humidity. I’m not gonna lie, it made me feel better to know that I wasn’t the only one so affected by the humidity.
Toward the end of the race, the runners ran inside Tropicana Field (where the Tampa Bay Rays play baseball!) and around the perimeter of the field. That was pretty badass!
I was so happy when I saw the mile marker for the twelfth mile and kept on truckin’, grateful for the spectators who saw my name on my race bib and yelled out encouraging words.
I felt a little discouraged when my Garmin reached 13.1 miles, but I was still a good distance from the finish line. I must’ve run along the outside of the course a lot because when I looked down at my Garmin after I ran through the finish line, I ran a little less than a quarter of a mile more than the half marathon distance.
My official time? 2:05:01.
Once I crossed the finish line, I chugged a bottle of water, but all of the food and flavored beverages repulsed me at the time.
We took a couple of photos but didn’t hang out for too long because I just wanted to get home to lie down.
My sister had an amazing 5K race! Her goal was to finish in under 30 minutes and she killed it! Her official time was 27:57. So excited for her!
Now guess who wants to run her first half marathon? Leslie has her eye on the St. Pete Rock ‘n’ Roll half marathon in February and I said I’d to it with her. I’m sure it will be colder by then, right? 
Once we arrived home, I felt pretty nauseous. It took me a while to feel like I could stomach anything (even water) and eventually, after acting like a zombie on the couch and watching five episodes of Friends, I was able to eat and drink again without feeling like I was going to puke.
With my hunger back, I ate a big bowl of potatoes and onions leftover from my family’s breakfast before showering and eating my bodyweight in grapes and pretzels.
Though I definitely didn’t feel my best during or after today’s race, I am still really proud that I finished my fourth half marathon. I think the post-race high is finally starting to set in!
Hope you’re having a great Sunday!
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I couldn’t imagine even running a half marathon….I don’t know how you runners do it! 5k is my max….I’m under five feet and have stubby legs…totally not built for running (body building I think I could do if I put my mind to it though:) Congrats on your awesome time.
I also have to say I’m always a little jealous when I read you Florida bloggers and you talk about how hot it is this time of year. In Edmonton Alberta where I live, it’s currently an unseasonably cold -17C (it was -27C when I got of work this morning at 715). Want to trade?:)
That is one of my biggest fears about wearing my Garmin or Nike Plus during races is that when my watch tells me I’m finished I still have to keep going. Nice work on the race though, bummer you weren’t feeling your best.
CONGRATS Julie on your 4th half! I don’t know what it is but whenever I read about someone’s race experience I get a big lump in my throat and my eyes well up a little. It’s just such an exciting experience and only people who have been through it can truly understand. I am so proud of you, great job!! 🙂
~Kari
this made me smile. thank you, kari!! 🙂
Congrats girl!! That a very impressive time, especially considering the ridiculous heat and humidity. I’ve done long runs in Florida before, and they can be miserable!!
It’s funny because I really want to move back to Florida (living in Ohio now), but I do think about how I would do my long runs in the Florida heat. I’d have to wake up at 4am just to survive! 😉
Congrats on pushing through it and completing the race! Grapes and friends reruns sounds like an awesome way to celebrate!
Aw, you did SO well, even with the humidity!!!!!!! That’s a badass time!! And thtat’s so neat that Leslie wants to run a half now. Racing sure is addicting like that 😛
PS. (My) Ryan’s dad was in town for the weekend and just flew back to Arkansas (their hometown) this morning. Small world! Enjoy the rest of that post-race high 🙂
Congrats on the half! It’s always fun when the race bug officially bites you :). The women’s races have such a great energy about them too! If you’re ever contemplating triathlons, the iron girl series (irongirl.com) is lots of fun!
Awesome job! I hate running in hot weather! I always feel faint and nauseous! I actually really like to run in 30-40 degree weather and don’t even mind running in the snow…but during the oppressively hot summer? No way!!
Well done! Hopefully it will be cooler down there soon!
I thought you were going to wear your compression sleeves? Just curious…
i read that they’re great to wear AFTER the race for recovery, so that’s what i did. i think they made a bit of a difference, too, b/c my calves aren’t sore at all today!
Congrats, girl! I think running in the humidity is the absolute worst, so I’m definitely impressed that you finished this without stopping 🙂 I live in Phoenix where it’s still warm, but can’t imagine fighting humidity this time of year! Yours was definitely a race to be proud of.
Congrats girl! Heat is the worst for running, I swear.. You should be very proud of your time! 🙂
Great job to both of you! You should be proud. You should also be proud of those race pics. I hope my next ones turn out that well!
Congrats on the race! Way to go!
Way to go, Julie! I ran my first half marathons this morning in just under 2:20.
congratulations to you and Leslie for running some great races. Both of you had awesome times, well done.
Great job. I know the heat always effects my running. I love your running capris and top. Where did you get them? I can’t wait to make the jump into my first half-marathon. Congrats!!
thank you! the capris are from lululemon and the top is lucy – i think it’s from nordstrom rack?
That’s so crazy how humid it is in Florida at the end of November. Funny how running seasons are so incredibly different here than they are down south. Regardless of the heat, you did an amazing job Julie. Congrats!!!
Congrats on finishing the race! Sounds like it was pretty hot out there!
The race was hot last year too. But Tropicana Field was pretty cool.
You and your sister should do Gasparilla instead of the Rock n Roll. 10 miles of the course is along the water…it was my most favorite race of the 9 halves I’ve done! 🙂 Pretty sure Michelle and I will be doing it again.
ooooh! i’ve always wanted to do gasparilla!
I’m with Paula — Gasparilla is an AWESOME race. It’s gorgeous and it’s so well organized. It’s the first weekend in March this year – so really you could do both 🙂 (No pressure or anything. Ha.)
It feels so strange to hear you talk about humidity when I was scraping snow and ice off of my car this week.
Great job on the 1/2 marathon!! You definitely inspired me to be more active today.
Good job Julie!! I love races but have taken a break for exactly the reason you felt like today after your race. I get severe exercise related migraines which typically ends up with me puking! Way to go on your half today!
Congratulations Julie!! It looks like it was a pretty hard race Just the thought of running a 1/2 marathon in hot humid weather makes me feel like I might pass out, way to go!
I think it’s awesome you ran another half! Congratulations… you are such an inspiration!
Congratulations!! You such a rock star!
Congratulations! I cannot even imagine running a half marathon in such intesne heat/humidity. Eat up! 🙂
Julie I ran my first half marathon today as well!!!!!! in Philadelphia and it was amazing!!!! I can financially relate to your posts about how amazing races feel because I have never felt this happy about running! I can’t wait to do another (think its the runners high) but my knees are SOOOOOOOO sore. Today was a great half marathon day!
ahhh! exciting!! CONGRATULATIONS on your half!
Finally!!!!! haha not financially—clearly I’m exhausted and laying bed
Congratulations on finishing!! I know it wasn’t the time you were hoping to get but shyeesh the heat is redic right now! My 5k last Sunday was ok for the first half but the second half I was WAY overheating but I only had about a mile and a half to go! I can’t imagine continuing for another hour and a half. But good for you for finishing, still with an awesome time!
You are making me want to run a RNR with how awesome you say they are….I was looking into the one in Miami with Pitbull playing afterwards – LOVE him and my bff is down there, talk about fun!
DOOOO IT! I seriously love RnR races!
p.s. Philly had the most perfect weather, not to hot, not to cold…but I am sorry bout the humidity. I ran a 2:09 and for a first I feel pretty happy. congrats on your time!!!! and your sub 2 hour race is impressive!!!!!
Congrats on your finish!
Congratulations! I just signed up for a half in February, so hopefully the weather conditions are favorable then!
Congrats! I finished ahead of my time and feel like tomorrow will be HELL! It was inspiring to see all those women in one place. Rest up…WE deserve it.
Congrats on the race, Julie- your time is fabulous especially given the heat!!
Great job!!! You rock 🙂
Congratulations! What an incredible accomplishment. It’s so great to hear all the difficult parts, too. Makes me feel like maybe I could struggle through one of these bad boys! Congrats again!
you definitely can. when i started running back in 2007, i didn’t think i could run a 5k w/o walking. it’s ALL about the training!
congrats to you and your sister!!!
Congrats on finishing the race even though it was a tough one! 😀
Congrats Julie! Way to fight though the struggles…Mile 9 for me, in a half or a full is my toughest mile! Way to be an inspiration to many!
Yay Julie!!! Congratuations. 🙂
Congrats Julie! I think you are such an inspiration to those who want to try running a marathon! I would love to try to run a 5k at some point in my life. You should be proud! I hope you are feeling better 🙂
a 5k is where i started!!! 🙂 you can definitely do it. 🙂
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Even though you feel it wasn’t your best showing, it’s still a HUGE accomplishment that you got out there and did it. Great job!! 🙂
Love the first picture of you jumping out of the crowd! Haha! Congratulations on finishing your fourth half marathon 🙂
Great job on your half marathon, Julie! What an accomplishment!
I also can’t stand running in the humidity. And I live in the Chicago suburbs, so there is no way that I am running outside in the cold either.
Thank goodness for treadmills!
Great job to your sister too!
Congrats girl!!! I did that race last year and it was hot then too. I finished in about the same time – it’s amazing what the heat can do to you.
Congrats to your sister too – she definitely has a 1/2 marathon in her 🙂
Way to go girl!
Amazing time for your half marathon- that is awesome. congrats to your sister as well. I ran my first 5K yesterday and my goal was to do it in under 30 mins too! I managed it in 29.37 so lots to improve on but I’m really pleased. The humidity must make it so hard to run and stay hydrated! My race was in the cold and fog!
I totally agree with you on the heat and humidity! I really felt it at the Pier, too. I changed my goal to just finishing as well. I think you’re time was awesome (no matter whether it was hot or not)!
I loved your recap too Julie! It was hot, and you rocked it anyway. Way to go on your 4th Half! Thanks for the comment on my blog 🙂 Hooray for local bloggers.