despite the fears that cloud our minds despite the doubts that try to blind despite the aches that hinder our stride I know we’ve trained for this
we’ve gone the distance and felt the wall we’ve supported each other through it all we’ll finish strong you can bet that for sure cause I know we’ve trained for this
we were burnt by the sun and beat by the rain we even did some running in a hurricane there were days so cold that our fingers froze so I know we’ve trained for this
our families encouraged us through each training day without their support we’d only make it half way twenty-six point two is some serious mileage but I know, and they know, we’ve trained for this
On Sunday past
I went for a dally
Up and over
the hills of Raleigh
The songs that played
were new and old
It was fun to run a
Rock n Roll
The streets were lined
with smiling faces
As runners whisked by
at their own paces
Most hoping to crush
their personal best
With no pressure at all
to run past the rest
As cold a race
I cannot remember
Twice-as-cold as a race
I ran in December
But tell me this
before I go any further
Who can predict
NC’s crazy weather?
My second Half Marathon
is now in the books
And I’m fairly happy
with the time that I took
It was definitely way more hilly
than Tobacco Road
But I’d been expecting worse
based on what I’d been told
It saddens me now to see the race leave As running it faster is something I perceive Me doing next year if given the shot But it’s not to be chance of that is nought
I went to bed early To get plenty of rest My wife was so supportive There’s no doubt that I’m blessed (Love you Lizzie!)
The morning arrived in no time
Long before the promised sun awoke
It was freezing bloody cold outside
But I had no plans to wear a coat
After multiple trips to the toilet
It was time to lace up and go
If I still need to empty my bladder
I’ll make the trip to porta-potty row
With a van full of MRC runners We traveled to the Tobacco Road race I munched on my energy gummies Hoping I could stick to my target pace
The participants all began to gather Three-thousand, two-hundred and fifty two Nine-hundred and seventy-five the full I’d be running my first Half with my crew!
The gun give a blast and off we went Passing under a huge American flag I tried to keep up with the one-fifty pacer But very soon I started to lag
As the road leveled out the crowd opened up And I managed to catch my pacers There up ahead was one of my friends She’d passed me and I didn’t see her
After two and a half miles of pounding the road The Half went left and Full went right There were plenty of water and Gatorade drinks If I partook every time, need the toilet I might
The trail was cozy for an out-and-back The lead pack were returning at my mile five As runners flew past they were followed by a breeze The atmosphere was electric, I felt so alive
I was still feeling fresh at mile marker nine By mile marker ten I was feeling half dead The energy gels had lost their effect My legs felt heavy, a battle ensued in my head
Was the last stretch and the finish was close But again my pacers had gotten away Determination kicked in and dragged me along This race won’t beat me, not today, NOT today
Downhill to the end is a wonderful thing I knew I had it in the bag Crossing the line with my arms raised high An eleven minute PR! I know, I brag