Who needs a PR when everything else about your race day is so out of the world that it feels like a dream? Ok fine I would have taken the PR, but since I didn’t start out trying for one I am supremely happy with being only 1 minute off my best time. I have not done ANY speed work and was struggling with recovery since the Philly marathon 3 weeks ago.
PRE-RACE
With a small field of racers (4,400 registered), parking on Miami Beach was surprisingly easy and I love that. I know many runners I talked with stayed right on the beach which meant a nice little walk to and from the race allowing them to sleep until 6AM.
I ran 2.5 miles before with the idea that this would be a long training run and I would run a few more miles post race. My legs felt pretty good, but I could tell already the ocean breezes were going to be lots of fun. While running around it was highly amusing to see everyone trying to decide if the person they were looking at was one of the elites…everyone was on high alert!
Shalane and Kara coming back from warm-ups.
VIP
VIP access has now spoiled me for every other race. I’ve done this once before with an RNR race and it is so wonderful. At this particular event it was more than jus the VIP porta potty, it was yummy food, a place to sit, and a bag check! Oh plus um all the VIP’s that were there. RNR treats the runners who do a lot of their races really well and rewards them with access to this area.
Another VIP perk, the handicap porta potty was big enough to change out of my sweaty shorts!
COURSE
As stated before Miami doesn’t have hills, we have bridges. This course takes you off Miami beach via one bridge and back via another…for those not from Miami this is an amazing opportunity to look at the water for miles on end, a number of people saw dolphins and we definitely had an amazing double rainbow! Unfortunately the WIND was rockin’ and coming back to the beach felt a little like being pushed down the bridge…then running down the other side felt like you were being pushed back up.
When the race started, I made a decision not to look at my watch and not to calculate my finish time based on any mile marker clocks. More in my post about meeting Kara and Shalane on this, but basically I decided to see what would happen if I didn’t find reasons to hold myself back…I was going to simply run by feel. If I started out too fast and died, then so be it, but I was going to just run.
David asked if I always do the “thumbs up” thing…and I was intentionally doing it for him here, but I think that …yes I do it a lot!
If it hadn’t been for the strong head winds miles 8-13, I know I would have hit a PR. It certainly wasn’t an easy pace for me and I definitely slowed after a few miles in the wind, but I was able to call on a mental reserve to keep pushing.. I didn’t want to have another item to add to my list of started great, let go at the end.
Bonuses: Ocean views, palm trees, double rainbow, dolphins in the bay, light rain at the hottest point, finish on the sand, interesting Latin Bands, good water stations,
FRIENDS
There were so many wonderful Miami runners out there! Unfortunately I didn’t get to catch up with everyone afterwards as there was just so much going on…like Pitbull. Ahh amusing, but he really did get the crowd going.
I also got to meet up with blogger AskWifey and a Biggest Loser guy whose name right now escapes me…but whatever I was just feeling the love.
That evening I went out for another 2 mile run at a very slow easy pace and I’m pretty darn happy with how my body feels. I’m exhausted, but nothing really hurts so I am just wrapped in compression gear for a 6 hour flight to San Fran.
Rock N Roll has never disappointed me in any of the races that I have run and in talking with their SVP Event Director they really do try very hard to ensure everyone has a great experience…so I hope those from Vegas will give them a shot again some other time.
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Gratitude Journal
Dec 12
I am grateful for new experiences
I am grateful for David listening to me ramble
I am grateful for no parking ticket
I am grateful for crunchy apples
I am grateful for egg whites
Resolution Fun Run 2012