What a great race. I have to say that i’m quite glad to have it behind me, but it was such a fun day. And a beautiful day for running. At 6:30 on race morning was a mild 50 degrees, which feels a bit chilly if you’re standing still but quickly feels wonderful once you get warmed up. I finished in 2:23:03, which is about what i expected. I’m very pleased overall.
My parents drove to Raleigh Friday afternoon and picked me up after work, and we left Raleigh at 5 pm to get to the Outer Banks around 9:30. We checked in to our cottage (very cute and right on the beach), then went to the grocery store to get the supplies we wanted for the weekend. My plan was to go to bed early so i could get up early Saturday, thus being able to go to sleep early Saturday night. That all worked out as planned.
Saturday was a beautiful day, but very windy. It was relaxing, just hanging out with my parents. We had a nice breakfast, then went to the Race Expo to get my race booty. Afterwards we drove the course and identified the spectator spots as well as scouted the end location, identifying a place to meet up at the end. We went to a seafood restaurant for lunch, then chilled in and about the cottage.
Race morning, we all got up and ready with no rush. I remembered to wear my GPS watch (on which i had performed digital CPR so it was now charged and working). When we stepped outside, i was relieved to see that the wind, which had been angry and vicious the previous two days, had died down to basically nothing. Mom and Dad drove me to the race site and waited with me for the race to start.
Mile 1: Due to the large number of entrants (near 5000), they started us in corrals according to your pace. The benefit as i saw it was that i started with people who were about my pace, so i didn’t start off accidentally too fast trying to keep up with the crowd. I did not warm up before the race, so this was my warm-up mile. Everyone around me was in good spirits. 10:26
Mile 2: In the second mile, we turned off the main road and into some neighborhoods. We ran by the sound, with the bridge shimmering in the distant haze. Someone yelled “There’s our bridge!” to many cheers. I heard someone mutter “that doesn’t look so bad, i’m just worried about getting from here to there.” I have to say, i felt similarly. 10:26
Mile 3: There was a water station at the end of Mile 2, which i bypassed, feeling great and not yet in need of replenishment. At this point i was totally warm and starting to feel good. We turned back onto the main road. My “fuzzy brain” had kicked in (i can never think well or do math while running), and i couldn’t remember where the first spectator spot was. Was it on this mile? Not sure, but i kept a good eye on the spectators, eagerly looking forward to seeing my fans. 9:58
Mile 4: Everything had been flat so far, and this mile is no exception. I see the Outer Banks Mall up ahead, and realize that’s where the first spectator spot was. We passed another water stop, and i grabbed a quick drink, but i really did not want my parents to “catch” me walking on camera so i only took two quick sips of water before rolling along. Shortly after the water, there they were! I was so excited to see them. 10:20
Mile 5: The course turned into more neighborhoods, and again we ran along the sound for a bit, gratifyingly able to see that the bridge was that much closer. I felt great during this mile. There were a few minor ups and downs here, and lots of people who either lived there or were renting who had turned up their house stereos and pumped out the music. 9:59
Mile 6: Still in neighborhoods, i really started craving water during this mile, and i lagged a bit. Also, my lips were chapped. I saw a medical station and ran to grab a popsicle stick of vaseline that the race folks graciously provide. Someone passed me and said “don’t eat that”. Ha. The water station was immediately after the med station, so i also grabbed a water cup AND a gatorade cup, and walked for about 40 seconds to medicate my lips and enjoy my drinks. 10:59
Mile 7: We turned back onto the main road (no more neighborhoods after this point). I could see the Outlet Mall sign up ahead, which was where my parents were. But wait! There they were standing on the road significantly BEFORE the outlet mall. I was surprised and gleeful to see them again. I high-fived Dad and kept going. At least they hadn’t caught me walking! As they were driving to the next spot, they passed me and found me in the crowd. I posted this picture they took from the car in the Sunday Somethings, but i love it so much here it is again. I still look happy and energetic, don’t i? 10:37
Mile 8: Still feeling pretty good here, but starting to flag. We made the turn onto the long stretch across the water. The bridge was still way ahead, but because you can see it, it feels like it should be closer. I was happy to get water and gatorade again in the middle of this mile, walking only long enough to drink the gatorade without choking, then pouring the water on my face. It felt good! 10:26
Mile 9: Mom and Dad surprised me here. We had only planned the first two spectator spots, but it is very easy for spectators to park on one side of the road, get out and wait, then drive just a little further. They found a public parking place along the sound and caught me right at a water stop. I was very happy to have another water stop already, and needed it enough that i didn’t care that Mom and Dad got some pictures of me double-fisting some liquid sustenance. Mayhap some energy gels would have helped my energy levels, but i haven’t experimented with those, and race day isn’t the day to do it. 11:06
Mile 10: The Bridge Mile. It was beautiful crossing the bridge, truly, and i was able to look around and appreciate it, but i was getting tired. Mile 10 ends at the apex of the bridge. No spectators here – too dangerous. I passed a lot of people who were walking up the incline, but i was determined not to, no matter how slow of a run it was. Made it. 11:55
Mile 11: Downhill off the bridge, and a lovely water station awaits. Mom and Dad surprised me again here, getting a couple of shots of the runners coming off the bridge. I look a lot more tired here, and i was. 11:48
Mile 12: This mile felt really long. The bridge was done, but the race wasn’t over yet. The turn to Manteo would signal the end to this mile. There were highway signs pointing out that the turn to Manteo was just ahead, and if you were in a car, it would be “just ahead” but on foot it took awhile to get to the intersection. 12:02
Mile 13: Finally on the home stretch, into downtown Manteo. Lots of spectators around, calling out your name, thanks to the race bibs which printed your first name in big letters. Lots of people saying “you’re almost there!” It makes a difference, having people say “Come on, Audrey!” 11:52
Final .1: The final short stretch i did pick up the pace and even sprinted at the end to keep someone from passing me. It felt good. 1:01
Final time 2:23:03.
My parents just missed me at the end, i think. Traffic was detoured all the way back to the mainland and could only access Manteo by going in “the back way”. They must have gotten there mere seconds after i crossed, based on the time they saw on the gun clock. But for me, seeing them all those times along the course, being surprised by them on the side of the road in unexpected places, getting to run alongside the car with them as they were inching along in traffic, was worth it.
I have to give a big thank-you to my parents for chasing me around the race all day, to Mom for making her famous twice-baked spaghetti for me as a special request, and for Dad for driving me home Sunday afternoon. I loved having you there!
Tags: running
