aramco houston half marathon RR

I love this race, I love this race, I LOVE THIS RACE.

If every half marathon were like this, or if I could just run this one every single weekend, I would be perfectly content.  I always said, oh, yeah, it's a good one.  But now it's been decided - this is my favorite race.

When I last left you, I had successfully completed the 5K with the bf.  After the race, we got some free cheeseburgers from a Jack-in-the-box food truck, and walked back to the hotel.  Where I ate another breakfast.  Thank you, Hilton Honors gold status and your awesome lounge!

So then we had a whole entire day with nothing to do... luckily I found a brewery in the area to go to!  For $8, we got 4 drink tokens and a glass, and got to sit on the floor of a giant tasting hall with strangers.  BEST DAY EVER.  Lucky I read on the website that you bring your own snacks, because they don't sell food there!  Next year, we are bringing my Soldier Field blanket :)

The bf & I, enjoying the great beer at Saint Arnold's Brewery

We walked back from the brewery, went to an awesome Mexican restaurant for a late lunch, and then watched football all evening until it was time for bed.

I slept through my first alarm, but woke up for the second one.  I got dressed, drank half a can of Diet Coke (half the can is way easier on my stomach then the full can), ate some fruit snacks, and watched ESPN.  Then it was time to head to the start corrals!

When I got outside, I panicked.  It was COLD, windy, oh, and pouring rain.  OMG YUCK.

I'm not in a cage, I swear

Getting ready for a long run in the rain

Just as I entered my start corral, it started POURING.  The rain was cold, and the wind had me soaked within a few seconds.  OH GOD.  I am definitely regretting not putting my capris in my suitcase!  I thought it would be warmer :(

After some "inspirational" words from Ryan Hall (*snicker* - he thanked his sponsors and name-dropped like the tool he is - more on my beef with Ryan Hall in another post), we were OFF!

Mile 1:  It's still raining, and I am already soaked all over, including my feet.  I'm just trying really hard in this mile to start out conservatively and not slip on any road lines or decals.  8:18

Mile 2:  I know I've complained before about how crowded these first 2 miles are, but this year, I am not having that problem.  I wonder if people woke up, saw the pouring rain, and went back to sleep.  8:16

Mile 3:  I'm cold and completely soaked through, so I decide to run faster.  The faster I run, the faster I will be done, and in my nice warm hotel room with food.  7:59

Mile 4:  My favorite part of any half marathon = SINGLE DIGITS TO GO!!!  8:20

Mile 5:  This is one of the best parts of this course - we're running through a neighborhood, and there's people EVERYWHERE outside cheering.  I did not expect this.  There were SO MANY people cheering, and they still had homemade signs, and they still brought out music.  They just wore raincoats, and carried golf umbrellas, but they were THERE.  I even saw a girl with a big garbage bag around her leg cast, standing on the side of the course yelling her head off.  It was cool to see.  8:01

Mile 6:  It was during this mile that I met another Half Fanatic to run with.  Thanks for the chat, Raul!  8:18

Mile 7:  I've lost my new friend, but I saw the greatest sign ever... "I like guys who finish."  I laughed.  LOUD.  8:20

Mile 8:  I can't believe how great I feel.  When I woke up this morning, I didn't want to run at all.  I was, for lack of a better word, NERVOUS.  I've done these 100 times, and I still get nervous that I won't be able to complete the distance.  But then once I start running, everything is better, and I feel invincible.  7:59

Mile 9:  Hit the turnaround, and oh man, I am totally running fast.  I feel fantastic, and I know for sure that I'm going to beat my (strep throat) time from last year.  8:10

Mile 10:  More rain.  And the wind.  OH, THE WIND!  We're running right into it now.  I'm still soaked, and I regret very much ditching my gloves at mile 7.  My hands are cold!  8:01

Mile 11:  Heading into the home stretch!  There's an American flag suspended between 2 fire truck ladders, but the wind has twisted it upon itself, so it's in a giant ball instead of hanging.  I'm intrigued by the flag, and stare at it until I pass it.  I think this means that I need to be done running now.  8:13

Mile 12:  There was a big group of people with beer on the side of the course.  I ran past them and asked for beer.  They were surprised that I took them up on their generous offer.  Then they cheered for me as I drank my suds and ran towards the finish line.  8:05

Mile 13:  We are in the middle of downtown, running down a straight street that I have run 3 times now during this race.  The wind is at my back, and as I pass the curb where I sat and watched the Olympic Marathon Trials last year, I channel my inner Shalane and just TAKE OFF.  I run absolutely as fast as I can to get to the finish.  Best mile of the day, by far.  7:26

Mile 13.25:  I pass the mile 13 marker, and sprint as fast as I can for the finish line.  I couldn't resist, I did the MoBot as I crossed the finish line.  1:43

MO-BOT!

Crossing the finish line!

FINAL TIME:  1:47:07
AVERAGE PACE:  8:05
LESSON LEARNED:  ALWAYS pack that pair of capris.  If it's cold and windy and raining, you will want them, and you will regret that you didn't bring them.
NEXT PIKERMI:  Rock n Roll Arizona Half Marathon, 1.20.2013

I love the guy posing behind me... HAH!

After I crossed the finish line, I got my medal and headed inside the convention center for my finisher t-shirt and the best part of this race... THE HOT BREAKFAST!  Scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, ice cream sandwiches, diet pop, yogurt... I was in heaven.  I wolfed down my breakfast like I had never seen food before, and then found the tent to get my extra medal.  Of course, it was in the most inconvenient place ever.  I got my medal, watched the marathon winner cross the finish line, and went back to my hotel.  I was soaking wet, shivering, and my medals were clinking, but I was SO HAPPY.  It's a Houston PR for my favorite race, and I can't wait to come back in 2014 :)

SWAG!

2013 Pikermi #1 / Overall Pikermi #62