Friday, May 11, 2012

This Half Marathon is Really Gonna Happen

The reality of this race on Sunday just hit me like a ton of bricks...  Gob-smacked me, in fact.


Just after lunch we drove to the running store that is the major sponsor of the race, to pick up our bibs and goodie packets.

There was a beautiful Asics shirt and a pair of cool little Asics socks for each of us... along with our race bibs and some pins. 


There are 2 strips on the back of the bib that have timing chips in them... apparently makes for easier and more accurate splits and results, so as long as I wear it, and don't lose it, I will get an official race time when it is all over with.

The shirts are lovely.  The women's shirt is a slim fitting style with curvy lines in a beautiful aqua, which is my favorite color, you must know by now... and the men's is a lovely bright blue... boxy style, longer in the back.  Very nice.  (Don't worry, we will not embarrass ourselves and wear them on Sunday, at least till we get home and have showered.  We MAY wear them to our own private little Sunday night celebration... and so not to jinx anything, I haven't even tried it on or taken the tags off yet.)

So, we found out about parking and some other details... like water stations, washrooms, and the like.

This is the 8th year for this event and they have added a 5k race to it this year.  They are going to start the 5k runners and the half marathon runners at the same time, and the routes start out the same and then the 5k veers off.  It sounds confusing to me and I have looked at the maps... and I have decided that we are going to use the early start option.

Instead of starting at 8 a.m. with the masses, we are going to start at 7 a.m. with the slower runners and walkers.  I had been keeping this option open in the back of my mind since we first registered for this race last October.  They suggest you can avail yourself of the early start if you will take longer than 2-1/2 hours to complete the half.... and I likely will, so we will start at 7 a.m. and see how it all goes. 

I will be more comfortable in a start with fewer people as this is my first real race and that 'crowd' thing intimidates me.   For the first time, this will be better.

So, today I am making lists... breakfast before the race, items for the race: fuel/hydration, clothing from head to toe, extras - camera, sunglasses, sunblock for lips, kleenex... and items for after: clothing, towels, recovery fuel/hydration, keys, money, drivers licence.

It is going to happen!  I am going to run a half marathon on Sunday morning and earn my beautiful sea blue shirt.  Hurray!

22 comments:

  1. You're gonna do wonderfully! Have a great time :D

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  2. I am so excited for you!!! Best of luck and have fun! I can't wait to hear all about it! :)

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  3. You're going to do great! That's really neat that you guys got socks in addition to the shirt.

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  4. I love the shirts! Such great colors:) Cool that you got socks too! Take a deep breath, you have worked hard and you are ready for this! Woohoo! Go Elle and Captain!

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  5. YEA! You will do great. Have fun and take it all in. I remember my 1st race (hubby and I walked the Reggae half marathon in Jamaica in 2010) and it was awesome. It was not easy walking that is for sure but some health stuff kept me from running. But I finished!

    Go earn that shirt!

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  6. So exciting- your big day is here! Enjoy the whole experience. You trained well, go have a blast!

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  7. Yeah! Your day is here. You and Captain have been training so hard and so well for this day. I cannot wait to read all about your huge accomplishment!

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  8. You are going to do GREAT! Good luck!!!

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  9. You are going to do GREAT! Good luck!!

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  10. You can do it!! How exciting :) I remember all the emotions I was feeling before my first last year. When you cross that finish line, you're going to feel so so proud. Can't wait to read about your day! Rest up! :D

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  11. I am so excited for you guys! And what great goodie bags too! I've been following along for a lot of your training and you guys seem so ready. I just know you're going to love it. Looking forward to reading all about it. Until then, rest up and enjoy the feeling of knowing you're ready!

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  12. Good luck! Wow those shirts are awesome! You picked a good race with nice goodies! I like the idea of starting early; it keeps you from having too many people around you, plus it's cooler, which is usually a plus. The only thing is...do you still have the water stops or are they set up later? Make sure you have water if they don't! You are going to rock this and then you can put on your shirt and strut around like Mick Jagger.

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  13. First of all (we have to get the important stuff out of the way, after all!!) I LOVE THAT SHIRT!! The color is gorgeous. As you know, it was my mom's favorite color too - and I think it will look so pretty on you! I can't wait to see pictures!! I CANNOT get one more white race T-Shirt this summer!! I have so many! LOVE the blues!!

    There, now - I am so unbelievably proud and excited for you and The Captain to run this race. You have worked so hard for this, my friend, and I cannot wait to see your smiling face at the finish line. I know you will do this and I wish I could be there on race day. I'm in no shape to kick out a half right now, obviously, but I would hobble along on the sidelines screaming my head off. I would even bring a cowbell!! ;)

    I know how incredibly nervous I was before my very first half. And, frankly, as I tell my runners, everything I thought could go wrong in that race did so IT DOESN'T MATTER! I immediately crossed that finish line and said, "That was awful! When's the next one?!" And then I burst into tears. I cry at every race, always have and I guess I always will. My mom wouldn't stop hugging me and I just wanted to be left alone at the time because I was sore, sweaty, smelly and an emotional wreck!! :) It is a beautiful memory looking back. :) She was at every finish line from then on too!!

    I know you and The Captain will create your own beautiful memory tomorrow. And you will never forget it either. If things go wrong, you'll adapt and keep moving and YOU WILL CROSS THAT FINISH LINE! Trust in your training, run your own race and above all else, HAVE FUN! I definitely would start at the earlier time. I really wish we had that option at the races around here, just in case. It is nice to know you will not have to rush or really even worry about finishing "in time." Just think, no matter when you finish, you will live there with a big, shiny medal and a new PR! :)

    One request, PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Run strong, my friend. Have a blast. I'm rooting for you every step of the way!!!!

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  14. Good luck! You will be awesome!! Great idea to start out a bit earlier then the rest - I know it will help your concerns! Enjoy it!

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  15. Have a great first race!!!!! Soak it all up!

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  16. I've been thinking about you, I hope you had a wonderful race this morning!!!! Enjoy the post-race relaxation, you totally deserve it :)

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  17. Good luck on your half!! Love that blue shirt!

    Would you be able to add an email subscription button so I can follow your blog that way?? :)

    Shannon
    http://www.irunreadteach.wordpress.com

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  18. AH! I hope you loved it! Can't wait to hear all about it!

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  19. How did it go?! Have been avidly watching your twitter feed and blog in anticipation :) xx

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  20. oh my gosh, can't wait to hear all about it...and hope you LOVED it and ROCKED it!!!!!!

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  21. Cannot wait to hear how it all went Elle! I was thinking of both of you constantly.

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