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Why run a half marathon during the hottest part of the year in Texas? Let me replay the scenario for you.
Rich: Hey Susan, you want to run a half with me in a few weeks?
RS: In August, in Texas, are you crazy?
Rich: Please, please, please, I really need someone to pace me and it’ll be a lot of fun, I promise. I’m begging, pleeeaassse, for me.
RS: But Rich, Coach David has 23 miles on my schedule for that day and Coach David is very serious about my training.
Rich: But Susan, didn’t you know that running 13.1 miles at race pace is exactly like running 23 miles at training pace. It’s totally okay, David will be fine with it.
RS: Really? Okay then, if it will make David happy, count me in.*
When I left the house at 5:00 AM this morning it was 78 degrees with 81% humidity. I reckon when the rain left, it took away those blessed few days of cool mornings. I’m not sure what the temperature was at the start of the race but my feet were already soaked.
Through the first half of the race we kept a really steady pace. Rich announced at the halfway point we were at 1:02 – a 9:27 pace. Awesome, if I could keep this up I knew I could PR, or get really close.
Rich and I parted ways for a bit and then things kind of went like this – it got hotter, it got sunnier, I got sweatier, and I got slower. But I never stopped running – except for a few seconds here and there to sip water because I have yet to figure out that swallowing while running phenomenon that the rest of the world can manage. The important thing here to note is that I ran the whole time, NO WALK BREAKS. That’s a big deal for me.
Somewhere around mile 12.5 Rich and I found each other again. We hugged and shared a special moment before we finished the race together hand-in-hand. Okay, we technically weren’t hand-in-hand, but we did high five as we crossed the finish line in 2:15:58 – a 10:22 pace.
Reality strikes, it was slow. I so much wanted to run a 2-hour half, but I felt I ran really strong. It was fun too, despite the heat: 87 degrees and 57% humidity by the time we finished.
*Conversation may not be accurate to all parties due to recent heat exposure.
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{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
that’s great! how fun, and Rich is so handsome, (sorry just wanted to add that in lol) way to go guys!
I’ll bet you could do a 2 hour half in decent weather. Congrats on your 2:15. Well done!
Nice job on the Half Marathon. Despite the heat and humidity, your finish time looks awesome! Sure a helluva lot better than I would do!
BTW, whatcha drinkin’ there?
Wow! Good job, Susan!
* Hey, next time you want to exercise literary license with the official transcripts, at least air-brush me some six-pack abs while you’re at it
Suz! Awesome girl!
Great race!! It was freaking humid here too, and it does make you run slower, you don’t have gills after all! BTW – you look slimmer and toned up, those torture classes are paying off!
there are easier ways to get a wet t-shirt.
that sounds miserable. and you mocked my decision-making skills. pah and double pah pah!
Great job!! I can’t imagine a half in the South in August!! Your training for Chicago is going GREAT!
You are doing so well! And after all those horrendous leg tortures too!
I can’t imagine running that long in the humid conditions like you faced!
Hooray for the 2:15 finish…I dream of such things… BTW heat, humidity, are also cause for some post-race, medicinal beer (don’t think I didn’t notice!)
Well done on running all the way. That *IS* a big deal. I’m siding with 21C-mum. On a cool still day, you have a sub-2 there for the taking (esp if you can bribe Massoman to pace you).
Rich, mate… I’m not sure coach David would be singing hallelujah about you diverting Susan’s training plan
Good job, especially since it was so hot.
Very good time for those conditions. That Rich can be quite persuasive, can’t he?
Congratulations, Susan! That’s brutal heat, for running atleast, but you took the challenge anyways.
Humidity and heat just suck the life out of you…especially as a runner …. you are so much closer to the road and the heat that comes off the asphalt. Way to stick it out! You look so skinny!
Thats a good time whit that hot half marathon!…Its like de olympic marathon in China!!.
Thanks for reading and commenting on mine log!.
You can translating my webpage into your favorite language whit google on my site. Not always 100% correct, but fun guaranteed!.
http://translate.google.com/translate?client=tmpg&hl=nl&u=http://rinusrunning.punt.nl/&langpair=nl|en
Groet Rinus.
Susan, sorry, wrong link:
http://translate.google.com/translate?client=tmpg&hl=nl&u=http://rinusrunning.punt.nl/&langpair=nl|en
You will crush the 2 hour mark if you run in *normal* weather! Hats off to you for even doing that race to begin with, and for finishing strong with no walk breaks. You’re AWESOME.
Nice job.
Eww. He’s all sweaty!
how did I miss this??!?! why don’t people tell me these things!
holy cow you look thin! and holy cow you are pacing Richie!!!
I AM SO IMPRESSED!!!!! well done!
Great job! I have heard hell stories from this race and you pulled off like a champ in the brutal heat and humidity.