I ran the 2nd half of the San Francisco Marathon on Sunday.
The 2nd Half Marathon covers the second half of The San Francisco Marathon™ course with a slight deviation at Mile 2. The race starts in at Spreckel's Lake in Golden Gate Park and finishes on the Embarcadero (near the Ferry Building). It passes through Haight/Ashbury, the Mission District, into Mission Bay, and passes AT&T Park, finishing just before the Ferry Building.
and for the first time since 2003 I managed to have a great and fast (for me) race :o) My final time was 2:18:19 which was a PR. My last best time was in 2003 at the Avenue of the Giants Race and it was 2:19:28. YIPEEE!!! The races after that have been 2:20, 2:30 and 2:40ish time frame. I somehow progressively got worse instead of better :o(
I fully believe that the cross training with my trainer is what paid off and what has made me a much stronger runner because honestly I did not train as well as I should have for this race. I was suppose to be running Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and that did NOT happen, I was mostly just running on Saturday's and going to the gym twice a week.
I loved the race although I think because there were 3 different races doing on (2 half marathons and a full) it probably wasn't the most easiest race to spectate, I'm not sure, it seemed like there were many parts where no one was cheering and it got quiet out there. The race itself was well supported with water, cytomax and GU. I'm also very thankful that Olivia convinced me to do the second half and not the first. It was a lot less hilly although there were a lot of gradual inclines and it also started at 8:30 :o) I didn't have to get up til 6am which was very nice. Hubby dropped us off at the start line and then him and my parents went to mile 6. It was really nice to see them there but I was feeling so good that I didn't want to stop. I waved hello at them and threw my long sleeve shirt at Rocky and then kept going.
I believe they tried to see us at 9 but missed us so we just saw them again at the finish line. We got lots and lots of goodies at the finish although next time they need to give us a bag to put them all in. I could barely carry it all. I'm very happy I did this race, it's one I hadn't done before and I'm so happy with the way I performed :o) YAY for a good race.
Next......well, next might be San Jose Rock and Roll which I have a few more days to decide on before the price goes up or I may just wait to do Nike in October. I would love to do San Jose because it's a flatter course and maybe I could even get a better time but we shall see.
THANK YOU!!! to my hubby for skipping out his bike ride to come cheer me on and to my parents for getting up at the crack of dawn to join them.
