I firstly want to give thanks to the Florida Road Races for putting on the 10th Annual Halloween Halfathon (back in 2018) and made my first half marathon experience so enjoyable.
How it started
Before my first half marathon, I had run 5k’s, 10k’s and only one 15k. I never thought in my wildest dreams I would ever run the entire length of a half marathon. Then one day after reading about crazy running challenges, looking up races and getting some extra encouragement from my good friend Ron Tiller, I decided to run 13.1 miles on my 31’s birthday. A couple years later this also inspired me to run 33k on my 33rd birthday.
This distance was all new to me and unfamiliar territory for both my body and my mind. I did my research, asked for advice from my friends in my running club and tried to mentally prepare for what I was getting myself into. The last thing I wanted to do is sign up for something I wasn’t ready for.
The morning of the big race was here and the nerves started to sink in. Thankfully, this was a Halloween race and everyone dressed up from funny animal costumes to a guy wearing only a speedo and running shoes. It’s difficult to be nervous when you’re laughing at the guy about to run a half marathon wearing a plastic dog cone and a shirt with his small dog also wearing a dog cone.
What I learned
- Increase miles each week by 10%
- What nutrition you eat for breakfast before a long run makes a difference in how your body will perform
- Oatmeal, honey, whey protein, chia seeds, peanut butter powder and banana works best for me
- How to train my mind to just have fun by listening to good music you can dance to
The calm before the storm
The announcer started to call everyone to line up, it was time. My heart started to beat fast and my legs were warmed up. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and reminded myself of my main goal for this race “Just finish without walking”.
For some reason before starting my long runs, I started talking to myself and would say “Welp, see you in X miles”. I have no idea how it started but it happened and now I subconsciously do before almost every long run (sometimes even say it before short runs).
The national anthem finished, the gun was in the air, BANG! The race had started. “Welp, see you in 13.1 miles.”
What I learned
- Your nerves can tighten up your muscles and change the outcome of your race
- Take a deep breath, try to relax and trust your training
- Say your goals out loud so you can hear them, this will remind you of what is important and keep you on track
During the race
As much as I wanted to bolt out from the starting line, I had to remember that this is a long race and every ounce of energy matters. My goal was to finish without walking and that won’t be possible if I run too fast from the very start.
Mile after mile went by and my training was paying off. I was passing some runners while other runners were passing me. By runners I mean people dressed up as a hotdog or in a full suite and tie. My first half marathon was going as planned and I was fully entertained.
Towards the end of the race, I would usually pick out someone ahead of me to try and pass or try to catch for some extra motivation. But instead, it ended up being an older woman dressed up as a goose who I was mentally competing with. She was running comfortably with a long gooseneck flapping side to side while I was huffing and puffing full steam ahead. This was enough to keep me going until I could finally hear the music at the finish line.
What I learned
- Never try to run someone else’s race, stick to your training plan and go at your own pace
- The first mile will either make you or break you, start slow and increase your speed slowly throughout the race
- Find the pacer with the time you want and always keep them in sight
- If you are struggling, pick out a runner ahead of you and push yourself to catch up to them, let your competitive side come out
Finishing the race
My knee was sore, my phone randomly stopped playing music and I was exhausted. “Just finish without walking” is all I kept thinking. The final turn of the race was so close and I could hear the music playing at the finish line.
All the frustration and issues magically vanished when I could hear the announcer calling out runners who were finishing the race. He would call them by the costume they were wearing so what he was saying was hilarious. If you were a person not running in the race and heard what he was saying, you might have scratched your head and asked yourself why someone gave this person a microphone.
I didn’t dress up for this race as I was going to have a hard enough time just finishing without a costume. I wore a replica US men’s national soccer team jersey during this race. The announcer noticed and made me finish the race with a smile. “Mr. USA, you are a half marathon finisher!”
After I crossed the finish line, my friend Ron was waiting for me to congratulate me on a new PR distance. I grabbed my medal and my wobbly legs were screaming at me to sit down. “No, no, you can’t sit. You need to keep walking around so your legs don’t cramp up” Ron said. He helped me up and we both walked around a little.
This race was in walking distance to a beach. After the race was over, I walked down to the water, took my shoes off and stuck my feet in. I wanted to soak in everything that just happened and took time to reflect on what I just accomplished.
What I learned
- Pain is temporary and it will pass
- Never sit down after a long run, you will recover faster if you keep walking
- If you think you are tired, you still have more energy than you think
- Soak it it all in when you cross the finish line, it will come and go so fast
- Take a minute and just give yourself a pat on the back, no matter if your performance was perfect or subpar
Final thoughts
This is why we run these races. For the feeling of accomplishment, for beating the odds and for proving we are stronger than we think. My first half marathon experience was so rewarding for me because I had never in my wildest dreams thought I would be able to run that distance. Without having a goal in front of you to work towards, you will always be spinning your tires. Find out what you want and go for it!
What I learned
- Anything is possible!
Have you run a half marathon? How was your experience? What did you learn along the way?