Jamestown Half Marathon Race Report

I didn't talk much about this race going into it...didn't think much about setting goals...didn't know what to expect except a lot of hills.  I was nervous and watching the weather reports since I am NOT a good runner in the heat, but God smiled down on Saturday and gave us a sea breeze and cooler temps (around 75).  Let me start from the beginning before I get ahead of myself!!!

The girls and I had spent the week in RI visiting my parents, sister, and nieces (they all live on the same property so it's an easy way to see everyone!)  Jill came down Friday to catch the tail end of VBS and some cousin time before we went to pick up our numbers.  Pick up was only a few miles away and was a breeze....I was even able to pick up a pair of new Yurbuds since mine have gone missing!  With an early wake-up looking us in the face (4am), we had a few slices of pizza and hit the hay!

Saturday morning we were up early and catching the shuttle to Jamestown by 5:15!  The weather was PERFECT!!!  The sea breeze was keeping things pretty cool!  As a side, Jamestown is one of the islands that are part of Rhode Island...I grew up on one of the them and nannied in Jamestown!  It's not a large island which is why we literally had to run from one end to the other to get in 13.1 miles!

We got to the start in plenty of time....for you know what....SELFIES!

Also this race was special in one of many ways for me...it was my 30th half marathon!!  It shaped up to be an amazing way to celebrate!

The gun went off around 6:40 and we were off!  My one goal for this race was to keep my splits fairly steady and I nailed it!  They ranged from 8:36-8:55...steady considering the MILLION hills!!!  This race was a mental challenge for me and there were times that I wanted to slow down but then I would see an orange shirt in the distance or pass a one of the awesome Team Challenge aide stations along the route and I would remember who they were running for.  They were running for CCFA...at the starting line I thanked a sweet woman for running for CCFA and told her about my Dad.  He is really struggling to find strength right now and the doctors are frankly stumped.  I refuse to let Crohn's win!  Seeing the over 200 runners there in support of finding a cure reminded me to keep pushing...to push my body to its limit...to not quit!  Those hills were steep...and plentiful...and there were times my own stomach was angry...but I couldn't quit!!!

It is hard to pinpoint each mile along the course...they were a little lost in the up and down of the hills...but it would be correct to say that even though my legs were tired, everything just clicked out there on the road.  The breeze would kick up and sun would sneak behind a cloud when I would start to feel too hot.  A downhill was on the horizon at that moment I wanted to walk.  My music kept my feet in rhythm....and those orange shirts!  Before I knew it the Newport Bridge was in my sights and so was the finish!!

1:56:32

I ran my 30th half marathon...and shed that 2 hour monkey yet again!!!  I couldn't be happier with how this race went!  I was consistent and I NEVER gave up on myself!!!

I'm off running for the week to rest my legs and nurse a wicked angry blister on my foot....but the glow of my race is still shining bright!!  Jill rocked her race too!  She has been nursing a very sore heel but that girl has no quit!!!  She battled through and did awesome!!!  Read her recap and check out her beautiful pics!!