Hello everyone - Well, finally the day arrived last Sunday when I got to run the 1/2 Marathon here in San Diego (America's Finest City). I got up at 3:45am so that I could be in my car at 4:30am and drive to Balboa Park. I was ready for it and was really excited as well. Yes, getting excited when you are getting up at 3:45am sounds crazy, I know...but I was.Once I arrived at Balboa Park around 5:15am, I took the bus to the start at Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma. I arrived there around 10 til 6 in the am. It was still dark outside and it really gave me a kick to be standing there along with 7000+ other people whom were going to be running this race. It was so beautiful to see the Cargo ships come into the Harbor and watch the city come alive as the sun came up. Awesome!! Around 5 til 7am everyone was pretty much lined up for the start and the announcer asked for a moment of silence. I imagined this would look so neat from up above, all these people. Like little ants and I was one of them :0) I had forgotten that they play the national anthem before most races, so this was definitely a high light of the day for me. Hearing the National Anthem along with all these people, standing at this great site overlooking the Pacific and San Diego - Well, let's just say, that left a huge impression on me and gave me goosebumps. :0) It was a great moment. But then it was back to reality: Are you ready? "Pang"...the gun went off for the start. The crowd slowly started moving and before I knew it I was on my way. I felt so good and so happy. The people were great. No pushers and there was plenty of room to get going. This one man that I saw, was wearing a t-shirt that said: "I know I'm slow, but at least I'm out here!". I mentioned to him: Awesome shirt & I know what you mean :0) I felt the same way. I was doing it. It was so much fun. All the residents in Point Loma were wonderful. Cheering us on and hosing us down with their garden hoses. It was already pretty hot and this was just the beginning of the race.
I was glad that my knee had not started acting up, and so I was moving right along, completing 10K in just over an hour, which is good for me. I was on schedule to finish it within the 2.5 hour time frame. Yes!! But, at mile 11 came that darn hill I was warned about. I'm okay with hills and do okay running up them, but my goodness, this was the mother of them all!! Wow, it seemed like there was no end to it. It was 2 miles long and constantly uphill. I had to walk most of it due to my knee, so that was too bad, but at least I wasn't the only one who had trouble with it. It was a tough one, especially in the heat. Anyway, once I finally made it up the hill, I had 1 mile to go and that was great. There were lots of spectators cheering us on and that helps so much, especially for those last few miles, when it gets hard. When I saw the finish, I honestly, got tears in my eyes. I was proud of myself. I made it. 2 hours and 47 minutes later, but I made it!! The best part was that Jose and the boys were waiting for me with flowers and big smiles. I so appreciated them being there. It was the best. Even my friend, Nahomi and her husband, Minoru whom also ran it (time: 1 hour and 45 min) had waited for me to finish. That was so nice of them. I felt good and just had to ice my knee for a while, but I felt GREAT.
I would like to do another half in November to see what my time would be without an enourmous hill. I will keep you all posted. Take care and for those of you thinking of doing something like this - I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!
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