Space Coast Half Marathon

I woke this morning after a very rough night of very little sleep. I turned on the tv and checked the weather mid 50s with 73% humidity. I prayed it wouldn't get much warmer. I called Sueann and made sure she was up. I was tired and not feeling motivated. I got dressed and ready, made my muffin with laughing cow cheese, grabbed my banana, water and gear and headed out the door. I picked Sueann up and headed to the race site in Cocoa, it was at the same race site as Pumpkins so we knew right were to go!


We pull in at the race site, get our D tags and bibs on and headed for the park. It was chilly right next to the water. As we got into the park we called Suezette and found her and her husband. I texted Jeanine to let her know we were there. They found us and we all chit chatted before Jeanine and CC went to get their fuel belts and find Magda. We hit the potties 3 times before race start. Nerves!!

As we approach the start line the realization of how big this race was became obvious. Suezette, Sueann and I split from Jeanine, CC and Magda and slid into the crowd. We got our picture taken as the crowd started moving. We had no idea the race had started. We slowly start walking forward, speeding up as we get close to the start mats. We run through Cocoa Village and out onto a road that runs alongside the intercoastal, the weather is perfect out and even though it is still dark the Christmas lights on houses and the lights on the water make this a peaceful, scenic run.

The first 2 miles my ankle was burning, but it let up. I lost track of when I lost Sueann and Suezette, but by mile 4 Suezette had caught up with me. We chatted and time flew by, we passed Jeff Galloway (he was already headed back from the turn around) and his wife and Suezette pointed them out to me. We took our first walk break at the turn around, it was a hair pin turn and we had just grabbed water. Suezette also took the time to let her husband know she was 1/2 done. We were still feeling good and having fun conversation. Suezette was terrified of the 11 mile mark, I kept reassuring her, I'd be there, I'd drag her across that finish line if I had to. We ran past the 11 mile mark and she was feeling good! I was starting to fatigue, the very little sleep I had gotten over the last 4 days was kicking in. At 12.5 miles I told Suezette to finish strong, she felt bad for leaving me, but I wanted her to make her goal. She finished at 2:36:01, I finished right behind her at 2:36:41. Sueann was only 5 minutes behind us. CC and Jeanine had finished just over 2 hours.

Once we got across the finish, we got our medals and beach towels, took pictures with the "finisher astronaut" and then went and grabbed a slice of pizza and water and streched. We stayed and waited on Magda (Smurfette) to come in from her marathon to cheer her in and then we all said our goodbyes. Sueann and I headed home to some hot epsom salt baths!

I'm now finally finishing this...sitting on the couch with thermacare wraps around my knees, the only thing bothering me. They were like this after the 15K and the next day they were fine. Today I didn't have the bad groin pain, so I think tomorrow I will be better than after the 15K! I think the marathon is becoming more attainable! I have 5 months left and a lot of ground to make up after my time off. I know I have plenty of time, I know what I am capable of. I know with Sueann and all my Spark friends, family and friends off of Spark I can so do it! If I can pull off a half without training properly (NOT RECOMMENDED!) I know with training that I am capable of anything!!

Paul DeBryun 15K

Wow! I am still in shock. I stayed up later than planned last night watching Up with the family. I had a horrible time getting to sleep (last I looked at the clock it was after 11. When the alarm went off at 3:45 all I wanted to do was go back to bed!!! I don't know how Jeanine and CC got up as early as they did! I got around, took a bath (forgot to shave last night LOL.) I e-mailed back and forth with Sueann, got a call from Jeanine when they got into New Smyrna and headed out the door to get Sueann.


The morning was cool and clear at around 55, the temp fell off when we got to the restaurant the race was starting at. We found Jeanine and CC and went through all the pre-race stuff. When it was time to line up the 30Kers (CC and Jeanine) were starting further back and on the other side of A1A. When we started I hung with Sueann, I stayed with her the first 3 miles before I slowly started pulling away. We saw the most beautiful sunrise with a cloud bank on the horizon and waves crashing on the beach. I really wished I had had my camera! I took it really easy and ran my slowest 5K ever I had just passed the 5K mark when the winner flew by the other way..he took it in under 60 minutes (I think they said 53 and some change)...HOLY SPEED DEMON!!! Then a slow 10K, I don't know if it was my slowest, I'd have to go back and look. I was starting to get fatigued at 7 miles, got a gel down and started feeling better. I saw Jeanine and CC going into their 2nd 15K in the last 1/2 mile of mine. I was stoked, I hadn't walked a pace, not even for water or gels. I actually managed to get to an 8:18/mile for the end. I had no idea when I got to the finish I had gashed a toe open with a toenail from another toe. My shoe was covered in blood, they told me when I came across the finish. I had noticed my sock sticking to me and was confused after the first 5 miles but ignored it. There was enough blood I couldn't find where it was coming from and I couldn't tell where it was coming from. The one day I forget my flip flops! I crossed the finish line at 1:48:42. Sueann crossed 4 minutes behind me, she also ran the whole thing!!!!

I know now I'll be OK for Space Coast as long as I keep it steady. I need to stretch better after, I'm a little sore now, but I'm so happy.

I even had negative splits!!! First 5K - 37:44 2nd 5K - 36:32 and the final 5K - 34:26. Avg Pace was 11:44. Considering the farthest I've run in over 2 months was the 5 miles I pulled Friday...HOLY COW!!!!!!!!!!

I will run that race again, it was nice. We ran asphalt, hard packed sand, cement and wooden boardwalk. My favorite part!!!! I always love running the boardwalk!!

I have to give CC kudos for pulling off a 30K!! You did awesome CC!! I also want to give Jeanine a huge kudos, she attempted a 30K with the flu! I had no idea she was that sick, that is hard core!!!! Awesome job, you almost had it!!!!!! I'm soooo proud of the 3 girls (Sueann, CC and Jeanine) who ran the race today I can't even put it into words!!!

I'm ready for a nap! I think I darn well deserve it! I now know, I was made for distance not speed! I enjoyed the 15K distance the most of the distances I've done, I'm think the 15K or the 1/2 may just be my distance!!

Paint the Town 5K

Most of you know I've been battling some hip issues for the last 2 months. It has been really hard on me as I haven't been able to run without pain and extreme tightness when I am done. I had a massage Thursday with a new therapist who spent a lot of time working the kinetic chain of my left side. He worked my back, my buttock and my leg, paying attention to the TFL, gluteus medius, minimus, the piriformis and the IT band. I had no idea my left IT band was that tight! He loosened it some, I hydrated really well and did a yoga stretch before bed like he recommended. Friday and Saturday, I worked with the foam roller and stretched before bed, like advised.


I got up this morning, my right side was sore! Not my left. What the heck? It quickly worked itself out and I spent some time on the roller working my glutes and left IT band. I got ready and was feeling OK. I knew the test is when I would have to get out of the car, if it hurts the run is going to suck. It didn't bother me that bad. I didn't want to risk a big warm up to where I might inflame the area. We lined up, it was really breezy and starting to get warm. The first mile went well, but 1.25 I had to stop and walk, my lungs hated me. I am soooo out of shape from not being able to run. I walked for a minute then ran some more until my lungs needed another break, this went on for the rest of the race. At 2.85 miles I decided no matter how hard my lungs had to work I was going to finish strong and at least get a course record. I knew at the beginning there would be no PR. I came around the corner and the wind hit me like a brick wall, I slowed down, decided to fight it and powered on to the bridge, this part hurt. I was running a slight incline in to heavy wind. I was so happy to crest the bridge to try and pick up the pace on the downhill into the finishing chute.

I have really had to tell myself, I did my best, I know I could have PRed on this race if I had pushed harder, however, if I had I could be in bad shape now. Sueann was right behind me by 2 minutes. She had a massive side stitch and I could see her struggling to breathe. She made it though and I had to coach her through the best I could. We got our water, lined up for a nice spread of fruit and bagels, then to the chiropractic tent to get stretched by the pros! This was the more painful but best part. I had an intern who really worked my sore spots. I wouldn't know how well he had done until I got home. It didn't hurt to get out of the car! After runs, sitting for 15+ minutes make standing extremely painful. I can feel the area, but the pain is minimal, just some soreness.

I'm going to continue aggressively with therapy from the massage therapist and I will be seeing the intern who worked on me today for myofascial release. I am hoping that by Space Coast I will be able to get my fitness back up cardio wise, muscle wise I will be fine. So I'm not as depressed today, things ARE looking up!!!