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!!