Completed the Women's Half Marathon in NYC!!!!

Despite everything I actually completed the NYC Women's Half Marathon in Central Park!!!!!!!!!!!

I was absolutely unprepared for this marathon and I cannot believe I did it.  There were moments when I was ready to give up - when I got this huge blister at mile 6, when my ankles started to hurt at mile 9, right before this huge hill!!!!  But I kept on with the mantra one foot in front of the other and kept on going.

I prepped as best as I could - Vicks Vapor Rub, Toddies, Water with lemon, KT tape for my knee and ankles, Vitamin C, I found an over the counter water inhaler mist thingey.  Carb-loading the night before.  What I did not do, eat the morning of the race, drink more than half a bottle of water (nor did I drink water/Gatorade along the way).

As you know, I really did not adequately train either.  Going out to train 3 days the week of the race does not a training plan make.

So next time, a well laid out plan for a longer period of time!!!  Invest in better sneakers!!!  Have my asthma pump and some sort of pack at the ready that has all my stash.    

But despite all of that, I made it and under the required amount of time to be considered a finisher.

This was me right after finishing, utterly exhausted.  In fact we took a pedi-cab back to the parking garage where the car was...  I could not even think about taking another step!

My sister was there cheering us on and asked if I would do one again.  My original thought was "No!" but of course two minutes later, I was thinking yes, I'll do it again and do more.  And so that will be the plan.

Training - Such as it Was

Thursday turned out to be an unproductive day for me training-wise.  I worked well over 13 hours and still had to pack for my early morning flight back to NJ.  I thought I would work out a bit Friday AM but of course that did not happen.  And worst of all, I had lost my voice and I am still struggling with these allergy symptoms and/or cold.

Friday was an ugly rainy day in NJ.  Not the type of weather to recuperate nor train.  

 

Me on the early morning flight - completely exhausted and sick.

Saturday was an absolutely beautiful day.  Went training with my Mom.  Had the fastest time Ive had all week, despite having forgotten my darn asthma pump and with my allergies/congestion, I so needed it!!!  This of course made me concerned with the 1/2 marathon the following day.  More on that in the next post!