The Amazing Race

First of all….wow. The ING Philadelphia Distance Run is an amazing race, and if you have even the tiniest desire to run a half marathon, run this one! It’s super well organized, the course is flat flat flat, the scenery is beautiful, and there are tons and tons of fans all cheering for you! Ok, maybe not for me personally…most of them were probably cheering for Ryan Hall (no relation), the first American to break one hour for the half marathon.

Let me say that again. ONE HOUR. 59 minutes and 43 seconds, to be exact, for a per mile pace of 4:34.  I was RIGHT behind him, let me tell you. I’m sure Ryan and the Kenyans could feel me breathing down their necks. If you watch the finish line replay, when you see Ryan cross the line, you only have to wait an hour and 15 minutes, and then BAM there I am.

SO. CLOSE.

Ok, not really. But that was never the point. I’m not a world-class athlete, and I’ll never be one. I run because it keeps me healthy, makes me happy, and because I’m somewhat insane. Or so my friends tell me. I think all runners have a screw loose somewhere, because I’m not sure why else we’d be so convinced that running in a big circle and ending up right back where you started, only sweatier, is FUN. But it is fun!

Especially when you beat your own personal best time by more than six minutes! My official time was 1:57:07, and I couldn’t be more proud. I didn’t trip across the finish line, I ran faster in the second half than in the first half (for non-runners – that’s known as a “negative split”, and it’s a really good thing), and I didn’t throw up. Win!

My cheering section was great – they were real troopers, considering that we had to be out the door reeeeaaaally early in the morning, plus the fact that my corral happened to be right beside a never-ending line of porta potties. Sorry, guys.

Fun fact of the day: did you know that wearing your race medal when you’re no longer at the race will draw funny looks from people? WHO. KNEW.

Congratulations to all the runners that raced this weekend!