This past weekend I ran my sixth half marathon with a group of speedy girlfriends.  Since moving to Sacramento, I have been motivated, encouraged, inspired and challenged by these incredibly talented running friends.  We ran our second half marathon of the year together this past weekend.  We ran the Avenue of the Vines half marathon in Lodi, California.

Jumping into my training right after Ragnar, I opted for the Run Less Run Faster training plan.  I really liked the detailed speed work and tempo plan.  However, I did miss strength training.  I followed the training plan for 4 weeks leading up to this race pretty closely… until the past 2 weeks when I got struck with the I Don’t Wanna bug.

On Sunday, waking before the sun rose at 4:30AM… I jumped out of bed and got ready to run 13.1 miles with girlfriends.  Fueling with my traditional pop tart (don’t judge) and grabbing my gear I met the girls at 5:30 to head down to the race.

I jumped in the mini van (Ragnar style) to carpool down to the race with my five running friends: Yvonne, Tammy, Stephanie, Amy and Marsha.  These girls are speedy fast.  They are humble runners too.  They are super supportive and very proud of all their running friends (no matter what their running ability level).

After a few important photo ops while we waited for the race to start, we were off and ready to run 13.1 miles.  The course was flat and looped around the local wineries along (paved) country roads.  I didn’t take photos along the course (although I thought of it often).  While running I saw and was cheered on by cows, horses, goats, and a cute little puppy who was in the middle of the road (amidst all the runners racing).

Like most races, the first two miles were congested and crowded.  I did a lot of bobbing and weaving to find a comfortable spot to run.  My body likes to run faster the first few miles… the adrenaline… the rush… the excitement always gets to me.

Mentally I guess I like to run faster the first few miles too, because then I feel like I have those miles to bank on when I bonk at my always bonking spot 8 miles.

The first 6 miles were steady and comfortable.  No one around me was walking.  Which was a good thing and a bad thing.  Because no one was walking, I didn’t walk.  I mentally told myself that I would keep running until I hit 6 miles.  Then I could take a breather walk.

Walking during a race, for me, is a good mental break.  However, once I walk… I will continue to walk.  It is almost like I give my body permission to give up and walk as often as it wants.

Since that walking break, I would do a run to the mile marker then walk to regroup and begin running again.  My friend Stephanie, who was running an incredibly smart and solid race, ran next to me at mile 10.  We ran for a mile together when I told her to go on, I was done.  Mentally my brain was just done running.

There is something that goes on in my brain during every half marathon I have run.  This happens between mile 8-11.  I question why the heck I do this and run this far?  Then shortly after I combat the mental anguish, I realize there is only 5k left to the finish.  I can and will do this … again!

With only 5k to go to the finish line, I knew my lungs, heart and legs were strong.  However with each step I was feeling pain in my right foot.  The pain was centered at the tip of my toes.  I usually get blisters at the tips of my toes (weird, random, gross, I know).  But I brushed it off thinking nothing of it because I was wearing these cool new running socks that were just for runners.  Sigh.

Before the race, my ultimate happy goal was to finish with a 2:05.  I realized that that goal was not going to happen when I started walking and slowing down my pace the second half.  I then tried to keep my pace at or under 10 minute miles.

Because the race course was super flat, I could see the 13 mile marker flag in the distance… and right behind it I saw the finish line.  Praise the Lord!  I was almost done.  I sucked it up and picked up my feet (that were dragging) and booked it to the finish line.

I finished.  I set a personal record for the half marathon by 1 min 11 seconds.  My previous personal best was 2:09:34 which I set in March at the ShamRock’n Half Marathon.  Even though I didn’t hit my goal of 2:05… I was very happy with my improvement and personal best.  Slow and steady wins the race.  I will see a 2:05 finishing time in my future… down the road!

After the race, the girls and I hung out and just enjoyed some good old fashion girl time.  We did not have our kids or husbands around to distract us.  It was fantastic.  We sipped wine, ate food from the race expo, and just chatted about life.

We even got silly and decided to do handstands in the vineyards post race.  Yes, I won’t share with you these photos until this Friday for handstand Friday… but they are awesome.  Nothing like running 13.1 miles, drinking wine, and then flipping upside down in soft soil between rows of vines. Good times.  Lots of laughs.

Love these girls and the friendships that are growing because of our love of running.  It also makes me want to move 45 minutes north to be closer to them… to run more with them (besides the race every few months) and just hang out more.

The Avenue of the Vines half marathon was a good race. I would run it again.  Next year, I WILL see a 2:05 on this course!  I am determined.  I will succeed.

What is one of your fitness goals?  What are you doing to reach that goal?
Do you run and/or workout with girlfriends?

© runningrachel for Running Rachel

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