Enjoy the Nike Film Loop!

Finished the 1/2!

Event: Nike Women's 1/2 Marathon
Time: 3:52:22
Pace: 17:44



This was the best view of the day! The finish line never looked soooooo good!

I thought that since I'm doing the Nike 1/2 this year, instead of the full, things would be easier...wrong..... Although I was happy to take the 1/2 marathon cutoff at GG Park, it was still a tough race. I can't blame the course...it was the same hilly, challenging course as last year.

Like last year, I loved the first 6 miles, from Union Square to Fort Point, which is relatively flat and very beautiful. However, it was warmer this year and I sweated more. Going up Lincoln Blvd. and up through SeaCliff was okay, but I mostly walked those couple of miles. However, when I tried to run along the flatter portions, my left calf really started to cramp up. This happened to me during training last year, but this was the first time this year. Shit...I knew it was sodium depletion and since I wasn't hungry, eating was really challenging. I finished my Luna Bar, which helped a little, even though I felt like throwing up. However, things started looking up, when a nice lady at the sidelines had a bag of pretzels. I grabbed a handful, thanked her profusely, gobbled them down and waited until the sodium hit my system. Sure enough, after a few minutes, I was able to run slowly and then let momentum take me down the Great Highway and past the Cliff House and into Golden Gate Park.

I was watching for Brenda at Mile 11, but missed her. However, there was a bagpipe ensemble playing and they were awesome! The guys were in kilts and full Scottish regalia! Very cool! Seeing the 1/2 marathon turnoff really got me excited! I don't know how I kept going last year doing the full marathon. I really started to pick up the pace at Mile 12 and ran really hard to the finish line. My goal was to finish under 4 hours and I made it. I was too out of it to check the race results at the finish area, but found it online this morning---3:52:22!

I did have the mental capacity to pick up my Tiffany 'bling and finisher's shirt and check in at the TNT tent. However, I couldn't stand the thought of food, so after staggering around taking photos and congratulating other TNTers, I boarded the shuttle back to the hotel. Ice and napping soon followed.....

The Nike course is one to be respected. It kicks butt each year. Next year, I'm shooting for a flatter course---San Jose Rock n Roll or Disneyland, perhaps??