Plano Balloon Festival Half Marathon

I was scheduled to run 18 miles on Saturday, but since I registered to run the half marathon on Sunday (which was actually deferred from last year due to flooding last year) I decided to just run 5 miles and did Body Pump for strength workout.  I was a little worried because I haven't done that class in about a month.  I took it easy on the weights since I had to run next day I didn't want to be sore.  I figured I would go all out for the half marathon and run easy 5 miles later in the day.

Eddie, Noah and I woke up at 5:30 a.m. to get there early for they expected 30K people there.  We wanted to get good parking.  We got there about 25 minutes before the 7:00 start time.  I had plenty of time to find the porta potty, take a couple before race pics with my boys and head to the starting line.  I've been running for years, but I still get nervous before every race.  Once I get there I realize that I forgot my gu blocks.  I've been training without them for my last couple of long distance runs and figure I'll be fine without it.  I did make sure to stop by store to buy some coconut water to fill my water bottle for my race belt.  I always run with a 6 oz water bottle and if I need more on my run, I'll get it from the water stops along the way.  I ate my usual half banana for breakfast and hoped it wouldn't rain on me while I ran.  They were predicted 60% rain in the morning, but was coming hopefully after I finished.  I ran faster than usual because I just thought the rain is coming and  that would not be fun to run in that.  I guess, it could be worse like when I ran the Boston Marathon in 2015 it was cold, windy and rainy the whole way!  That sucked, but was able to stay dry running with my poncho for 22 miles...LOL!  That was a crazy experience.

It was very humid and was able to pass the 1:45 pacer early on and wondered if I could catch up with the 1:40 pacer.  After running 6 miles, I felt pretty good and was maintaining a good pace.  I starting counting how many girls I was passing just as a game after 10 miles.  I then see another pacer and ask a guy if he knew what pacer that was.  He said it's the 1:40 pacer and asked what was my goal.  I told him I was hoping to beat my last time of 1:42 and he said you are kicking but and will beat that!  I told him thank you and picked up my pace.   It was on!  I was determined to catch up to them.  I started running with only guys and wondered how many girls were in front of me.  I caught up with the 1:40 Pacers and they tell me, great job, keep going you are female #3.  I told them thank you and pass them up, but never saw the females in front of me.  I hear Noah yelling "go Mommy" as I head to the finish line and it gave me more energy to sprint to the finish.

Out of 699 females I came in 2nd place and got a new PR of 1:38:56.  They gave us a cool metal and great breakfast including bacon, eggs, hash browns, coffee, water, banana, yogurt, juice and cinnamon roll.  I went and got a chair massage when it started pouring down rain.  We had to wait it out and they ended up closing up the festival due to severe weather.  So we didn't see the balloons, but happy with my results and hope to do it again next year!