Nothing Half-Assed About This Half Marathon

After all the training; the miles we put on our soles (and our souls), the early mornings, and all the hype and pent up excitement that comes with nearly 2 years of waiting, the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Half have finally come and gone. Both Champions Running Association and BCFitness made sure to show up and put their best foot forward as either race participants, cheerleaders and/or crew. While most of my BCFit teammates took on the full 26.2 miles, I ran the half with the intention of obtaining a new PR.

I was very thrilled to be participating in the excitement that was the Chevron marathon. It was my first time in the event and I had only been hearing great things about everything from the course layout, to the spectator participation. And I'm happy to report that I was not disappointed.

The Weather:

Race day was soooo cold! I mean, I don't like anything lower than 60 degrees so I may be a tad bias. But trust me when I say, for a Texas girl, it was cold. Despite my survivalist urge to bundle in layer upon layer of clothing I opted for my BCFit team tank underneath my neon green (which was detectable from a mile away) lightweight long sleeve and full-length leggings. Despite the air being frigid the sun was all a glow, helping to warm our spirits as we set out on our routes. Unfortunately it did little to warm my poor hands, so gloves were worn most of the run. But all in all, I don't know if we could have asked for better run weather in January.

**Fun Fact: for a little extra comfort during the half mile trek through the corrals to the start line, many runners will adorn an extra layer such as a blanket, robe, or the occasional zebra print Snuggie that also doubles as a fashionable running cape (a shoutout to Rob for bringing all the fierce fashion to the start line). And then when the time comes to shed your fleecey protection, it is encouraged to discard any unwanted layers to the sideline where volunteers will collect them and donate them to those in need.

The Gear:

After my first attempt at writing this section, I realized that my short insert about my race day gear was turning into something of a short novel. So in an effort to stay on point, this will just be a quick sum up of the gear with a more elaborate post to follow later on.

Headphones:

AfterShokz Aeropex headphones. As I've recently learned, some runners have very strong opinions about having any sort of "distraction" in your ears while running. But for me, the playlist pumps me up and helps me to keep a tempo.

Watch:

Garmin Forerunner 735XT

Tights:

2XU Run Mid-Rise Dash Compression Tights . These leggings are great because they do have compression throughout the leg, but not so tight that you feel like you're being strangled, and there is a fine mesh panel on the bottom calf which helps you regulate temperature a little easier.

Shoes:

Saucony Endorphin Speed. This is my second pair of the Sauconys and I have been really enjoying the cushion that they provide while still maintain a lightweight shoe.

Belt:

Naked Running Band is my absolute MUST HAVE for any distance run. The belt sits comfortably on my waist and holds everything I could need for training days and race day.

Nutrition:

Spring Energy has become the only nutrition that I'll buy because they actually taste really good and like real fruit. And they don't have that unpleasant jello-ish consistency.

The Race:

Alright, now that we've covered the fluff let's get to the good stuff. The course action.

Again, I only ran the half and will only be able to relay my experience from that point of view.

Walking out to the corrals from George R. Brown, you get a little overwhelmed by the amount of people filling the streets. For as far as you can see, runners make their way to the start line at Congress and Fannin.

The start of the run began in a very anti-climatic fashion as thousands of runners begin a lazy jog so as not to crash into those around them, and continues on in a slow pace for about the first mile. If you plan on increasing your pace or trying to get ahead of the pack then you will have to engage in a Frogger-like method, bouncing between other runners trying to avoid a human collision or the mismanaged potholes of Houston streets. I can't tell you how many times I had to pump the brakes when someone would cut me off or was nearly taken out by someone making any emergency dash for the sideline ( this in no way hindered the overall experience, you just have to realize that it's all a part of the event environment and be aware of your surroundings). As overwhelming as it can be to be caught up between so many runners, it is a thrilling experience and fills you with a sense of pride that you get to participate in something so grand. And then there's the cheering spectators. At no point during the entire 13.1 mile course was there a moment that you could not hear the words of encouragement from bundled bystanders. Whether it was one person sitting in front of their home sipping their morning coffee yelling out positive affirmations, or a full high school band playing fight song after fight song, the air was filled with cheers and spirit pumping music. I do not exaggerate when I say that it brought a tear to my eye a couple of times.

As for the course itself, my compliments to whatever planning committee is charged with the responsibility of mapping out this route. It is a fun, lively homage to some of Houstons best attractions. Starting from downtown, the course circles up to the beautiful homes of River Oaks, through the historical Rice Village neighborhoods and around the fountains of the museum district. You truly get a little bit of everything along the way. And of course, no tour of Houston would be complete without a final stretch down Allen Parkway, the sun fully illuminating the grassy bayou as the Houston skyline stands tall like a beacon guiding you towards the finish line.

Honestly, most of how I felt during the race is a bit of a blur. I was so in awe of the whole experience and having so much fun that I didn't really notice how I was physically feeling. Despite the constant distractions around me, I did make sure to keep track of my nutrition by taking a Spring Energy pack once every 30-40 minutes and taking a sip from my electrolyte drink every couple miles. For the majority of the 13.1 miles I felt great, maintaining a pace between 9:00 and 9:16, minus one weird slump at mile 9 where my pace dipped to 9:33. As I made my way onto Allen Parkway, the final stretch of the course, I dug deep and gave my all in an effort to push my way to the finish line with a sub 2:00hr finishing time. That final stretch was a party of onlookers and support tents, all handing out bananas, water and beer. Yes, even beer. I'll be honest, at the beginning of the race I had every intention of seeking out the Fireball shots and celebrating the final mile with a little liquid courage. But when the tent came into view, I quickly decided that in my 'beginning to crumble' state a shot of whiskey was probably the last thing my stomach would willingly keep down. So onward I pushed.

The final mile felt like it lasted forever, which was weird to me because this was not my first

half marathon rodeo, but no matter how hard I willed my legs to drive it felt as if I was barely moving forward. As the crowds thickened, you knew that you were approaching the end; the cheers got louder, the music thumped between the skyscrapers and the nausea that had lain dormant in the depths of my body was now threatening to unleash. This is always (and I do mean ALWAYS) an indicator of my efforts, whenever I push myself hard for long periods of time I feel this deep awful urge to be sick. It took everything in me not to stop and hurl right there at the finish line, but I refused to be THAT runner! No picture proof was going to forever frame that moment. When my feet finally crossed that finish line, the feeling of nausea was replaced with relief. It was over, I went out and gave it my all and now it is behind me. Unfortunately I did not achieve my 'A' goal of sub 2:00hrs, but finished with 2:01, and even though it was not my first goal, I am still happy with my efforts because it did still get me a PR for my fastest half with an average pace of 9:07.

Post Race Nachos

Lets face it, the only thing better than the post-race glory is the post-race gluttony.

That's right! One of the greatest joys that follows any race event is the satisfaction that you can shove whatever carb and sugar loaded garbage that your tired little heart desires into your pie hole. Huzzah!! For me that garbage was nachos. It was not my first choice, but it was readily available for me to stuff in my face as I cheered on my fellow teammates.

Nachos aside, the aftermath of the marathon was reminiscent of an Austin City Limits music festival. Like minded enthusiasts gathering in a large grassy space over beers sharing tales of their triumphs as if it were only 10 minutes prior. But instead of crowding various stages to see the hottest performing artists, people lined the streets and cheered on the battered runners as they made their way to the finish.

All in all, it truly was a great event to partake in and one that I will gladly do again and again. If you've ever considered running a marathon, or even a half, the Chevron Marathon and Aramco Half is a great place to start because no matter what you rank, the crowds and overall atmosphere leave you feeling that you a winner regardless. You did something that most people won't even think about doing; you braved the cold and set out to conquer the pavement one step at a time. And now all that's left to do is bask in the glory and indulge in enough pancakes and eggs to leave you in a well deserved coma for the rest of the day.

Go you!

**post race video recap available on Instagram (check it out)

Acknowledgments:

I want to thank the Champions Running Association (@championsrunning) for being an awesome support system and run family throughout the year. It's been a pleasure getting to meet some amazing people and athletes and make some lifelong friendships within the group.
I also want to give a very big thank you to my amazing coach and longtime friend James Wyatt (@running.with.james) of BCFITNESS (@mybcfit) for being a great coach and guiding me through the race year with wisdom, knowledge and a great sense of humor.

Full Gallery from Aramco Half

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