Apalachicola Half-Marathon

Bright and early, me and a few hundred other runners got up and got ready to run throughout Apalachicola bay.

The training to this point has been okay, but not great. I lost about 3 weeks of training due to bronchitis and pneumonia, but it was earlier in September so I’ve had some good weekend long runs since then. I wasn’t concerned about endurance, but I knew speed was going to be laughable.

I had no idea how running 10 miles on a bridge, 3 miles on land was going to be in terms of wind or gulf spray. The day before, the water was choppy, but this morning, all was calm.

The timer started just as we saw the sun peek over the horizon. This was absolutely one of the best moments of the race!

The clouds were hanging on, though. I’m not complaining. I didn’t have shade on a bridge, so the clouds made for fantastic running weather. There were no aid stations on the bridge, but every so often, we would see small stacks of water bottles for us.

After I came off the bridge, Stephen was waiting for me. He usually finds spots along race courses to wait for me.

After we crossed the bridge, we ran 3 miles around Eastpoint then back on the bridge for 5 miles back.

At this point, my speed was actually better than I expected. I was on target for a great PR and I couldn’t believe it. Even with a head wind going back, I was making great time.

It was about this point that I felt the first few shots of pain through the top of my foot. Right along those top bones that love the cave to stress fractures. I slowed down in mile 10.

Mile 11, I started walking.

Mile 12, I was hobbling. Bad. And the hobbling to protect one foot was causing hip pain in the opposite leg. So, as I watched my PR unravel in front of me, I tried to keep my mind on the gorgeous scenery and do all I could to keep from developing a long term injury. Sore, I could deal with. Injury is out of the question .

My last half-marathon of 2013 is in the books! I’ve had 4 this year so I would call this my most successful year of running. And I’m not done. Marathon #2 in January!!

And one hour later, let’s just say, all is good!