Part 2 - Half #5 Read previous first...

See Michelle Chille was the girl who was talking to me.  She is an elite runner.  She told me that I could do anything I set me mind to.  She said as long as you are happy in your life, your running will go well.  Mental state plays a huge part of your running success.  Michelle told me that one of her worst runs was four months after her mom had died. She hung out with me until it was time to start, hugged me bye and told me good luck. She finished this half in 1:26.

Lesson number one, always wear the garmin and do NOT rely on the pacer!  Thankfully I had worn my garmin.  After about mile two the pacer took off and was running a 7 minute pace which grated on my nerves.  I just focused on every step in front of me and conquered it 5K at a time. 

I can only describe the state that I enter running in this way, call me weird or whatever but it happens.  The zone:  my sight becomes blurry as if I were watching a television channel that is static like. I am unaware of any one that is near me, I hear over and over in my mind, I can do this and I just run.  I know by feel when the time is right for a gel, water and gatorade.  Most importantly though I am determined to not walk even one step of this race, not one and I mean that.

The miles seem to peel away, one 5K at a time.  I am experiencing no pain, nothing, just bliss.  I am focused, just a few feet ahead of me and I'm doing the damn thing.  This race was probably the most boring race I have ever done in my life but whatever. It is what you make of it.  At about mile 9, there was a lady who had cancer. A lump as big as my fist welled up in my throat, I wanted to cry.  I turned around and looked at her and said just keep moving you're doing really good, you're almost there.  She smiled and said thank you.  I just kept running and knew I couldn't cry. 

At mile 12 I hear Go Pam Go! It was Nik, his mom and the kids.  I just kept running, turned, enter the boardwalk and saw the finish line (insert hallelujah course here).  I kicked it and ran the last half mile at a 6 minute pace.  I finished stronger than I ever have, and I was smiling. 1:48.13...I did it.

Last year, in November my first half time was 2:13, which I was gravely disappointed in.  Eleven months later and 25 minutes shaved off, 1:48:13.  Still smiling about that one....