So, let me preface for a second. Two years ago I could not run. I was recovering from a herniated disc in my lower left back, was out of shape, failed my second military fitness exam, and could not even run 1.5 miles in under 14 minutes to save my life. A senior command sergeant gave me advice that I had to learn how to walk first before learning how to run. So I started New Year's Day 2011, sloshing at first through the snow once a day for nearly two months around a high school track.
Fast forward to now, I entered in this, my first half marathon. After running the 2012 Tower of Terror 10 miler in September, it dawned on me that over the course of nearly two years I progressed from walking a mile or two in deep snow, to running a lap and walking, to running my first 5K in six or seven years, to passing my annual military fitness exam - TWICE, to running a few more 5Ks, and now a 10 mile road race.
I never thought I would run several 5ks or even 10 miles in this stage of my life. I never thought I would ever run a half marathon. After the Tower of Terror 10 miler, I thought what is 3.1 more miles?
During the 2012 St. Jude Memphis Marathon, Half, 5K weekend, I saw a booth for the Louisiana Marathon and Half, which completed its first-ever running in 2012. Where is it at? Baton Rouge? When? Third weekend of January? I don't know if I could run a half marathon. Haven't really trained. Most of the course is flat? Under sea level? Through the LSU campus?
I let a week slip by to think. Decided to enter my first half and committed to it with a new year's resolution.
Was supposed to drive down last Friday, Jan. 18, but work called at the TV station for a mandatory meeting and I didn't get to travel the 5 hours or so south to Baton Rouge to pick up my race packet at the expo. Good thing, too, since it was better to travel during the day. I stayed home Friday night and ran nearly 7 miles. On Saturday, I leisurely drove to Baton Rouge thinking the expo would be open until 7pm. Nope, misprint. Expo was open until 5pm. I made it to the expo with 15 minutes to spare after an accident / traffic jam at the I-55 / I-12 split, but made it to Baton Rouge. Nice city. It dawned on me, I'm in Baton Rouge, entered in the Louisiana Half. I'm going to run this and have fun or back out, drive down some 100 miles to the French Quarter and forget about it.
I stayed on course.
The half and full both started at 7 am Sunday, Jan. 20, with a cannon blast from the lieutenant governor. For 10 miles half and full runners were side by side until the more crazy runners went that away and us not to crazy runners continued back into downtown to the finish line.
With the exception of a small hill in the first quarter mile to climb, and a big bridge to cross on our way out and back, the course was fairly nice. Run temp to start was 39-40F, and it got warmer as the morning progressed. I would say it was nearly 50F at my finish and it got warmer into the mid-60sF at the finish line festival.
At the expo I talked to one of the pacers and told him I wanted to finish around 2:15 or so for the half, since I finished a little over 1:52 in the Tower 10 miler. He suggested I run with the 4:20-4:30 marathon pacers, and so I did, for about 9 miles. I was at times behind the pacer, next to him or way out in front. I think I was with the 4:20 pacer.
Miles 3 through 10 were inside Louisiana State University and around the perimeter of a huge lake next to the university and city park and golf course. I crossed 6.55 mile half time around 63 minutes for about a 10:15 per mile split. Slowed down considerably, stopped several times second half of the course, some of the times to take photos of the course.
When I crossed the 10 mile marker I was in uncharted territory. Stopped a few more times to take mile marker photos. Took me about 30 minutes to cross the finish line. Finished with a time of 2 hours, 22 minutes, 57 seconds.
My feet hurt, my right shoulder was sore, I was spent, but other than that I felt fine. The finish festival had FREE BEER and FREE FOOD. Jambalaya four ways. Other Southern cajun faire. Beer at 10am? Yes, please.
Made it back to my hotel, less than a mile from the start - finish line, and relaxed. Ate a whole personal pizza and something called cinna-knots for dessert at a place called Schlitz and Giggles, a pizza parlor. Highly recommend the place. cinna-knots sort of tasted like beignets.
Drove back to Memphis on MLK Day / Inauguration Day for work, and the next day decided to enter my SECOND HALF MARATHON, the 2013 Disneyland Half.
The whole purpose of me running my first half was to get a taste. Can I do it? I didn't care about the time but wanted a decent time. At least I was 10-13 minutes faster than the first marathoner to cross the finish line. He and a few others qualified for the Boston Marathon.
