Lessons from Nashville...

The number one lesson I learned this weekend was this: bring toilet paper!!!

Drew and I left Memphis around 2:30 Friday afternoon and we made it to Nashville in plenty of time to get to the expo, pick up our packets, and walk around to check out all of the vendors. I had an ominous feeling from the beginning because I am a very even numbered person – I know that sounds weird, but I always like things in even numbers (my jersey number in high school was 4 and it was 8 in college). I got my bib number first and it was an odd number and then I got my chip and it was odd also! I did not like it all, but I shrugged it off and tried to ignore it.

After we left the expo we headed to Olive Garden to meet Drew’s parents who came in town for the weekend to watch us race. We mowed down some pasta, then headed back to the hotel to get some sleep. I was out by 9:30 and Drew finally went to sleep at 10:30.

On race day, our wake up call came at 4:15 and we got up and immediately ate something so that we would have it digested by the time we raced. We got to the race about an hour early, which is good because the lines for the porta potties were extremely long. We waited in line for about 30 minutes and by the time we got up there, I had to go (if you know what I mean). This is where I learned my lesson – there was no toilet paper in any of the porta potties! None! Zero! Zilch! So needless to say I was extremely aggravated, nervous, and freaking out. I got to my coral to meet my brother-in-law Michael and I told him what happened and his response was – you’re just going to have to hold it! Argh.

The race started in a wave start, so we finally got moving at around 7:20. We hit the first mile at around 8:54 and consistently had around a 9-9:15 pace until mile six. The first six miles weren’t too bad on me, but around mile six, my stomach and intestines started to curl up. I pushed through until about mile 9 and I finally told Michael I had to go to the bathroom because I was cramping and thought I was going to puke. He waited on me despite me telling him to go on.

We got started again and I did not feel much better at all. I pushed on and everytime I tried to speed up I felt worse. Michael finally left me and he finished in 2:02. I pushed through it all and finished in 2:05. Needless to say I was disappointed because I know I could have done better if I had just had some dern toilet paper. Michael and I ran almost 11 miles two weeks ago and we basically sprinted the last two miles. That is what our plan was for Nashville. Hit 9-9:15 miles and then kill the last 2 miles or so.

My splits:
5k – 28:43 (9:14)
6M – 55:18 (9:13)
10 M – 1:34 (9:27) **9:27 is for 10M, but I did the split between miles 6 and 10 and it was over 10:00. Boo bathroom break!
13.1 – 2:05 (9:33)

I’m trying not to let it bother me too much and maybe I psyched myself out beforehand. Exactly what I was worried about happened – do all that training and then something silly like that happens. I need to not worry and do what my sister says – just run!!!

On a happier note - my husband kicked this half marathon’s arse. He ran it in 1:31!!!!! Out of 19,000 runners he was 189. So he is fired up now and is going to try to qualify for Boston at the Memphis Marathon.

I'll post pics tomorrow!