Event #1- Raleigh Rocks Half Marathon & 5K- 04.05.08

Event 1-Raleigh Rocks Half Marathon & 5k has come and gone. Wow…that was easy! The buildup to this whole event was crazy. I’ve never really ran before. So this was a feat i was really unsure of the outcome.

Woke up early that morning and gave some good stretches to the ‘ol legs. I did have a HUGE pasta dinner the night before, so i was pretty much carbbed out. En route to downtown, i downed an orange Propel sport water with caffeine to substitute my ritual coffee in the morning. With Jennifer in tow, we mentally prepared our gameplan. I sent out the early morning texts to the posse who was meeting us there, to make sure everyone was awake and on their way…David responded in some sort of queer “g’mornin sunshine” and Troop gave a usual on his way response, while Phil was silent.

So as expected, downtown was slammed with traffic and lots of people with their bright white kicks blazing in the gloomy dreary morning. Pre-reg was a bitch! The Sheraton was shoulder to shoulder and finding the tables for my number and packet proved to be pretty difficult at 7am on a Saturday morning. with everything taken care of, number pinned on and excess baggage dropped back off at the car the pre-race lineup was occurring.

Here’s Jennifer sporting her new running gear and yes its a skirt!

The start line was flooded with participants. The Half Marathon runners started first. Troop hauled ass off into the sea of colorful jerseys and pale legs. The 5k-ers were next. As our last minute stretches were made, the start horn blasted and rang through Fayetteville Street (I’m sure Jake, soundly asleep in his condo at the Hudson appreciated all the racket!).

The mass funneled through the start line and while the beginning was more a walk/trot, it was still exciting, as I trotted along trying not to kick th runners in front and behind me. Both Jennifer and myself bobbed and weaved through the less rapid crowd and soon found light in the outside “lane”. We set normal pace and began the perpetual rhythm of steps on the damp asphalt. Running the streets in the early AM with Raleigh’s Finest blocking the through traffic, was pretty cool. The flow of runners trickled the city blocks, left turn, left turn, right turn and finding our way to the long stretch on Hillsborough Street. we cross mile marker 1 with no effort…I’m feeling great. Passing the heavily breathing slower folk, i feel the need to up my pace so i leave Jennifer with a slight glance over to her, and I’m off…I gain ground on many. I pass water station , no need to ruin anything since I was feeling pretty good. I trot on and i see a turn around point ahead, so i push on harder. I find Dowdy in the lane he trots along beside me for a few and backs down due to a cramp. Wimp! i hit the turn around and trudge on … soon enough i spot Jennifer on the other side- i give wink and cruise on.

By now, I was in full stride max pace and breathing pretty hard (mouth closed). At the point where I felt like I needed to slow my pace or open my mouth and begin gasping, i pushed on and suddenly i felt no exhaustion! i felt great. I was in a stable speed and nothing could stop me now. Soon enough I turn and have my home stretch laid out before me. the streets are lined with onlookers, shouting and cheering. The rock bands play loudly on the distant stage. The finish line is steps away. As i near i i give glance back to see if i can spot the pink jerseyed Jennifer- nothing. I stride through the line and snag a water from one of the many supporters at the finish as i run through. Glancing down, i read 00:25:00. Not too shabby for my first running event!

I think to myself- wow, this was EASY! I was not really winded and i felt awesome! I walk back up the sidewalk a bit and give cheer to Jennifer as she finishes up not too far behind me. We are both feeling super good and are amazed that we’re not exhausted.

We chill out a bit and know Troop wont be along for a bit and after a bottle of hydration fluids we grab an americano and wait for him at the finishline. 1:50:00 later i spot Troop coming down the road. Wow he looked like death! i snapped an action shot of him getting schooled by a woman (hehehe):

All in all this event set the pace for many more to come. With all this confidence, Event #2 is only 2 weeks out. not only is the bar raised , but so is the excitement–enter the Capitol City Classic 10k!