“You know you’re a runner when, your running shoes ARE the most expensive pair of shoes you possess”.
(Anonymous runner)
My 2019 racing schedule ended on 12/7/19 at the OUC half marathon in Orlando.
This was my 5th half marathon and 7th race of the year. I started 2019 with an aggressive (for me) race schedule where I wanted to race more and increase the number of half marathon finishes. I also set a goal to run a half marathon under 2 hours—I didn’t meet this goal but did improve my Personal Record (PR) four times this year, so progress has been made. I’m faster now than when I started running half marathons in 2013 (Benjamin Button).
How many times running this race?
I started my half marathon quest in 2013 at this very same race. A UCF friend convinced me to run a half marathon with intent to run it with me for support. She had several half and full marathons completed and thought it would be a good challenge for me to run a half marathon.
Fast forward a bit, I signed up and began training but her husband got a job transfer and they moved to Dallas, Texas before the race. I thought about backing out since I didn’t have a running partner but decided to give it a try on my own.
Had no idea how to train, eat or prepare for a half marathon so simply relied on athletic ability for my first try. This was a horrible idea! I would have quit during my first half marathon but didn’t know how to get back to my car, so had to keep going in order to figure out where I parked. This is not a joke, I finished because I had no other choice.
Ran this race again the following year because I had to prove to myself, I could run a half marathon and appear to be competent while doing it. I improved my finish times incrementally over the years so the pull to come back was there. I skipped the OUC half marathon in 2018 and ran on Amelia Island instead.
The 2019 race was my sixth time running the OUC half marathon. I’m currently 19 minutes faster than the first time I ran the same race (Benjamin Button).
Why come back?
Wanted to test my new training knowledge and program against a course that beat me up in the past. Figured the best way to know if I’m improving is to run the course I wanted to quit on and then move forward.
Happy to report I enjoyed the 2019 version of this race from start to finish! Even found myself with a goofy smile on my face for some reason around mile 9. This may have been the runner’s high people tell me about, but I never experienced before.
No worries just decided to keep on smiling and run my best. This approach allowed me to finish with a PR (2:05:51) and a level of satisfaction with my entire 2019 running program. Can always look for areas to improve but very happy to improve my PR four times this year. As you can see, I’m getting faster as I get older (Benjamin Button). I’m still looking for another gear and project to get a bit faster in 2020.
Stick with the Walk into the Future blog to follow my running progress.
Race recap
Decided not to put an official time goal on this race but wanted to run fast and safely. My top goal was to have fun and complete the 2019 race schedule in style.
Blue is my power color so outfitted with blue from head to toe for this race. Accented my race outfit with orange compression sleeves to represent the Florida Gators as I ran through downtown Orlando.
Miles 1 – 5
Wanted to get out fast but not expend too much energy during the first third of the race. The OUC half marathon also has a 5k race which starts at the same time. Wanted to avoid the extra runners at the beginning of the race so went out with a controlled pace and mindset until the 5k runners split away from the half marathoners at Mile #2. Felt good with my mile splits and knew I had the conditioning to keep my pace going.
Miles 6 – 10
Past races I’ve struggled with this portion of the half marathon. My training, nutrition and mindset have improved this year to where I know how to handle this segment of the race and not slow down much. Was able to stay consistent with my mile splits with no glaring slow miles. This may have been why my goofy smile came out—I knew I was running faster and not slowing a bit.
Miles 11 – 13.1
Realized I wouldn’t break 2 hours at this point but didn’t let that take my smile away. Kept plugging away because I knew I could set another PR by just pressing forward.
Put TI’s song, Motivation on repeat because this is my running hype song that helps me mentally when I run.
The goofy smile was with me the entire time and the miles flew by. There were spectators out helping the runners finish strong; I’m sure they were cheering for me, but I was in my zone and focused on finding the finish line.
Crossed the finish line at 2:05:51 (two hours, 5 minutes and 51 seconds) with a smile on my face and a raised fist! You would have thought I saved the world from annihilation from my reaction, but it was a big deal to me. Ran a smart race with a good time and felt great physically at the end. Trifecta!
After race party
Track Shack does a fantastic job with all aspects of race day.
The vendors, health care and music after the race are first rate. Made my way to the beer truck to get my two beers to go along with my other snacks collected in the vendor area. Yes, runners really drink beer at 9:30 am—we’ve earned it after getting up before the sun rises and running 13.1 miles. LOL. Ran into a few people I knew from my time in Orlando and we celebrated another great Track Shack race.
“It’s all about the bling!”
(Spectator sign, 2019)
Benjamin Button
So, why do I reference Benjamin Button in this post? Great question!
Most people begin to slow down as runners as they age. I’ve only been attempting the half marathon distance for 6 years now and continue to learn more about training, nutrition (beet juice) and mental focus. I’m just scratching the surface on my running ability and see faster times coming in 2020. So, I’m not getting younger but faster (Benjamin Button). I’m sure the day will come when I can’t keep running faster times but it’s not here yet—so fast I must go! 😊
“For what it’s worth, it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be”.
(Benjamin Button)
Goodbye OUC hello San Antonio Rock N Roll (2020)
I will not run the OUC half marathon in 2020. I’m trading this race and experience in for the 2020 San Antonio Rock N Roll half marathon. I lived in San Antonio while in the Air Force but wasn’t a runner then. This will be my chance to run in a great city and experience the culture and the River Walk from a different perspective. I’m sure I’ll return to the OUC race again in the future, maybe 2021.
Project to run 7 half marathons in 2020.
Already registered for New Orleans (February), Nashville (April) and Philly (September). Will add San Antonio and Savannah; looking at San Diego and maybe Las Vegas to complete 7 with the Rock N Roll series. May adjust with a local half marathon but 7 is the number for 2020.
Logged just under 1,000 miles on this running journey in 2019; I’m sure that number is going up in 2020. Who’s ready to run with me? 😊
How many of your 2019 goals did you accomplish? Have you thought about your 2020 goals yet?
Thanks for walking with me!
Merry Christmas! Will see you in 2020! Thanks!
Walk Into the Future 
Wearing a goofy smile for the second half of a long run is a good sign. If I can make it through miles 8 & 9 without the wheels falling off, or my mind taking me to a dark place, I can usually persevere through the final 5K by counting down. Telling myself, “It’s only a 5k, 2 miles, 1 more mile” helps me. I gotta feeling 2020 is your year to break the 2 hour barrier…you’re knocking at that door right now. Congrats on a positive race. Great recap.
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Thank you! Looking forward to the 2020 races!
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