Long Version:
Pre-race: I arrived at the race start at about 5 am and had no trouble with traffic or finding parking. In an amusing anecdote, when I was parking and getting my stuff together, I was watching some younger people who were clearly just leaving a bar or club. In particular, I was watching this young couple who were fighting with each other; it was quite the quarrel, and at one point, the girl's boobs popped out of her tube top (which, at that point, was more like a tube middle since it was only covering her stomach). Did this bother her? Apparently not, because she didn't even attempt to stuff her boobs back into her top -- she just kept gesturing and yelling like mad. It was the most amusing pre-race show I've ever witnessed!
After observing that spectacle, I headed off for the race start. I tried to keep a sharp eye out for Dawn, who flew down from Chicago for the race, but I never spotted her. Understandable though, since it's hard to find someone among 18,000 others.
The race began at 6:15, and it took me about 12 minutes to cross the start line, and then the race was underway for me!
Race: The race was scenic and fun, just as it was when I ran it 2 years ago, but just like two years ago, the crowd was tough to run with, and I never once got to break away from the congestion. This means that I felt like I never got the chance to run my own race at my own pace, but after the first few miles, I just accepted the fact that this wasn't gonna be any land speed record, and I went with the flow. It was a slower pace than I would have preferred, but I knew that fighting the crowd by bobbing and weaving wouldn't help me much. So, it just turned into a strangely comfortable, easy-going 13.1 miles.
Favorite parts: Seeing the cruise ships in the first two miles, running through the Art Deco district in South Beach during miles 4-6, running over the bridge during mile 11 that brought the race back into downtown Miami where we were greeted by a very enthusiastic crowd, and lastly, the finish: The big crowd, the finisher's chute, the "spinning palm" medal -- good times!
Post Race: It was a bit of a clusterfuck getting out of the finishing chute and out of the crowd, but my primary goal post-race was finding a porta-potty. I'd had to pee since...pretty much the beginning of the race but every porta-potty along the course had a line, so I'd skipped it, which means I pretty much ran 13.1 miles with a full bladder. So, after the race, I made a beeline for the bathroom and the relief was almost as satisfying as crossing the finish line!
After that, I quickly walked the half mile back to the car and then drove home. By 10:30, I was home, showered and playing with Norah -- who thought the medal was an excellent toy to play with:
Maybe someday she'll want to earn one of these for herself!All in all, I enjoyed the race, but have decided that Miami is just not the race, for me, to attempt any kind of personal record. Which is fine. Not all races should be run for the potential time benefit, some are simply for the experience and I think Miami is a good one for that!
44 comments:
Sorry the race wasn't perfect, but it sounds like a pretty great morning. Congrats!
Nice work!! Sounds like a fun race. Although big races are crazy, I am always in awe of the number of people that have fun tackling the distance so early in the morning.
nice job! I think you ran an amazing race and should be very proud.
Are you starting back too far in the corals? Sounds like your pace is faster than those you're starting with... maybe you need to start ahead of the pack a bit more next time? Just a thought.
Sounds like a pretty good race overall- I guess that's just the time you're meant to have there! Cool you get to see the cruise ships ;)
Congratulations !!! I think the pre-race spectacle was awesome. Should have brought your camera! LOLL... JK !
I can imagine how nice it is down in Miami compared to the 20 degrees here.
Just cruising along for 13.1 miles isn't bad any morning! Welcome back to the world of fun in distance running post-pregnancy :)
ugg, I can't stand the crowds. I vote coraling your self up a few. Seems that is what everyone else is doing
funny, I do the exact same thing when I get my medal home. Nothing like a solid medal chew
Love the picture of your daughter with the medal! I have never seen a pre race show even remotely like te one you saw. I love that the race started so early and you were back home with most of the day left. I can sympathize with the bathroom thing. I was in a half that had NO porta potties and insufficient bushes and peeing was my ONLY thought at the finish! They have since added porta potties. Maybe I wasn't the only one to complain! Good job!
you did great! I hope the weather was good and that you are proud of yourself. Love the medal and picture with Nora.:)
Wow, a cat fight before a race.... I would take my race times from two years ago. Congrats
Sounds like a good race to me. Some races are just really hard to run for time. And you did set a course PR which is what you wanted to do, right?
Nice job!! Awesome race report.
Way to go Jess!
Good job on the race! And you've obviously recovered from having Norah. If I tried to run 13.1 miles with a full bladder, I'd be leaving a trail. I have my darling boys to thank for that LOL.
HA, I never thought I'd read clusterfuck and Norah in the same post....EVER! LOL
yes, some races are best left to memory...good job though on your first race back from pregnancy....
You makes these races sound like such a piece of cake! Great job, and boobs to boot!
Congrats on the race. Love the medal!
Congratulations! What a great morning!
Your attitude always amazes me! Sounds like you had a nice easy long run with 18,000 of your best friends!
Can Norah BE any cuter. Best picture yet. I think I said that a mere few days ago. You got a winner. Great run!
Congratulations!! that pre-race show sounds so Jerry Springer! lol
Running in 90% humidity is much tougher than the cold. I had a very hard time in a race last summer because of the heat. I was really humbled.
That's what I found at Disney... it was simply to crowded o find your own pace and settle into a groove. Better to go with the flow and make the most of it.
Glad you enjoyed yourself, felt good and still posted a great time. Congrats on your first PP half!
Nice job on the half! I love the picture of Norah with you medal - so cute.
Congratulations on a great race. I heard it was warm and really muggy at race start.
Congrats on the half! What a great way to spend a morning. And what an intersting show to take your mind off and per race jitters!
Sweet picture of Norah.
Congrats!
nice! Some parents use keys, people like us use race medals. Genius!
Great job, nice start for making the half your bitch this year :)
Awesome job on the race! that is great :) I too like big races but I don't do as well as the more calm and less congested races that are out there. It is nice to do both types of races to get the experience on both ends :)
Awww shucks we should have met up!! I'm so sad!
Way to get er done!
OMG! Norah finished a HM already? What a little chip off the ole block! hahaha!
Why don't I ever get to witness any boob popping brawls? Not fair!!
Nice job on the 13.1 miles. You have worked really hard on getting back into running shape, and it shows!!
I don't know how you do it with the humidity! Amazing! Glad you finished strong - it does sound like a pretty cool race scenery wise! Love the pic with Norah!
Congrats on a great race Jess! I love the picture of Norah and the medal!
Tube tops are not great for fighting or "coming on down" at the Price is Right. :)
Congrats on finshing the race! Great job (big races are tough).
18,000 people - oh my gosh! The biggest race I have ever ran only had about 200 people and even that number might be pushing it!
Wow, you came back fast! Great job!
Nicely done!!!!
awesome job!!! you are doing amazing with running post baby. i think you are awesome :) LOVE the pic with norah too <3
Nice work! I cant believe you "held it" for 13.1 miles. I think you get a medal just for that!!!!!!!!!!
Way to be consistent. I am doing the ING Georgia Half in March... I remember completing the race last year (when I did the full marathon), it was not until miles 4-5 where it started to fan out, and when I got to the turn (forget which mile marker), for every 100 people turning left (1/2 marathon), there were maybe 10 of us going straight ahead (marathon). I am kinda jealous of the spinning palm!!! We have a really small spinner on ours that looks a bit like the downtown skyline in Atlanta. Gotta love the pre-race entertainment in Miami! Norah looks adorable with that medal :) Good job on the race!
Dang it. i never see boobies before a race! there's a first time for everything i guess.
Wow Jess look at you girl back on the half marathon scene like nothin! Congrats you are doing wonderful!! I thought in the dictionary it was something like this, Miami (n) clusterfuck PERIOD!
Love that pic of Norah with the medal, too cute!
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