Half at the Hamptons

Last Sunday, I ran my second half marathon.  I chose Half at the Hamptons because I really enjoy running in the cold - unlike most people, I was not interested in going to a warm destination for my winter half marathon and instead, headed for New Hampshire.  I had a terrific 8 weeks of training and since the beginning of 2011, I had only one training run in which my pace was over a 9 minute mile - and that was a 15 mile run - so needless to say, I was pumped for the race.  But some days are just not good race days and less than a mile into the race, I knew that it was not my day.  As the race progressed, just about everything that could go wrong did; and since the race ended, recovery has been difficult.  I would love to blame the weather, but in fact, the conditions were perfect for me.  My time was significantly slower than my time in Hartford, but I am trying very hard to realize that it's all about experience and that every race - even the bad ones - is an experience.  A big thank you to my sister Kathleen, who could have run a PR, but decided to stay with me to make sure that I finished.

"LOCO Races 1, Mother Nature 0; Braving up to 30 mph gusts, finger numbing cold and gatorade slushies, the Half at the Hamptoms lives up to it's billing as a 'winter adventure'" (this was on the event website after the race - I love it). 

Crossing the finish line. 

Kathleen and I with our medals after a little post-race shopping.