Race: Hottest Half
Distance: 13.1 Miles
Time: 2:07:33
Finish: Overall: 474/1373, Age Group: 17/102
Comments: This was my slowest time for a half marathon yet. I had anticipated taking it a little more slowly given the heat and humidity. I knew I'd actually be walking through water stops. But even knowing that, I still wanted to finish in under 2 hours.
We got a brief respite from the heat the day before the Hottest Half which meant it wasn't as hot as it had been (39 consecutive days of triple digit weather), but it was very humid. Much more humid than it had been.
I dropped my water bottle around mile 9. I was apologizing profusely as I picked it up, and when I started running again another runner started chatting with me. He ended up talking to me until we crossed the finish line. I learned all about his kids (all grown), and he got to hear all about mine. He was about the same age as my dad, and thankfully, he was funny.
Lessons Learned: Don't start at the back. I know they say that it doesn't matter with chip timing, but it does. If you're way in the back, you get stuck behind the walkers. I spent the first mile just trying to get out from behind people. Then the race bottle-necked on a bridge, and I probably walked 100 yards . . . slowly. I know not to start at the back, but we'd just come out of the port-o-potties when we heard the gun go off.
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