A  few weekends ago marked my return to running after rough start to 2016.

Friday morning I jumped on a plane and headed to Dallas.   I was there to celebrate my mom’s birthday, I was there to see my best buddy Sheryl and I was there to run the Rock N Roll 5K and half marathon.

I lived in Dallas from 2008 to 2012 and it was where I started running, so I was super excited to run in Dallas, for it was city I know well and it was in my home state of Texas.

EXPO

Friday after I landed at DFW and caught up with my mom I headed to downtown Dallas to grab my running packet for the weekend’s races at the Health and Fitness Expo.

The Health & Fitness Expo was little disappointing.  There was seemed to be small turn in terms of vendors.  Most vendors there were selling running gear or prompting upcoming races.

After getting my packets, I walked through  the Brooks merchandise section.   They have the new Brooks Neuro running shoes.  I tried them on they were so comfortable and light, so I went ahead and got them – then I picked up a commemorative t-shirts for my mom and I.

Then I headed over to the Rock N Roll Booth to pick up my Tour Pass Credentials for 2016.  While I was at the booth I was able to show my mom all of the Heavy Medal, medals.  I think it help her see that I was working towards something and it helped to re-motivate me about running the series this year and my goals.

One thing I was disappointed in was that I hoping that they would have some general Rock N Roll gear at the expo.  They did have some but they didn’t have the jacket I had been eyeing.

HALF MARATHON

I was really nervous about running the half marathon.  I just was not sure if I had it in me or not.   I told myself that is what I came to do, so I would not myself talk myself out of not running.

My best buddy Sheryl lives in Plano, about 20 minutes north of downtown Dallas.  So I decided to take the DART light rail to the race.  This was a smart move because there was DART station in the area where the race started, which meant I less than a 2 block walk to my coral.

Sunday was extremely cold for March in Texas.  That morning it was 30 degrees and there was frost on the ground and the wind was very wicket that morning.   The night before I decided to pick up a pair of gloves, cap and running pants and I was very glad I did.

For the half marathon I was in corral 3, which was my best corral start yet, for a half marathon.  I started the race off slow and could get my legs to loosen up.    Typically cold weather does not get to my but this time it was.   It seemed like most of the race path was overcast and covered in the shadows of the building or streets, which made the cold worse.  I just wanted sunshine to warm me up.

One thing I was not pleased with for the race was that streets were either filled with potholes or there was construction.  For me this made running the race a little tricky because I am very conscious about tripping when running.

The course took you through many parts of Dallas.  First we headed through downtown Dallas to Deep Elm.

 

Then we circled back through downtown Dallas and to the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, which a bridge that opened just after I left Dallas in 2012 and crossed over the Trinity River.

Getting to the top of Hunt Hill Bridge was no easy task; the roads were closed and you had to run up the S ramp to get to the bridge.  When you reached the top the view was unbelievable; I don’t know which was better the view of bridge’s architecture or the view of Dallas from the bridge.

After we got off the bridge we were in the Trinity Grove area.  We then ran down Singleton Blvd to Sylvan Ave into the Kessler Park area and into the Bishop Arts District. Then we ran around Cliff Park and across the Houston bridge back to the Union Station / Reunion Tower area.

The when you got near the finish line the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders were there cheering you on the last 1/10 of a mile.

Compared to finish line area of the past, there was not as much excitement. You were handed your medal, got your picture taken and then given various drinks and snacks.

Then it was off lawn area to listen Blues Travelers.  I only took a peak at Blue Travelers then I was off to find my mom and Sheryl.  They had meet me at the finish line and surprised me with goodies – kolaches!

Even though Blue’s Traveler was still playing we decided to head back to Sheryl’s house – we were all just cold.

My knee and kidney both held up during the race – no real problems.   However, it was not the best race.  I finished in 3:58 which is my slowest half marathon to date.  I could not get legs working that morning, which resulted in a slow jog / walk.   I didn’t care with all I been the last couple of months I was I just glad to participating in half marathon.

From the half marathon I was able to build me a list of where I need to focus attention for training.  It was a good test and good way to show myself that I still have it.

Unlike half marathons in the past, this half was huge mind game.   From the very beginning of the race there was this voice inside of my head that kept telling me give up.  Every time I ran through an area where I knew a friend lived, the voice in my head was telling me to call that friend and just have them take me to the finish line area.   but I would not listen to it.  Then every time I passed a medical tent I wanted to stop and complain about this or that, but I would not let myself.   I keep telling myself to just keep putting one foot in front of the other and I would make to the finish line.

The single thing I am most proud of for this race is that I didn’t give in or give up.  I kept going and finished the race.