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not today
February 13, 2005
OK. the short of it is, i didn't make it. i didn't even come close. i didn't even run the whole distance. yes, there were factors, excuses, explanations, but i don't want to talk about them. i just had a bad race, and maybe there's some stuff for me to sort out and work on, physically, strategically, mentally. i did try. i did finish.
i'm extremely thankful for my teammates. when they heard the goal i had set, they became determined to help me reach it, setting us up with the right pace group, and keeping me reined in when i was all hyped up at the start.
i'm also extremely proud of them - tiffany came out and ran despite being ill, and tried to stick with the elevated pace anyway. but she also has asthma, and when that hit around mile 2, she dropped back, and with janay there, she kept going until mile 5. she's a hell of a woman and a competitor, who's already looking for another half-marathon to do.
according to the official chip timing, katie and i ran the first 6.2 miles at a 10:27 per minute pace. i started struggling, and katie held herself back, and probably wasted some energy doing everything she could to keep me going. meanwhile, janay made an incredible effort to catch katie and me at about 7.5 miles, despite what had to be a lead of several minutes.
by that time, i was in trouble. katie and janay tried to push me. janay ran to people cheering from the sidewalks to cheer for rob. they did everything they could to keep me going, but i fell back, and at a little past 8 miles, i quit. i began walking, running some, but then walking again.
i wanted to make it, i wanted to pick time back up, but i just couldn't drive myself to do it. i walked at least half of the remaining distance. i finished at 2:27.58, over a minute slower than i had run the 3m. i averaged 11:18 per mile over the whole race.
janay and katie were amazing. they met and exceeded my goal. janay finished at 2:28:52, 8:47 faster than at 3M, at a 10:42 pace. katie at 2:16:29, a 9:51 improvement, averaging a 10:25 pace.
so many thanks, much respect and much love to my teammates. many thanks to julia and ben, who were in town visiting and woke up this morning to cheer for me at the finish, such as it was. and many, many thanks to all of you for your kindness and your encouragement. i'm sorry i didn't make it, but all these things are probably why i finished at all.
Posted by Rob at February 13, 2005 06:08 PM
Comments
Rob, I'm so proud of you for doing what you did for Julie's daughter. It might be 'not today', but perhaps another day. You've inspired me to challenge myself, too. Thank you! (by the way, $50 is still going to be donated) Love you! --Julia
Posted by: Julia (in Dallas) at February 14, 2005 09:35 AM
Robbie -
You know I am proud of you irregardless of where you finished. Your heart was in the right place and that is what matters.
I've run a half-marathon and it is not easy to run the race, and it surely is not easy to shave off that kind of time.
Keep your head my friend. You have done us all proud.
Steph~
Posted by: Steph at February 24, 2005 03:55 PM
You did a fabulous job, Rob you and you are the bomb! I have some more info for you on running shoes too! This is a great step forward in your new running career and I am so proud of you! :), Julia
Posted by: Julia (from the LBC) at February 25, 2005 07:19 PM