I ain’t even mad, bro.😀. Actually my new motto might be “just hang on”. But before we get into that, let’s talk about the expo real quick.
The Expo-
Saturday dawned rainy and windy. Those running the 5k ran in the rain. The rain had cleared by the time I arrived to pick up my packet and attend the ambassador meet and greet. Picking up my packet was super easy and I wandered around the expo before heading out to the meet. I was there less than 10 minutes before I spent money at the Lorna Jane booth. Oops, but since that was the only thing I bought, I think I showed restraint!
The meet up was outside and it was so damn windy, I thought we were going to blow away. It was nice catching up with the repeat ambassadors from last year and meeting the new ones. A few of them I had been trying to meet since the Ventura half. It was so windy and cold that after chatting, getting our shirts and taking some pics, we all scattered to do our own thing. I headed home to rest a bit and figure out food. I had been having a mental struggle all week, going back and forth between following my new diet rules or following conventional running wisdom. Spoiler- I chose wrong.
The Race-
Sunday was supposed to dawn cold and windy, so I tried to prepare for that. I didn’t feel like I got enough sleep and my stomach was cranky but neither of those are new things on race morning so I didn’t pay too much attention. My mom was dropping me off so I didn’t have to catch the 4am bus to the start. I got to the start with 15 minutes to spare so I figured I would hit the port-a-potty line just to be sure. The lines were huge. By the time I got out of there, they had moved the corrals up to the start line, oops.
Miles 1-5- 9:25, 9:14, 9:20, 9:36, 8:31
The whistle blew and we were off- sort of. I ended up starting behind the 2:45 pacer. Rutro. My fault but the first mile and a half were spent bobbing and weaving. I dropped the 2:45, 2:30, and 2:15 pace groups when I decided I just needed to run my own race and not worry about catching the 2:00 pace group. In one way it was freeing not having to worry about keeping them in sight. It meant I had to pace myself and while I knew breaking 2:00 was unlikely, I was feeling strong and thought I could PR- sub 2:05.
We hit the first of the long hills and I still felt good going up. Last year at this time I was already sucking air and tiring out. Thanks to all the weaving I did at the start, my Garmin and the mile markers didn’t match so I just checked my total time at each of the course markers. I was feeling pretty good as we the flat section before turning up another long climb.
Miles 6-8- 9:36, 11:25, 9:29
About a 1/4 mile into 6, my stomach started to make itself known. I began to wonder if I was going to have an issue. But wasn’t even the biggest thing to happen that mile. Maybe it’s because I was focused intently on telling myself I was fine and not paying attention to much else, but the next thing I knew, I was airborne.
It’s still kind of blur but I remember hitting the ground and rolling. My water bottle ended up about 10 feet down the course. WTF?! About 5 different runners stopped their race to come help me. Some helped me up while one chased down my bottle. A bike medic was there in seconds. I was kind of in shock/ denial, so I honestly don’t remember if I thanked all of them. I posted a big shout out to them on my Facebook page but I feel bad if I didn’t say it right then. 😔 I assured the medic I was ok and kept running. It was few yards later that it all set in and then I was trying to talk myself out of hyperventilating myself into an asthma attack.
Eventually I calmed down and I was still on track to PR. Halfway through mile 6, my stomach let me know that I needed a bathroom and I needed it now. There were no bathrooms at that point. I had to start walking because it was either walk or embarrass myself. I walked the rest of 7 just taking deep breaths. I felt a little better by the turn around so I picked up the pace. I said goodbye to the PR hope but knew I could still beat last years course time even with the fall and the walking. At mile 8, I was 4 minutes ahead of a last year.
Miles 9-11- 13:01, 9:48, 9:54
Around 8.5, my stomach reared again. I was near an aid station so I looked for bathrooms. I finally found them off to side and back away and bolted for them. Not sure if I looked urgent or if he did this the whole race but there was a volunteer who directed me to which port-a-potty was open. Thank you!
After that snafu, I was back running but had slowed a bit. Shockingly enough I was still on track to beat last year’s time. I just had to stay under a 10:00 pace the last few miles. My legs felt strong; bruised and bleeding but strong. My mental game still felt on point as well. Despite the morning so far, I wasn’t defeated and I wasn’t giving up. We had a nice decline portion before we went from the roads to the railroad trail. I knew there was the suspension bridge and a few streets left before the finish line and I was still hopeful.
Miles 12-13.1- 10:37, 12:49, 2:17
Mile 12 slowed some towards the end thanks to my stomach again but I thought if I could a 9:00 for the last mile and sprint the .1, I could still pull this off. I shouldn’t have gotten cocky. My stomach threw a fit in the last mile. Why are there no bathrooms at mile 12.5?! Ha! There were 2 times I had to get myself completely off the road, out of the way and just stand still, focusing on deep breathing and calming my stomach. My fastest pace was now a jog but I was mostly walking.
It felt like more than 100 people passed me in that last mile. Including the 2:15 pace group. The last .25 mile is a paved path that goes around the pavilion at the Madonna Inn and I had been looking forward to sprinting it. I walked 90% of it before jogging across the finish line. Half marathon#12 done.
Finish- 2:15:07
Once I crossed the finish line and got my medal- which I feel like I fought for!- I was looking for a bathroom. I had wanted a finishers picture but the line had about 50 people in it and that was just not going to happen. I also should have stopped at the medical tent but I had other priorities. Plus, my arm warmers had done a pretty good job of drying the blood.
My mother found me fairly quickly and we headed for the back of the pavilion where the port-a-potties and UPS trucks (bag check) were. After that, I made it as far as the grass by the trucks and just tried to calm my rolling stomach. I wanted to try to find some of the ambassadors and see how they did but was just not up to moving. I had eaten nothing and had drank very little throughout the race as I knew my stomach was just not up to it. I let myself have a bit of the chocolate strawberry protein smoothie that Jamba Juice made for the finishers. It tasted like a Frosty. 🙂 We ended up leaving not long after that, I was feeling rough again and couldn’t handle another port-a-potty, so we headed to the McDonald’s down the street. Real bathrooms and I got an ice-cold Diet Coke. Oh the magical healing properties. 🙂
Like I said at the beginning, I am not mad or even sad. There were quite a few times throughout the race where I could have said screw it and bailed or phoned it in (see Ventura) but I knew I was stronger than that. My legs were feeling fresh, tumble not withstanding, my head was in the game and I was determined. I think that’s one thing that came out of my McMillan training plan that I wasn’t anticipating- the confidence. I knew I could I do it, and I still honestly believe that if it hadn’t been for my stupid stomach, I would have PR’d, hills, fall, headwind and all. Yes, the wind had picked up and was pretty bad but by that point it was the least of my concerns. 🙂 So with everything that race morning threw at me, I am damn proud of that 2:15.
I love this race. I love the course and the crowds. The expo is still my favorite and the volunteers and staff are amazing. Seriously, I think the bike medic was there before I stopped rolling. I am already looking forward to next year.
Ever fallen while running? This was my first time.
What race/ run are you really proud of?
Slacker Runner 
Nicely done! Proud of you for finishing after all that malarkey! Hope your cuts and bruises are healing up.
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Thank you! Malarkey is a good word for it!
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Glad you’re OK from your fall!! *Knock on wood* that hasn’t happened to me yet, but it’s only a matter of time….!!
Kudos for finishing strong despite all of the ailments…those are things that would break most people!!! I will definitely be thinking of that this Sunday during my race!
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Yeah, this was a first for me. Well as far as running goes, outside of running I am super clumsy! 🙂
Thank you! I’ve thrown the mental towel in in previous races for less than this but this time was different. Somehow I just knew I could keep going- just slower than planned. 🙂 Good luck with your race!
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Good job in just toughing it out and finishing. Even though it sucks, sometimes those and the most rewarding accomplishments. I have fallen tons of times while running. It looks like you did a pretty good job, though.
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Thanks- this is definitely a race I will be proud of for a while. 🙂 I have fallen/ tripped plenty of times outside of running but somehow never while running before. I could do without it in the future but I don’t think I will be that lucky! 🙂
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Congratulations on finishing a tough race. I can’t imagine trying to finish a half with stomach problems. That’s pretty hardcore!
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Thank you! I’m actually surprised it hasn’t happened before now but hopefully it won’t happen again. Fingers crossed.
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Nice job on finishing a tough race. Stomach problems are the worst! I want to run the SLO Marathon one of these years (I’m from a half hour south of there, so it’s my hometown marathon) but it’s always the same weekend as Pat’s Run in Arizona! One of these years though!
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Thank you! It’s such a great race if you can make the trip sometime, it really is. Next year the race is the last weekend of April, actually I just realized the race will be on May 1st. Pat’s Run sounds so awesome. And so crowded?! How do that many people run a 4 mile race?
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I love Pat’s Run! It can have some hiccups because it is so large (for example a lot of people start in way too early of a corral because they are first time runners and don’t know any better) but it is such an amazing experience to be one of 30,000 runners for an amazing cause. You should sign up sometime and make the trip out to Arizona!
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Congratulations, Fallon! You really have so much to be proud of in this race!!! I’ve never experienced major stomach issues in a race and I can only imagine how horrible that would feel. Quite honestly, I don’t know that I could push through the rest of the race like you did. You are stronger than you think 🙂
I’m really proud of my race this weekend too because I knew from early on I wouldn’t be getting the time I’d been training so hard for. It’s hard to keep yourself in the mental game when your goal slips right on by but these are the races that make us stronger people.
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Thank you! Up until this race I had never even used the bathroom mid race, I was always too concerned about my time. 🙂 I think that ship has sailed. Ha!
You did so well at your race! I know it wasn’t what you were hoping for either but it’s still awesome what you did accomplish. It will just make the races that we do accomplish our goals all the better. 🙂
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oh gosh, that race put you through a lot.! way to be tough and finish the race.! I’ve never had stomach problems while attempting to run, but I know when I have stomach problems, all I want to do is be in a fetal position. lol Great job.!
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Oh, yes, the fetal position is usually a good choice when I feel like that. Somehow I just kept pushing, thank you!
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I’d say you finished with a great time! What did you trip on? That’s never happened to me but I always picture it happening whenever I’m running downhill. There certainly was great support at this race. I enjoyed everything about it And I loved being in SLO! Great little town…. with a big race! Hope your boo boos heal quickly. It was great meeting you! Hopefully we’ll see you again at some upcoming races. Big Sur Half Nov 8th???
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First of all, sorry if this posts twice but I don’t think my first response worked. Anyhow, you ended up with a great time! What did you trip on? That’s never happened to me but I always picture it happening when I am running downhill. There was great support at this race. I enjoyed everything about it and I really enjoyed being in SLO. Such a great small town …with an awesome BIG RACE! It was wonderful meeting you and hope to see you soon at another race….Big Sur Half Nov 8th??? 🙂 Hope your boo boos heal quickly!!
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No worries! Thank you! There have been times I thought I was going to fall running down trails but always pulled out of it. This time I didn’t even see it coming. I still love this race and am looking forward to next years! It was so great meeting you guys! My goal is to make it to Big Sur this year, I wanted to last year but it just didn’t work out. It looks like such a gorgeous race! It’s about a month after City to the Sea, so it should work out. I hope to see you at another race!
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Wow that fall sounds scary, glad you are okay! Do you know what caused it – did you trip on something or just lose your footing?
I’m proud of you for toughing it out! You’re right, you could have given up at any point, and a lot of people in your shoes would have, but you stayed the course. It’s just a reminder that so many things can go wrong in a race that we don’t plan for – it’s all about how we react and keep fighting to the finish that matters! Sometimes we really do have to fight for that medal!
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I vaguely remember feeling like I kicked something but didn’t see anything. There was an orange cone nearby but it was still standing so I am pretty sure that wasn’t it.
Thank you! It was a fight, I think this medal will hold a special place in my memories for awhile. A tangible reminder of the day. 🙂
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Long distance high five! Seriously, amazing job tackling that race, and finishing with that time, in spite of it all! I hope I can have your confidence and determination during a race someday! 🙂
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Aww, thank you! I am still pretty happy with it all. 🙂 Also still a little surprised, I guess that was one side effect of following an actual training plan that I hadn’t anticipated. 🙂
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Woot woot! Nice work, lady!
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Thank you!!
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Congrats on finishing a tough race! You should be proud of your time – that sounds like a battle (with war wounds and everything!). I fell during a trail race and have lovely race photos displaying my bloody knees and elbows.
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Thank you!! Yeah, the knees will look real interesting with my dresses when I go back to work tomorrow. 🙂 Now I am kind of looking forward to seeing the race pics, I know they will be interesting, I am hoping for a laugh. 🙂
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Wow, great job despite the stomach and falling SNAFUs. I almost fell and ate shit during the Presidio 10-miler a few weeks ago. I’m glad I didn’t.
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Thank you! I had never really thought about how I would react if I fell, now I’ve thought about it ever since!
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Really well done – & a great time (your poor knees 😪)
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Thank you! Haha, yeah my knees have looked interesting with my dresses all week. 🙂
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I think bad races can be great learning tools and build mental strength.
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Yes they can. That is what I am most proud of I think, I didn’t let events of the morning get me down. 🙂
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You should be proud! It’s a great breakthrough.
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Congratulations and job well done!
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Thank you!
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