The 2014 Little Rock Half Marathon was scheduled for March 2 this year. I wasn't initially planning on doing it because it is the same date as my husband's birthday. I have such a supportive husband though and he encouraged me to go ahead and run it if I wanted to. My only goal this year was to beat my time from the same race last year. Last year we had cool, but good weather. I remember wishing one time that I hadn't given up my jacket when I had passed my husband earlier, but other than that, it was enjoyable weather. I finished last year in 2:32.
This year I did beat my time...by 14 minutes. It was a cold, windy, and wet day. The conditions were not only uncomfortable, but miserable at times. The wind blew so hard at one point, that I and another runner were pushed sideways. There was a rainy drizzle going on pretty much the entire time. The temperatures were dropping the entire race. By the end of the race it was so cold and my feet were wet and my hands were numb. My muscles wouldn't even stay warm while I was running. They were beginning to get cold and tight. I paused several times along the course to stretch a little. I know only God got me through those conditions safely.
My finish time was 2:18. This was my tenth half marathon, eleventh if you consider virtuals. I ran a virtual half for my buddy Sophia last year. I have finally be led to the right nutrition and supplements for me. And I am loving it! Vespa CV-25 has been the best thing for my running. I used it this year along with not following the whole carb loading theory that so many push. And it paid off. I am not the slightest sore this morning. I am thankful for that. I wonder if the weather conditions had been different if my time would have been even better. I figure so, as I know getting up some of those inclines with the strong wind pushing back on my face so hard was not only difficult, but actually slowed me down. It doesn't matter though. I did meet my goal this year, but much more than I thought I would. My first six miles I had a ten minute average pace, which is just incredible for me.
I have 11 more races at a minimum this year. The last one will be a marathon. My first marathon. I am excited to see what the year holds for my racing and for my physical body. I am excited to see what Vespa All Natural Amino Acid Supplement, combined with proper nutrition and training, will do for my performance and my fitness. God is leading me into an exciting year and I look forward to see how He will use this. Remember, what doesn't challenge you, doesn't change you. Hm, maybe that should have been the title of this post. This LR race was definitely challenging, and I can see changes in not only me, but in my running community that was there fighting through the difficult weather/race.
