Drop 13 Half Marathon Race Recap! New PR & NYC Marathon Qualifying! 1:30:02

I picked Drop 13 with my coach @ahappypace because it’s a fast course and it was my best chance at under 1:34 1/2 marathon time. 1:32 is 18-34, I aged up this year 😆 🎉 so I get 2 extra mins, but my A goal was a sub 1:30. The week of the race I was really tired and side note, my last years injured foot has been hurting again. Ugh. More on that later.. I decided to go for it and take the chance!
***
Ash and I decided to match outfits 👯‍♀️ and I was so glad she came with me! The race started a 6am but we had to be to the buses by 4am. That 2:55 am wake up call was rough! 😆😴 I drank my @idealfit BCAAs on the bus as always. #GameChanger The start line feel was great! Not overcrowded, We lined up and we were off! My fitness has been right on this season and coming off 2 big PRs, I wanted one more (long awaited) in the half so bad! Don’t hold anything back! I started out fast but it felt pretty good. 2 miles in and even though I had a good breakfast, I knew I needed a GU. First few miles were fast for me, miles 1-6 were 6:37, 6:46, 7:12, 6:25, 6:59, 6:37. So even though this course is down hill, it was work but I felt good.
.
“Just keep pushing” “New York, New York” was my mantra. Miles 7-12 were 6:10, 6:13, 7:00, 6:18, 7:00, 7:04. It was hard, but I wanted it so bad. I took another GU at mile 8. Running downhill is wonderful and not at the same time 😉 It’s easier then up but it’s a different kind of hurt at that pace, I was averaging 6:51s. The finish coming, I knew it was going to get that NY time! Now could I get under 1:30, on my watch I showed 13.1 at 1:28:30ish, and it was no where in sight. It kept going.... it had to be close! As I rounded the last corner I saw @runtritamthere! She came to run me in! I’m so grateful! I was spent! I had given everything I could on the course today! We sprinted to the finish and my last mile was a 7:16. Finally finished! I looked at the finish time, 1:30:02. So happy! Those darn 3 seconds! 😆 But so so happy with a 6 min PR! New York baby!! A dream come true to qualify for NY and Boston in the same year!

---