I think this worked really well for the conditions until I stopped moving. Before the race I met up with my friend Courtenay from www.autopilotlegs.com (who is going to rock the Fargo Half in three weeks :) She ran the 10k.

After trying to stay warm for an hour it was time to get moving. Thank Goodness! For the first three miles the Halfers and 10kers ran together. This is the 15th largest race in America and I could tell. It was so packed! I did the best I could with the circumstances and ran for three minutes and walked for one. 

During the race never really bothered me until we hit mile 7 when we hit this open area in course. It was at this time I became aware of the fact I was running against the wind and rain. Once we hit the turnaround it got better. I am very proud to say that I managed to keep my ratios. I was not able to keep this up for my first half. I did learn that I cannot drink Gatorade from a cup while running. I took a bath in it. Good thing it was raining. 

After much hard work I finished it. With an official time of 2.17.08. No PR for me :[ I was hoping for more but it was not in the cards. Maybe another day. According to my Garmin it was 13.25 miles in 2.17.10. So according to my Garmin it was a better pace than my first Half. I will take that and run with it :] My splits, 10.12, 10.24, 10.06, 10.28, 9.58, 10.08, 10.28, 9.56, 10.35, 10.18, 10.47, 10.48, 10.48 and 9.02. 

I was actually pretty stable during the race. Then when I crossed the finish line I saw someone crying. Then it hit me I have accomplished so much and have lots to be proud of. Then I started to cry. Sometimes I running gets to be so routine for me that I do not realize how much I have really accomplished. 

Then I realized I was cold and wet. I started shivering and I do not think I stopped for three hours. Either way I learned so much about myself through this race. So proud of myself for chugging along and never giving up through terrible conditions!