SO, last year, Frank, Ryan and I all ran the Rutgers Unite race, Frank did the 8K and Ry and I did the half. Ry and I finsihed in about 2 hours and 11 minutes last year (10 minute mile). We trained pretty good, for us. We only really have time to run once/week so we did that, consistently, last year. After the race, Frank already decided he wanted to run the half this year. Ry and I want to keep doing this one too, it's nice to run this race on known grounds. We grew up in this area, I went to Rutgers, our weekly runs are in Johnson park, it's like backyard running for us. This January came and we kept saying, we need to do our weekly runs. We did them, not as consistently as last year, but we still did as often as we could. I, have been doing LiveFit, so that's a 5-6 day/week program as well. I took the 2 weeks before the race off, cause I hurt my neck and there was alot going on. But still, it's kept me in good shape. This past Sunday came and we were all pretty nervous, ok so Ryan wasn't at all, or he wouldn't tell us he was. We got ready, I peed about 5 times (this happens when I get nervous). We got to the race, Ryan decided that he was going to possibly stay with us for the first mile, but then go off on his own. He's a faster runner then Frank and I, so I knew that he was going to want to do this. The race started and off we went, I felt good, the weather was perfect, sunny but cool (well I was freezing at first but it was good running weather for me). It's so crowded in the beginning and we started in the back, so we were kinda weaving in and out of people to try and get up to the 10 minute pace section. We got about half a mile in and Ryan started breathing really heavy. I asked him if he was ok and he said, no, I can't catch my breathe. I start freaking out and Ry runs off to the side, I follow him and tell Frank to keep going. We pull to the side, stop and he's trying to catch his breathe. I'm asking him if he's ok, he's saying no, I'm freaking out at this point! I tell him, ok I'm going to find a medic, he says, NO, I'll be fine. I try to tell him to sit down and try to calm down, but he doesn't. After about 2 minutes he caught his breathe. I then said to him, do you want to sit on a bench and not race or do you want to just try and take it really slow? He said he'll take it slow. After asking him about 100000 times if he's ok, we start back slow. We catch up to Frank and he snapped back into it. It was scary and really strange but I'm glad he got back into it and was better. Worried the crap out of me! So, now it's the 3 of us running. Ryan's running ahead and slows down every few minutes for us. After a while he goes off. Now, it's Frank and I. We're running and I'm feeling great, Frank however, just got over being sick, and hadn't worked out in about 2 weeks. He even asked us that morning if he should take DayQuil, both Ry and I agreed we didn't think it'd be a good idea before a half to take that. I asked how he was and his response was, not great, my legs hurt. I wanted to stay with him to push him, but I was feeling so good I also wanted to see if I could get a good time in. After debating for a while, and hearing Frank say, just go, just go, I went off. Every once in a while, I'd get an energy spurt and speed up, at one point I looked at my nike band and was doing a 8:46 pace, SWEET! I see Ry at one point, I wanted to try and catch up to him, but I knew that probably wasn't possible. I was in my zone, it felt good. Finally the final stretch was coming over landing lane and heading into Buccleuch park. My legs were really starting to get tired, looking at my nikeplus page, I see that my pace totally slowed down to a 10:04 pace, that's coming from sub 10 pace from mile 6-11. It's ok though. I got through the park and the best part was running past Mya, Ash, my dad and Shirley. Shirley made a sign for Frank and also bought and helped the girls make a sign for us (Ry helped writing it out too). It was so nice seeing them cheer me on and rooting for me. That feeling is seriously so amazing. Then coming in through the finish and seeing Ryan right there waiting for me. AMAZING! The best part though, was being done! LOL! I finished in just about 2 hours and 10 minutes (9.92 pace), I was happy that I finished but seriously if I don't finish in under 2 hours next year, I might just hate myself! We got back to the girls, dad and Shirley and Mya had to pee. I ran to au bon pan with Mya. There was a long line, we were waiting in it, but I was looking through the window in case we saw Frank. We saw him, I said to Mya, we gotta get out there to root on Uncle Frankie. We ran out and cheered at the top of our lungs! I was so proud of him, this was his first half and he finished!!!! It feels so good to accomplish that, even being my 2nd, it felt so good.
So, here we are before the race.
Frank and Shirley
My little snaps holding up her side of the sign.
Little beans with her decorated side. Ryan wrote it out, and Mya and Shirley colored it in, so carefully. Mya guided Shirley on what color to use and where, it was cute.
Shirley holding her sign. It cracks me up that she calls Frank by his real name, she's the only person! SO CUTE!
After the race!!!! Mya had on Ryan's medal of course!
SO, next year, I'm trying to recruit a few more people to run with us! Fun times, glad it's over!
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