Failure to Winning.. Half Marathon Success

It started out like any other race morning. Woke up, dressed, ate something.... Erin decided to pick me up so I walked outside and waited for her. It was muggy outside, not really cool at all.. Strange for December, but maybe not strange in Texas.

Erin and I drove the 45 minutes to La Porte, Texas. Its where a lot of the refineries are - so we joked about how we were going to be inhaling all this grimy air and it would be a horrible race. We always do that - we always joke about how the race can go horribly wrong. We made it to the race parking area and my nerves hit - I started to get antsy.. I felt really good, I felt strong..

I ran a mile warm up while Erin stretched her yogi body.

Turning It On!!!!

We lined up at the start, I noticed that the start was smaller than expected. Not as many people as normal in this type of race. I didn't read into it.

Erin and I have this unspoken routine. We always start out slow together and when I gradually start to speed up, she will just motion me to push it. So I do. I always wait for her at the finish and scream like a crazy lady when she crosses the finish line.. She doesn't need encouragement - shes a brilliant runner - I just like to give her that extra "You did it"...

The gun went off and we started our slow trot. I immediately realized it was freaking hot and humid outside. I started to sweat like crazy around 1.5mi. Erin looked at me and asked if I wanted to slow down.. I gave her a "why would we" look and kept going. Later she would tell me my face was beet red during the first few miles. Really strange....

Miles 1-4 were pretty routine, finding our stride, weaving out of the walkers... We hit this stretch of road, which guided us up onto the highway.. As we ran up the ramp, the bridge became visible.... I immediately turned to Erin and gave her a "WTF face".. She returned the glance. This bridge we were supposed to run over was crazy steep. I had always thought the La Port Fred Hartman Bridge was long with slight incline. No ma'am. This bridge was straight up and over.

It was really hot outside....

Erin and I right before the bridge

Erin took out her headphones and said, "OK, we barrel up the hill with everything we have and find our pace again on the decline.".. I again gave her the WTF face. I told her go for it, but I doubt I'd waste my energy sprinting up a hill in this heat only halfway through a half marathon, and turn around and be able to barrel up it again! (It was up and over 2x). She told me I would beat her to the top..

She started, she was trucking up that dang bridge.. I just kept my pace and watched her gain concrete between us. I knew she would be exhausted at the top - so I kept my pace. I was right, she got to the top and was wiped out, and I ran right up beside her and told her it was downhill time. She started to slow down, so I just ran at my pace, knowing she'd catch up. At the base of the bridge we were side by side again.

The turn around was the most mentally challenging part of this race. It was FREAKING hot (84F) and we were wiped out from the first run up and over, now we had to run a mile loop and come back the way we came. I just stared at the ground, I was miserable. I just don't handle heat well, at all. My body starts to just shut down.

We turned and headed back to the bridge. F-this bridge. I was over this run. Up the hill.

Crossing the Finish Line.. Angry Face

We barely could run. I was bent at the waist and I could hear Erin breathing. We were both drenched in sweat, huffing and puffing, and our faces were just twisted in agony. Of course this is were they "strategically place" the photographers to "capture the moment"... Ugh...

More Angry Face Post Finish Line

It was the worst 1.3 miles of my life (JUST THE UPHILL). We hit the peak and I happen to look at my Garmin. HOLY SMOKES I MIGHT PR. I turned it on..

I love that runners have a switch, a turn it on switch. No matter how hard or how daunting the run seems, if you are going to PR or win.... You TURN IT ON.

I started to gain some serious speed and Erin dropped back. I turned around to look at her and she knew I was going for it. I had previously told her my goal to PR at one of the upcoming 13.1s I have scheduled. I lit up the pavement. I ran as fast and as hard as my lungs and legs would take me.

What I absolutely love about running... Finding that perfect stride. Where you go from super hard labored, trying to dig deep.. To your body just clicking and you are running so fast, so effortlessly. This happened to me around mile 10. I began to pass people.. I felt so good, so strong... I actually passed someone who was being treated by the EMTs - I guess from the heat - I said a little prayer as I ran past him.

I turned the last corner. I could see the big blue Finish Area. This was it, my body flipped into over drive and I pushed myself - to where I could feel my arms and fingers tingling (normally I vomit when this happens).. I could see the clock...... It was not going to be a PR. One minute too late.

Placing in AG. No PR.

I crossed the finish line angry and mad at myself for not pushing harder on the uphill. But it didn't take me too long to turn around and cheer my best friend across the line (at her 1st official half marathon)... I told her I didn't PR and she told me not to worry, that I would have killed at least 5-10 minutes off if it hadn't been for that stupid bridge. We grabbed our muscles milks and medals - and we walked over to the results area.

Erin's 1st Half Marathon!! Go EP

Kelli Stilley 2:03:00 (My PR time is 2:02:54, and I have never sub-2)... It has been my goal for months. I was devastated.....

Then... Erin SHRIEKED... "KELLI, YOU PLACED IN YOUR AGE GROUP".......

Holy smokes.. I guess there is an advantage to running smaller races.... I was on the finisher board..

I couldn't have been more happy. :) GO ME.

What I'm Weaing:

• Oiselle Distance Shorts
• Nike Singlet Top
• Pro Compression Socks - Argyle
• Saucony Kinvara3