On Monday, I told you all about our weekend in Nashville …
… except I left out a key event from the weekend. The half-marathon. 
So today I’m going to talk about the race itself.
After another edition of WIAW, of course!
Breakfast:
I wonder if I’ll ever actually get sick of the peanut butter + banana combination? 
Snack:
Raspberry yogurt, strawberries, and Kashi Go Lean Crunch. A winning combination.
Lunch:
I was at one of my jobs during lunch, so I quickly scarfed down a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (made with Natalie’s homemade jam … AH-MAZING). I also enjoyed some Love Grown granola that Chelsey had sent me. Thanks, Chelsey!
Snack:
Raw veggies with some light Ranch dressing.
Dinner:
Kale chips … if you haven’t tried these before, you need to. Like, now. Even Brandon likes them. I’m going to post how I made them on Friday, so stay tuned! I also had a mini pizza made on a whole-wheat sandwich thin with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, broccoli, green pepper, onion, and banana peppers. Delicious, but eaten way too quickly!
Dessert:
More of that yummy dark chocolate with coconut. So good!
——————
OK, let’s get to the good stuff. The race recap.
It was a tough one, folks! Not nearly as enjoyable as the Louisville half!
Let’s start with the fact that I didn’t get a very good night’s sleep. I woke up around 3:30 am and couldn’t fall back to sleep. So I stared at the clock until around 5am, and then rolled my sorry self out of bed to meet Ali in the hotel lobby.
The hotel was offering a shuttle service to the start line, but after 20 minutes of waiting in line for the shuttle, Ali and I made a game-time decision and decided to cab it instead. We shared a cab with two sisters who were planning on walking the race and just having a good time. Little did I know at that moment just how wise they were!
When we got to the park where the start line was, we were immediately greeted by 35,000 of our closest friends.
Yeah, there were a lot of people there. And (as always) not enough porta-potties!
Ali and I parked ourselves in corral 10 and waited for the gun to go off at 7:00.
Once it did, it was about 20 minutes before our corral even got to the starting line to start running. I can’t imagine how long it took for those poor people in corral 35 to start moving!
For the first few miles, Ali and I chatted while running. The temperatures were still fairly cool, and the hills weren’t affecting us at that point.
By about mile 6, we weren’t feeling quite as chatty. The sun was blazing down on us. I felt like I was running on the sun. We also made the mistake of skipping a water station, which I will never do again!
Around mile 7 or 8 (I was delirious at that point so I could barely remember my name, much less what mile we were on), we consumed our GU Energy Gels and downed some water. Soon after, Ali started getting some stomach cramps so we walked for a couple of minutes before torturing ourselves running again.
At each water stop, I would drink two cups of water and throw another cup on my head. However, the relief from the heat would only last about 2 minutes before the sun would suck all the life out of me again.
By mile 11, Ali was feeling like she was going to pass out, while my entire body was screaming at me for mercy. So we started alternating between walking for a couple of minutes, and then running for a couple of minutes.
At mile 12, we were starting to feel hopeful that we had seen the worst of it and now smooth sailing was ahead. And then we came across another hill. Thanks a lot, race organizers. You couldn’t have given us a break on that last mile??
Halfway through mile 12, we both started picking up the pace. We were dying, but at that point, we just wanted the race to be over. When we saw the finish line in sight, we both started sprinting.
Oh, the sweet relief of standing still.
Here are my final stats:
Participant Detail
Finished In: 02:15:25
Age: 28 | Gender: F
- Overall: 7228 out of 22277
- Division: 921 out of 3092
- Gender: 3374 out of 14189
- 5 Km: 31:50
- 10 Km: 1:02:20
- Pace: 10:20
- Chip Time: 02:15:25
I really wanted to get a PR during this race, because I know I’m running faster than I was in November (my time was 2:12 then). But our 10 minutes or so of walking affected our overall pace time. Oh well. I’m just thankful that neither of us passed out, because we definitely saw a lot of people being treated by the medical team!
So for all of our our blood, sweat, and tears (mostly sweat), we each came away with one of these:
Worth it? Yeah, actually, I think it was.
So why do I think this race was so difficult? A few reasons:
1. I didn’t carry my own water. I just relied on the water stations. And with the heat, I really needed more water.
2. The heat. It was hot, sunny, and there was very little shade on the course.
3. The hills. They weren’t super steep, but they were constant.
4. The amount of people. I think Katie explained it best in her race recap post. There were a lot of people in general, and a lot of walkers at this race. And it was hard to swerve around all of them. It’s mentally and physically challenging to find your “groove” when you keep having to slow down to get around someone.
5. Possibly a salt deficit? Ali and I got to talking to a guy after the race who does triathlons. He said he actually pops salt pills when he races, because if he loses too much salt from sweating, his body locks up. Hmm … that sounds exactly like what happened to me! Very interesting! You can read more about the need for salt in this article.
All that being said, I’m still so glad that I ran this race. I’m proud to say that I went from being a 100% complete NON-runner to running 4 races in a year. And I loved spending time with Ali and our other friends in Nashville. It was completely worth those 2 hours of pain.
Question for ya …
Ever experienced something so physically challenging, and yet so completely rewarding? Tell me about it!
If anyone else ran in Nashville this weekend, please share your experience!
What was the best thing you ate this week?
For me, it was probably the BBQ I had in Nashville. Soooo good!
After reading this it kind of reminded me of child birth!!
Hahahahaha Amy, you are so funny!!
i have tons of friends who run the half + the full in Nashville, + they all talk about how hard the hills can be. so glad you made it through them successfully, even if they were a challenge. i’m proud of you!
amy @ fearless homemaker recently posted..garlic, cheddar + parmesan rolls
Thanks, Amy!!
Ahh great job on finishing girl! My half is this weekend and it made me so excited readibg your recap. Even though there were times you wanted to give up, you didn’t and that is al that matters! What a great experience!
Jana @ Newly Wife Healthy Life recently posted..Almost at the Starting Line
Oooh good luck on your half!! I’m sure you’ll do awesome!!
I’m so sorry you didn’t get your PR, but you were so close and you would have blown your old time out of the water if it weren’t for the heat and hills. I’m a little glad that I wasn’t the only one who thought it was miserable! Bummed we didn’t get to hook up, but sounds like you had an awesome time!! Have a great day!!
Aww thanks so much, Katie. You’re right … neither of us were the only ones that had a hard time! It seems like everybody did!
You would have KILLED your last race time without the hills and the walking breaks! You will break 2 hours on the next one
Katie @ Faith & Funfetti recently posted..Rock N Roll Half-Marathon Recap
You may be my new best friend haha. Thank you for your kind words … I hope you’re right!
Wow that sounds awful haha….but I’m so glad you guys made it to the finish safely!! And I’d say it was still a good time! I think the best thing I’ve eaten this week is a half pint of Ben and Jerry’s half baked- wow was it tasty! And so worth the extra calories
. Hope you have an amazing day friend <3
Lindsay @ In Sweetness and In Health recently posted..Things Happening in May
Yumm I could go for that ice cream right now! I have been wanting ice cream and frozen yogurt nonstop recently!
I give you mad props for finishing the race! That’s so awesome that you went from not being a runner to running 4 races in a year! I’d be super excited about that shiny medal too
This may sound weird, but my back injury is incredibly challenging and excruciatingly painful but it is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. Yes, I had to have a very invasive operation at 29 and yes I will be in pain for the rest of my life b/c of it, BUT my recovery period gave my parents an opportunity to spend more time with my then boyfriend so they could truly understand his character and love him like I do AND it has given me the free time to create my blog thereby giving me the chance to utilize the talents God has given me which is something I have been praying about for years! He does work it mysterious ways!
Amber with Slim Pickin’s Kitchen recently posted..The Skinny On Me Week 2: Cabo Wabo
Wow, thanks for sharing that, Amber! You are so right. Even during the difficult times, God knows what He’s doing!!
What can I say…I’m a share-er
Amber with Slim Pickin’s Kitchen recently posted..Cinnamon and Coriander Spiced Steak & Spinach Salad w/ Avocado Gorgonzola Vinaigrette
Oh my goodness, just reading about your race makes me hurt! I’m glad you made it to the finish line — congrats!!
Emily @ Perfection Isn’t Happy recently posted..The Day I Met Bethenny Frankel
Haha thanks Emily!!
woohoo!! strong work kristen! the heat and hills would’ve killed me too! you should be so proud though. way to go!!
p.s. i will never ever get sick of the banana + PB combo!
Ashley @ My Food ‘N’ Fitness Diaries recently posted..WIAW #32: Road Trip Eats
sounds like a tough one, but congrats on pushing through!! Im glad you had a running buddy to support you and keep you going!!
Kat recently posted..Healthy Chocolate Chip Nibblets
Yep, ironically, you were present for one of my toughest days….climbing that volcano in Gautemala….I was 50 pounds heavier, and that wasn’t one of m finer days!
I was just talking about climbing that volcano a few days ago!!
Congrats on the weight loss … that’s amazing! Maybe we should go back to Guatemala to try it again …? 
oh gosh, how hot was it during your race? I remember during the rock n roll half in philly, they had salt packets out at one of the tables since it was a little warmer out….i’ve never used salt, I feel like gatorade has always done the trick for me, but we’ll see if that changes while i’m marathon training this summer!!
Theresa recently posted..The unsuspecting burrito…
It was only maybe in the 70′s, but with the sun beating down, it felt like 100!
Great job on your finish regardless! I’m super impressed because my goal is 2:30 for the half in a few weeks and that’s with running the whole thing, so I’m very proud of you! I feel like my biggest physically challenge that will be rewarding will be my first half in a little over a week. I’m already getting nervous…
Laurie @ Love, Laugh, Laurie recently posted..Tropical Smoothie Recipe
Good luck to you, Laurie! Just don’t give up. Even if you have to walk for a little bit, just finish!!
I’m seriously proud of you! Once again, Nashville will NOT be my first half.
Maybe the St. Jude in Memphis – it’s basically a flat course! You are awesome!
I feel so special that my jam made it onto your blog!
natalie @ southern fit foodie recently posted..Weekend Recap
WOWZAS!! That sounds miserable and awesome all at the same time!! Miserable b/c of the tough conditions, but awesome b/c you made it through and are proud of your accomplishment. VERY inspiring!! I really really want to do a 1/2 one day, but I KNOW I need to do it when I can really dedicate the time to train! Posts like this (oddly) make me even more excited!! Congrats on an awesome finish!
Cinnamon @ eatpraytri recently posted..First time WIAW!! {What I ate Wednesday}
I’m glad it still motivates you to run a half, because I think you SHOULD run one. I don’t care how miserable it was … I’m still SO glad that I did it!!
Okay, you absolutely MUST post your kale chip recipe! I tried making them over the weekend and they came out so weird! Not really crunchy, not really soggy. Eric and I didn’t like them much at all:P
kaceyt recently posted..Sad News…and a new wreath
Will do, Kasey! That’s so weird that they didn’t turn out correctly for you. What temperature did you bake them at?
I followed a recipe I found on a blog…45 minutes at 325, I think.
Well wow, what a mix bag of emotions and feelings in this post woman! What a hell of a journey that was but I am sooo glad you are proud of your amazing accomplishment! now THAT is awesome and you sure have some memories
Tessa @ Amazing Asset recently posted..WIAW- Just Eat?!
You are so right, Tessa. As hard as it was, I’m still SO glad that I did it!
Yeah, I agree with Amy: childbirth. So incredibly hard and painful, and I’ll totally admit that it’s kinda scary, too. But SO INCREDIBLY worth it!! Congrats on not passing out!!! And even with the heat and the walking, you did great!! I also think it’s awesome that you stayed with your friend the whole time
The best thing I ate this week was a cupcake for my son’s birthday on Monday. What can I say? I like simple pleasures. And chocolate. 
Heather recently posted..Babbling About My Brooks.
Awesome job!!!! Reading this just made me so excited for my half marathon that’s coming up on Sunday!
I had a similar experience during my first half marathon a few years ago… it was about 90 degrees, and people were passing out all over the course. Scary!
Alyssa @ fit and fun in third recently posted..W.I.A.W: iPhone Edition
If you ever do get sick of the peanut butter & banana combination, no worries. There’s always the peanut butter+banana+chocolate combination:)
Kylie @ immaeatthat recently posted..WIAW #10
Haha good point, Kylie! I like the way you think!
Awesome, it sounds like you had fun even if it was super hot
I think I would have dieeed in the heat as I am definitely a winter person!
Turtle-speed Runner recently posted..This or That
Sorry I’m late to comment (I was traveling yesterday), but YEYY!!! Congratulations! You should be SO proud of the progress you’ve made this past year
I’ve heard about runners taking salt shots during runs– I thought it was strange but if it can prevent your body locking up on you, it’s obviously very important!
Do you see yourself doing another race soon?
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance recently posted..WIAW “Eat More” Edition
I think I might stick to shorter distances for a little while … but if there’s a 10k in the area anytime soon, I think that would be cool.
It would be great to be able to focus on getting a little faster, versus focusing on distance. 
Nice job on the race!!
Elizabeth @ Chocolate Drops and Pearls recently posted..Ch Ch Ch Chia
WOW your race recap seriously sounds SO MUCH like my Half Marathon I ran in March! There were a ton of hills and while no one hill was ever too steep, the mental damage it was doing to see hill after hill was far worse. Also, my Garmin was about a quarter mile off from the actual race mileage which I was NOT expecting. I therefore felt like I had run so much further than I actually had. It’s so crazy how so many mental aspects can affect you! CONGRATS on finishing though! And 2:15 is a great time!
Katy @ HaveYouHurd recently posted..Chapel Hill Part II: Lunch, Drinks & Dinner
Thanks so much for your comment, Katy. You’re right … the mental aspect is so huge when it comes to running! Where was your half in March?
I ran in D.C. on St. Patty’s Day!
Katy @ HaveYouHurd recently posted..Chapel Hill Part II: Lunch, Drinks & Dinner
Oh wow, very cool!
You should try PB&Co cinnamon raisin peanut butter on your toast with banana. Brings it to a whole other level!
Meg recently posted..Carrot Fries & Mashed Sweets
Oh Meg, I’m scared to buy the stuff haha … I already eat so much peanut butter … I could easily go through a jar of that stuff in a couple of days!!
But I like the way you think!!
This half sounds like a duathlon i did a month ago- it was torture and hilly and just the most torture I’ve ever put on my body! At some point I had to realize that a PR was just not going to happen that day. Oh well, but good for you to finish too!
Katie @ Katie Moves recently posted..The Plan
Hey Katie, good for you on the duathlon! I don’t see myself picking up cycling anytime soon! But never say never!
Congratulations on the race! I’m definitely excited for you kale chip recipe! I make them now, but I’m always wondering if there are any yummy variations out there for me to try.
In high school I ran cross country, and the training runs in the heat over the summer kicked my butt. I’m not a huge fan of cold weather, but I’d definitely rather run in it than hot. Congrats on the race!
Baking Serendipity recently posted..Taco Cups
Yeah I’m with you … I think most of us prefer that middle of the road, 50-60 degree weather for running!
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I can’t even run a 5k without stopping to walk And even on the treadmill in the house.. with air conditioning and a fan blowing on me I have to drink water constantly. I can’t imagine having to wait for a water station. And don’t even get me started on hills
Luckily I have people like you to inspire me <3
Kadee @kadeebugblog recently posted..Giveaway Time!!
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