13th Annual Mercedes Half Marathon, Birmingham

On this 13th Annual Mercedes Half Marathon in Birmingham, Alabama, on February 16, 2014, I had the opportunity to run my fifth (and only injury-free) half marathon and second running of this particular race (which I ran for the first time in 2011).

My favorite thing about the start of any race once all the runners have congregated in the chute, aside from the chest-thumpingly-loud music and the pre-race realization that you suddenly need to pee, is that it looks like a Skittles factory exploded. But that's really about the last opportunity to soak anything in for the next couple of hours.

My favorite thing during any race is the great lengths people go to to invest real creativity into clever sign-making. And my favorite thing about finishing is...finishing...and a huge post-race breakfast. This year, I placed 1044th among half-marathoners, which puts me in the top one-third, and about an 800 place improvement over my previous running - that's progress.

Team 413 "Get There & Share" Half Marathon, Homewood, Alabama

The inaugural running of Team 413's "Get There & Share" Half Marathon in Homewood, Alabama, was run, appropriately, on April 13, 2013. Team 413 puts on races throughout the country and is described as the largest ministry for endurance athletes in the world. It's name is more than just a moniker but a message, derived from Philippians 4:13, in which the Apostle Paul declared to the church at Philippi: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 

In this application, that includes running a half marathon. Having run a number of half marathons, I set for myself the goal of running the Team 413 Half in under two hours, which comparably is no great feat, but for me would be a Personal Record. But a shortened training regimen and the onset of a heal injury, which caused me to lay up in the final two weeks, brought some serious doubts. Nevertheless, I ran.

I found the course to be good and moderately challenging. It seemed to be comprised largely of flat or low-grade stretches, but with a goodly number of hills sprinkled in, the worst of which were at miles 3 and 10. It was well organized with police, cones, and sufficient water stations.

I had intentions to take more photographs and video, but by the end of the race, I was in no shape to do that. With calves that were threatening to seize up and small waves of nausea that were enveloping me, it was all I could do to keep churning up those final hills toward the finish line. I never got that euphoric second wind, and with a mile left I pulled out my ear buds so I could concentrate on and feel every last ounce of pain, discomfort, satisfaction, and joy, knowing that despite the obstacles, what I had done was enough to reach my goal. 

And a special thanks to the two-hour pacers, without whom I don't think I could have done it, and one of whom is found in the photo below with his hand raised, as we all stand eagerly receiving pre-race instructions.

Another write-up about this race will be able to be found at a local running blogger's page: Yo Momma Runs.

At the Mercedes Half-Marathon

 Now I feel like a runner. My first race of any kind was the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in October 2010. Shortly thereafter, I found a new ambition: running a half-marathon, and ultimately a marathon. The Half is now under my belt.

On Friday, my wife Anna (above) and I went to the expo to pick up my race package, where I got to collect some SWAG.

I also saw the board with all the names of the runners. This is most of the Half-Marathoners. Then there are the Marathoners, 5K-ers, and Marathon Relay Teams. In all, about 7000 runners.

 Earlier in the week, the folks who run the Mercedes Marathon sent out an email suggesting that we participants dress for a significant temperature change. Temps were in the mid-30s when the runners began to arrive around 6am and warm up nicely throughout the next several hours.

So yesterday I went out in search of a disposable sweatshirt, one that I could shed at race time. The Mercedes folks were collecting all the discarded attire and donating it to local missions. I could not have been more excited about the sweatshirt I chose.

So the race began. I had no expectations, except to finish. Anna and her family were waiting for me at Mile 5, among the multitudes of others to be found along the route, cheering for and encouraging the runners. So here I am coming and going 5/13.1 of the way through.

The rest of the race was more-or-less the same: high-5 little kids on the sideline, water stations, Powerade stations, GU Gel stations, beer station at Mile 12 (I turned down that opportunity), hills, lots of hills.

AND THEN, I felt something I have never experienced before: euphoria. As I rounded the last corner and entered the final stretch, a wave of what-can-only-be-described-as wonderful goodness swept over me.

I didn't set the world on fire with my 2:14:52 (official) time, but I did narrowly avoid being lapped by the winning Marathoner. And I did fulfill my one expectation: finishing. And now count myself among the runners of the world.

Next stop: Music City Half-Marathon in Nashville