Race Recap: Navy Air Force Half Marathon



Fun at the Expo!

Location: Washington, D.C.

 

Registration:  Price varies on when you sign up. 

 

Course: Relatively flat course starting at the Washington Monument, taking to Haines Point, up Rock Creek Park and back to the National Mall.
 

Expo:  The expo is held at the D.C. Armory.  It was relatively small and easy to navigate.  We went during the afternoon on Saturday.  I was very excited for this race because my friend Kara was running with me and would be staying for the weekend!  Always a joy to run with Kara!

We love the GEICO Geiko!

 

Race Morning:  They highly encourage runners to take the metro to the start, but with reduced trains on weekends, it could make it very tight coming from many locations.  We have run this race for 3 years and for 2 of the years, have just driven down early and easily found street parking. 

Beautiful Morning!

VIP Tent

Navy Air Force Half Marathon has always been my half marathon PR.  I think the combination of the relatively flat course, the training over the humid summer to have a cooler race day always agreed with me.  I was very excited to see what could happen after having just PR'd in the half a month earlier at SeaWheeze!

 

The race did not go as planned.  I knew something was up when I went to the bathroom a lot more than normal before the race.  My stomach was just off.  The weather was warmer and more humid than it had been in the past and I am sure that played a role too.  Half way through the race, my stomach started to really hurt.  I slowed down the pace and anytime I tried to push it faster than an 8:30 pace, I felt like I had to throw up.  I saw some people I knew on course which gave me a temporary boost of speed, but my stomach knew it and I pulled off to throw up.  That has never happened to me.  I spent the rest of the race trying to go as fast I could to be done, but not going any faster than an 8:30mm.  My mantra become, "Don't Puke, Don't Poop, Bring It Home, Bring It Home".  I just kept repeating this to the rhythm of my feet.

 

The race didn't go as planned, but "fake it until you make it"! 

Finish Line:  The finish line is a nice slight downhill finish which is always nice.  Afterwards, there are food boxes for the runners full of yummy goodies.  We stayed for a little bit to hear a friend of ours get presented with an award for designing this year's shirt and medal.  The drive home was miserable and as soon as we pulled in the driveway, I sprinted into the house and straight to the bathroom.  It was not my day.   Better luck next year.