Took me more than 5 minutes to cross the start. Masses of people were everywhere. Started close to the back of the pack since it does more for me mentally to pass people than it does to be passed by thousands of people. ;) Wasn’t worried about pace. Ran a little, walked a little, trying to remember that I wanted to start slow and make the race a pleasant one. It was beautiful watching the sunrise over the river and running along the Reds & Bengal Stadiums. The runners started spreading out pretty good as we crossed the river into Kentucky.

Several times I would pass a group of people and they would pass me back. Finally paced myself with a girl going just a little faster than my comfort zone. We passed each other several times and chatted a bit. Whenever I looked up and she was too far in front of me, I picked up the pace. Wasn’t until we started up the hill towards mile six that I figured out she was on a relay team and I would soon lose her. Really didn’t think the hills were THAT bad, but looking back on my splits, the 2 mile uphill section was my slowest of the race.

Didn’t really start thinking about pace until just before mile 8 when I started thinking that 8.8 miles was about the 2/3 point and if I could make it under 2 hours, I had a chance to beat the 3 hour goal. I missed it by a few minutes, so I tried to tell myself it didn’t matter. This race was about going out and having a good time, NOT beating a time limit. Does it really matter in the long run if I come in at 3:05 vs. 3:00? Kept trudging along then all of the sudden a good downhill section. Yeah! I can use one of those right now! Looking back on my splits, a 9:42 mile here. Holy crap, I didn’t even think my legs knew what a sub-10 mile was! This did A LOT to lift my spirits - that and the fact that I was almost to the finish. I was pretty tired at this point. Next mile alternated walking and running frequently, but then coming into the final stretch, turned up the steam. Can’t walk the finish. Gotta give it all you’ve got and finish strong. I remembered a Diana Nyad quote. “I did all I could and I couldn’t have done it even a fingernail better.” Every time I wanted to walk in the last mile, I repeated the quote, and asked myself, am I doing everything I can? Can I really run that next block rather than walk? I dug deep and pulled out everything I had so at the finish, I didn’t want to walk through the crowd and to the finish line. I found things inside me that I didn’t even know were there. I thought the finish line would never appear. I turned a corner expecting it to be right there, but just more lines of people. No finish line. What the heck? I glance down at my Garmin – it says I’ve gone 13.3 miles, NOT 13.1. Bastards. Finally the finish line appears and a smiling man shakes my hand and congratulates me. WHEW! Finally! The prize! I receive my medal and slowly walk through the finish area drinking a bottle of water. Had several medical people eyeing me and asked if I was okay. I felt okay, except my left knee wouldn’t work and I couldn’t walk. I knew though if I stopped, it would be worse, so I kept shuffling along. Ate a banana and grabbed a bagel. Saw a girl that I had talked to back at mile 6 who was having severe ITB pain. So glad that she was able to push through it and finish. Watched the jumbotron a bit and looked around for anyone I might know. Finally felt good enough to stretch a little and headed back to the hotel.


Train with a little more intensity. I found out today that I am capable of more than I am giving myself credit for.

Wandered around the finish area for a good half hour before I was able to stretch out a bit. My left knee was so tight, it would barely move.


My mentality.


Fun course - fun race. Lots of live music and great volunteers.