Country Music Half Marathon!

For some reason I'm competitive with Ben. Entirely too competitive.  Regardless of what we're playing he gets called a cheater, whether he's cheating or not. (let's be honest thought, he had to cheat if he was beating me. right?)  I've broken Xbox controllers, thrown golf clubs, and signed up for races that I am no where near ready for.

Ben wanted to run the Country Music Half Marathon.  He asked if I wanted to.  The answer was a big fat no.  But then I realized that he'd have yet another medal than I would.  So, being the medal whore that I am, I said yes.

He registered us for it maybe 2 months ago, not enough time for me to complete the usual ~12-15 week training schedule of most half marathon training guides but enough time for me to be in decent shape...

It was official, I was running the Country Music Half Marathon with no training

Then March happened, where we had something going on every single weekend in March, then April...where we had a race every single weekend in April. And in the 2 months leading up to the Country Music Half Marathon I had run a grand total of 11 miles.  That's right...11.

Flat Runner is Ready!

So we get all our items ready for the race and set alarms at 4:00am to head downtown to get parked then to the starting line.  Race started at 7:00.  We were in corral 24 so we got to the starting line around 7:40ish where I proceeded to have a complete breakdown.  I'm talking tears and everything.  I was so nervous about this race as soon as we hit that starting line that I thought I was going to have to wait for the next corral.

Waiting for what seemed like forever for them to call on corral 24

They counted down and we started running, immediately I felt better, I guess that anxiety of it all just caught up to me. From then on I ran/walked for the next 13.1 miles.  Met some people along the way, talked to several people with runDisney shirts on about races.  Heard that our upcoming Wine and Dine Half Marathon is the best one at Disney.

I hope this is us in 40 years

I've lived in Nashville for 22 of my 31 years on this Earth...how is it possible that I still don't know where I am in the city?  We ran around the naked statues, Demonbreun, 12 South, Belmont area and I was lost the whole time.  I do know at some point people were giving out free tequila shots.  I definitely took part in their generosity.

Ben's goal was to finish this is 2:30, my goal was to finish this.......that same day.  Around the 2:30 mark I sent Ben a text saying that I thought he'd be finishing soon, but if he hadn't he's still awesome in my book.  He said he had bonked around the 10 mile mark.  It started off cool, in the low 40s, but it heated up quickly. Everyone back with me were starting to feel the effects of the hot air.

Photo: Jamie Richardson Hurt

I got back to Grumpy's and had one final bridge to traverse and I'd be finished.  I called Ben to let him know I had less than a mile left so he could take pictures of me and meet up at the finish line.  As soon as I crossed the finish line I got a text from him: "Sitting in a chair next to gate 5 at the finish line med tent. I'm fine but trying not to vom banana and Gatorade."

I grabbed all the post race stuff they handed me - Gatorades, water, cold towels, bananas, cookies and most importantly chocolate milk, my favorite post run drink - and headed to find Ben.

Ben had committed the great mistake that Tim committed after the Disneyland Half Marathon including the blue banana vomit story.  Ben was one minute under pace when he got to the 10 mile mark, then bonked. The last 3.1 miles of his half took him 48 minutes and crossing the finish line he chugged anything they handed him.  Which included a 24 oz bottle of Gatorade, 2 bottles of water, and a banana.  Way too much right after running for 2 hours and 45ish minutes.

I found him and we headed to the car where he asked if I'd drive.  That's my key as to when he's not feeling good.  I never drive.  Ever.  So when he asks me to I know he's either really tired or really sick.

I got in and headed back to Murfreesboro.  I told him if he needed me to stop to let me know.  He did, as we barely got out of town.  Under the overpass of Harding, Ben unleashed hell, or at least 24 ounces of Gatorade, 2 bottles of water and a banana.  And felt like a new man.

Voiding

Somebody cue up: "Don't you forget about me"

We got home, took ice baths, ate something and rested for a little while and headed to Franklin for the Main Street Festival where we logged anther 4 miles looking at the booths.  We went to get supper where I almost fell asleep at the booth and I was in bed and passed out by 7:30.

ahhhhh!

It was a great race, live bands and entertainment throughout the race.  Friendly volunteers and great people to run with.  Highly recommend this race, if you are looking for a nice, hilly, potentially hot half marathon this is a great option.