The expo:
The expo had maybe a dozen vendors including two other races (Bermuda and Miami). Not going to lie, as soon as I got home I started looking up the Bermuda races. I loved Bermuda! January would not be warm enough to lay out (average high of 69, although I thought it felt warmer than the temperature), but a heck of a lot warmer than back in PA in January. The expo had one vendor selling Thorlo socks 3 for $36 (cheaper than Amazon!). I also snagged two new sock brands (made in the USA as well)-Wrightsock and Swiftwick. Can't wait to try them out.
I swear I'm not a lush!
Pre-race:
To save a few bucks, my friend and I stayed in Belmar about twenty minutes away. The Tandem Bike Inn was adorable and the owners were so friendly. They even set out breakfast for us since we were going to be up well before they were to serve. The nice part was we were right near the beach. Not quite as warm as the Dominican, but I'll take it.
Our pre-race meal was at La Dolce Vita which overlooked the boardwalk and beach. The restaurant was packed and required reservations. However, they found two seats for us at the bar. I enjoyed some lovely peach sangria and a carb loading pasta dish. I laid out my clothes and attached my relay bib. 5:15 am was going to come too soon...
Race Day:
We purchased a $5 parking pass at the expo. If you don't, it will cost $10 which they collect as you leave. We did not hit too much traffic and got to the Monmouth Race Track in good time. The race track has plenty of parking and is where the start of the race is. There is a shuttle to the transition and to the finish line. Just check which school buses are going where. The buses left after the race started and we got to the transition area about half an hour before the first races started going through. The transition area is by a park where there are a few porta potties, but the buses drop you off in the parking lot of a Catholic school. Luckily the doors were open and a few of us went in to use the toilets. Soon enough my friend arrived and I was off.
My "race":
I think their 6.7 mile segment was slightly off because I was hitting the mile markers before I should have been. Just after the transition area I was at mile marker 7. The first couple of miles (mile 7, 8, 9) were through neighborhoods. It was easy to take pictures since I was walking, but these miles looked all the same.
I estimated going out around 19 - 20 minute mile so I would save my leg strength. Naturally, I didn't listen to my plan and went out around a 17 minute mile. I felt good so I just kept chugging along. The first mile of my segment I had a couple of runners try to encourage me to run. I wish I had a big sign saying that I could not run and was planning on walking. I really would run if I could! Mile 10 is about when you start going through a little town. There was a band playing and there were some more people around this area. I was still holding steady just under 17 minute mile pace.
Mile 11 is where I started getting excited. I had not walked more than 4.63 so I was getting to my walking record. This is also where the marathon leader passed us. It was one guy and he had a police escort. Shortly after that is where the half marathon and marathon split. The half marathoners turned towards the shore while the marathoners kept going south.
The beach was oh so close. My time starting picking up and I was at 16 1/2 minute mile.
We went up on the road/walking path and ran (or walked) along the shore the rest of the half. I love, love, love the beach so I had a smile on my face the rest of the way. I also knew I was so close and was going to finish the race with no problem. Mile 12 I really picked up the pace and was 16:10 minute mile. We eventually got onto the boardwalk. I started hearing music and seeing boardwalk shops. Not sure if they were rebuilt after Sandy, but they looked really new.
By mile 13 we were hitting a large crowd. The runners who were walking started running again to finish the race strong. I so wish I could have joined them, but I was a good girl and didn't run. I finished the last .38 miles strong and my split was 15 1/2 minute mile!
Team Double Trouble finished in 2:42:34. My Garmin and RunKeeper not surprisingly didn't agree. According to my Garmin I walked 6.22 miles in 1:45:41. According to RunKeeper I did it in the same time (ok 2 seconds slower), but 6.38 miles. Not sure which is correct. Anyone know which is more accurate???
The course:
Flat. There is no other way to describe it other than flat as a pancake. I do not recall even a hint of a hill. Between mile 11 and 12 you start going towards the shore which is where the wind picks up. It was pushes us back which was not ideal towards the end of a race. However, I was not affected by this since I was walking and not tired. I actually really liked this course. It felt fast and easy. I loved being by the beach and seeing the various coastal area of New Jersey. In my half of the half marathon, there were a bunch of people out cheering you on.
Final thoughts:
The race seemed well organized. There were 10,000 runners between the New Jersey Marathon and the Long Branch Half Marathon, but it never felt overwhelming. I am a big fan of the couple of thousand to 10,000 runner races. My only negative thoughts on the race were the lack of goodies. No goodie bag and the food afterwards was pretty weak- small piece of bread, banana, and a powerbar (and only for the last person in the relay). However, I definitely want to come back and do the half marathon or marathon here. It was tough not to think about how I should be running the half. Trying to focus on the fact that I was even able to walk as far as I did. 6 weeks before the race I was finally able to put two feet down on the ground and 5 weeks before the race I finally started walking unassisted. Small victories.... Next race: Hibiscus 5 miler in Honolulu. Previously was the 15k, but downgraded to the 5 miler. Hoping to be able to run most of that one.
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