The morning of November 3rd, 2009 was overcast, drizzly, and cold....low 50's. At times, the wind would gust up to 25 mph but the determination of our small running group could not be faltered. We arrived on NCSU's Centennial Campus 30 minutes before the starting gun. Half marathoners in one vehicle and marathoners in another, we were separated attempting to park. Dina, Calvin, and myself ditched our make shift ponchos (i.e. trash bags) in the car and made our way from the parking area to the starting line tents. In the cold and wet....we murmured, "what the heck are we doing out here??"
Meandering through the dense crowd of roughly 3000, we make our way to the tents to get out of the rain and wait for the rest of our group. 5 minutes till, we make a mad dash for one last bathroom break and head with the rest of the crowd to the end of the pack at the start line. We couldn't locate our halfers but we did find some Galloway folks and wished them well.
3...2....1.....the loud clap of the gun....we are off! The first 1/4 mile is up hill. Yes, up hill, foreshadowing what lies ahead. We run through our first two or 3 rest intervals so as not to be trampled in the on coming stampede of soggy excited runners. Adrenaline flowing, we leave Centennial and head towards down town Raleigh; the only flat portion of the entire race route.
We talk about the rain, the emotion, the fun, the long journey to get here. Make shift ponchos and blue water cups scatter the road as we pass the first of many water stops. The streets of downtown are dotted with spectators cheering our efforts. It's early as we pass the State Capital and the rain becomes heavy. We are soaked to the bone, our shoes are heavy, are spirits are high. We make the turn that leads to Glenwood Ave and the beginning of many hills the rain finally lighting up.
Left at the Mellow Mushroom, down Peace Street, past Cameron Village shopping center...the rain is but a sprinkle and we are immersed in green bided half marathoners. "Oh please tell me we aren't the last of the fools....I mean full marathoners" I begin to fear. I feel relief spotting a few gold bibs amongst the sea of green and that lifts my spirits. There are 2300 green bibs and 700 gold bibs in the race.
The crowd cheers us as we pass Cafe' Carolina and the race monitors root us on. We make our way through the tangled streets lined with old and new houses, college student rentals, and vintage architecture. Past Meredith College, down Hillsborough St there lies the biggest water stop and our training group director, Ron. The music is blaring, “WE WILL, WE WILL ROCK YOU” and the cheers of motivation propel us forward.
Just past the Fair Grounds is the turning point for the green bibs and there we finally spot our halfers, soaked, smiles, and waves they make their way back to the finish line. We plod on seemingly alone, the crowd is sparse at best.
Turning at the NC Museum of Art, down Reedy Creek to Edwards Mill…a route well worn out, we make a right and the heavens open up into a torrential down pour. I exaggerate only slightly. We wipe water from our eyes and realize some body parts have gone numb! “At least they do no hurt, right?” We make our way towards Umstead Park. Up, up, up for several miles on Ebenezer HELL….otherwise know as Ebenezer Church Road. We reach our half marathon distance in 2.5 hours. Calvin takes off to make his time goal and it is just me and Dina.
Through Umstead we meet those beaten by the monster hills and one red chested guy in little blue shorts. That’s all he was wearing on this cold, wet, windy day. With mud speckled backsides, the rain has stopped and we are making good time. Through Umstead to Reedy Creek once more, Dina’s friend Wayne waits for her at mile 18 and I depart to finish on my own.
Fighting negative thoughts, I spot a bright yellow jacket ahead. This is my target, I will catch the jacket. All of my focus is on this yellow speck and it keeps me happily motivated for several miles. Mile 20 host a beer stop! Yes people, a beer stop! I passed on the beverage for fear of future digestive issues….don’t want to push my luck. Mile 21, the jacket grows closer. Mile 22 the angry rain begins once more. Its icy cold and coming down like spikes from the sky. I finally catch the prey and can hear, ceremoniously, the theme music to Rocky. I’ve reached the BIG WATER STOP again and only have 4.2 miles to go.
The rain subsides one last time as I make my way down Hillsborough St. which boast construction zone barrels as you pass NCSU, my almamater. I meet up with Carolynn and Rex from Galloway. Rex now sporting a gold bib….wait a minute…weren’t you running the half?? He felt so good, he changed bibs and kept going. No more rain at last, I turn through NCSU campus, past Pullen Park and back to Centennial. Fighting back tears and thankful the end of the race is down hill, I cross the finish line 5.5 hours after I started.
As soggy and nasty as the weather was, I’m very proud of myself and the running gals + Cal for finishing what we started. Regardless of the weather, the race was a milestone for me and the others. We are planning to run the Outer Banks Half in 2010…..and maybe be race monitors for the City of Oaks hahaha!
