Half Marathon: I ran it!

Predicted time: 2:35:00 (officially reported, with great optimism, to the marathon coordinators in October)

Desired time: Anything 2:36:00 or below. I secretly aspired to a faster pace, but cautiously assured myself 12:00/mile was a very good pace for my first half. I promised myself it was okay to walk if I had to take a break.

Actual time: 2:32:06

Ran it all! Except water station walks. It felt easy until around Mile 11, and then I was almost done. And I flew the last stretch.

Then I stopped running, and realized I could barely walk. I had blisters in places I'd never blistered, and was chapped in places I'd never chapped. Oh. So that's what Body Glide is for. My new best friends on Sunday after the race were vaseline, Epsom salt baths, and the pitcher of endless mimosas that our very well-tipped waitress kept sneaking to me even after Sunday brunch happy hour was over.

Yesterday, I poured myself directly into the tub in the morning and started the day feeling surprisingly human and mobile. (It's really only when I stop moving that my joints seize up.)

I also got my first deep tissue massageyesterday , which is supposed to be very good for recovery - and I still feel human today despite the 2nd Day After rule,  so maybe it worked. I will say that it was not in the least relaxing, and that my back feels like somebody held me down and beat me up yesterday, then left me under a UV light until my skin crisped. But my legs feel pretty great, so... deep tissue is good for you? Right? Hmm.

I feel pretty fantastic about the whole affair, which given the amount of pain I endured after the race, may be indicative of brain damage. Today my blisters have dried out and my hips don't ache too much, so I'm going to try to limp through a recovery run.

Or I might just go to Greencork and taste some wine.

Next milestone: Full marathon. Wow. I've lost my mind.