Seaside School Half Marathon...And a New PR!!!

I'm not writing my normal Fitness Friday post today since I had a rest and recovery week anyway. Instead I want to tell you all about the Seaside School Half Marathon!

In case you missed it be sure to read about the Seaside School Packet Pick Up and Expo!

My alarm went off at 6AM and I felt very rested. I did all of my usual things....went to the restroom, got dressed, rolled, stretched, ate a Designer Whey protein bar, and took some pictures!

Here I am with Coby and her friend Mandy!

We headed out the door about 6:40 and walked our two minute walk to the start line. Immediately I saw all of my Sole2Soul Sisters!!! We huddled up for our group picture!

Do we look cold? It was in the 30's with 10-15 mph winds! That's chilly on the Gulf Coast! This would be my first half marathon in cold weather. Usually I train in cold weather but race day ends up being warm! I was looking forward to running in the cold...I feel like I always run better in the cold.

I was also super excited to see some of our Sole2Soul Sisters from Illinois!!! Yes they came all the way down here to run! They are used to cold weather...even running in snow...so this was no big deal to them!

I reunited with the Illinois S2S leader Stephani! You may remember that I met her for the first time this past summer when she was in town on vacation and came to run with us. She was just as sweet and gorgeous as ever! (Thanks for the picture Stephani!)

I also got to meet Bev and Angie! They were sisters from Illinois AND they were super excited to tell me that they read my blog!!! How awesome! It was so cool to meet actual readers!!!

I was super happy to find Holly from Running and Baking Oh My! She's my pace partner! We always run together if we are running at the same time or running the same race.

We didn't have long and it was time to line up at the start line. We headed towards the back to find where our sisters were. I really didn't have a goal for this race. I was just going to run it for fun. I knew it would probably not be my best time since I had just run a half marathon the weekend before.

Holly, Donna, Me, and Kim all squeezed in the corral ready to start!

And another group shot! (Thanks Megan for the picture!)

And check out Holly and Jacque's shoes!!!!! They found the wings I was talking about at last weekend's race!!! Unfortunately I didn't see these at the expo or I would have surely bought some!

Finally we heard the gun go off and we were ready to run! 

I LOVE this picture that Cocoa L. Photography posted on the Seaside School Half Marathon's Facebook page of us crossing the start line!

The course was an out and back course so I wasn't sure if I would like it. It's described as "fast and mostly flat" but we knew there were some rolling hills because one of our sisters runs it every year and gave us the run down. The first few miles were all about warming up and not starting out too fast. I told Holly I wanted to stay with all the sisters and she was fine with that. Within the first two miles we crossed over a bridge with an awesome view of the water and you could see the sand dunes in the distance! So gorgeous!

That was the prettiest part of the course. We passed by some neighborhoods and by some businesses but mostly it was just us and the road. Around mile 3 we reached Grayton Beach State Park where several of our sisters and their families stayed. We kept our eyes out for people we knew! We saw Renee's family, Mindy S.'s husband, and Katrina's family. 

And then I saw Laura's Dad...Mr. Terry!!! He had his camera ready and was taking pictures! He is an awesome photographer and has taken many pictures of us running (like during my first half marathon)! He got some great pictures of me and Holly! Thanks soooo much Mr. Terry aka Laura's Dad!!!

Holly and I didn't stay with our sisters for long. We broke away about mile 2. I was feeling great and so was Holly...we kept trying to slow down but our pace would just keep getting faster. I had no idea what was to come. 

I took a Huma Chia Energy Gel around mile 4. Around that time we started seeing runners that had already turned around and were headed back. It was awesome seeing their looks of determination as they sped by us. But Holly and I agreed that we preferred running slower and being able to talk. Those lead runners looked pretty miserable. 

There were rolling hills on the course but Holly and I tackled them with ease. I think we were well trained for those hills. 

We made it to the turn around before I expected it and I couldn't believe we were already half way done! I was feeling great and having the best time! We were able to see the sisters that were behind us once we turned around! We cheered them on as we went past! They were all looking strong! 

The rest of the race we sped up. I had no idea we had sped up so much until I saw the final stats at the end of the race. I really was feeling great! I wasn't struggling a bit. I was having one of those runs where I felt like I could keep going forever! 

Around mile 10 we saw Laura's Dad again! He snapped some more pictures of us! You can see in the pictures that Holly and I were running in the opposite lane from most of the runners. That side of the road had a slant to it so we moved over. 30A was closed so we didn't have to worry about traffic.

At mile 11 I knew I was close to a PR. I had set my PR last April at the Gulf Coast Half in Pensacola Beach...I ran that race in 2:24:37. I couldn't believe that I was going to be close to that time only 7 days after running another half marathon! 

Around mile 12 Holly told me I was so close to a PR and that I needed to go on. I resisted at first because I didn't want to leave her. But she finally convinced me and I took off! My body had been wanting to run faster and it felt great! I now had that goal in my head...I wanted that PR bad!

Around mile 12.5...knowing that I was almost there!

You know how in some races it feels like you are never going to see the finish line? Well this race it seemed to sneak up on me! I saw it before I was even looking for it! I was feeling so great that I was almost sad to be finished!

And...I DID IT!!! A new PR of 2:23:22!!!!! I was ecstatic!!!! Who would have ever guessed that I would PR after running another half marathon 7 days before? I was 7 minutes faster than I was last weekend! 

You can see how much I sped up in the last half of the race when you see the timing stats! 

I grabbed my medal (which surprised me...I thought the Vera Bradley bag was our medal) and headed to get my Vera Bradley bag! There were only two patterns left when I got there. But I loved the brown pattern that I got...Canyon! 

I immediately headed back to the finish line because I knew Holly wasn't far behind me. I ran into her before I got there. She PRed too!!! We stood in line and got our finisher pic before heading back to the finish line to cheer our other sisters in. 

Of course we had to take a few pictures to celebrate our PR's!!!

While waiting at the finish line (it was FREEZING by the way) I saw this sign and had to take a picture! You could tell that Seaside was so glad the runners were in town!

Once our sisters had all finished we headed to the after party! I was looking forward to eating some Jim 'N Nick's BBQ...they are my favorite BBQ place! They did not disappoint! We had coleslaw and a choice between a pulled pork bbq sandwich or a turkey sandwich. I chose the pulled pork...and it was amazing!

Yeah major fail that I didn't open the sandwich up so you could see but I had my hands full and I was freezing!!! ;-) Just take my word for it when I say that it was probably the best pulled pork sandwich I've ever eaten...and no that doesn't have anything to do with the fact that I had just run 13.1 miles lol!

The after party would have been a lot more enjoyable if it weren't so cold and windy. We were freezing! Being sweaty and in the cold didn't help. There were umbrellas set up on the lawn in front of the amphitheater. People had brought chairs and blankets to sit on. A band was playing...it was perfect...if only it wasn't so cold lol!

Here's a picture of the pattern of my bag and the medal! Love it!

Overall I thought this race was amazing! It was super organized and the volunteers were awesome! Getting a medal AND a Vera Bradley bag was just icing on the cake! And I have fallen in love with the little town of Seaside!!! I definitely want to run this race again next year! 

Stay tuned tomorrow to hear all about my afternoon in Seaside after the race!

QOTD: Have you ever PRed in a race unexpectedly? 

Seaside School Half Marathon Packet Pick Up and Expo!

I was so excited to run this race! The Seaside School Half Marathon sells out super fast every year. Why? Because not only do you get a medal at the end of the race...you also get a Vera Bradley bag! Wow!!!

This was also the second group of Sole2Soul Sisters that I helped train for a half marathon. I was so excited to run this race with them!

I left early Saturday morning to head to Seaside, Florida where the race was being held. I couldn't wait to visit Seaside! I'd always heard what a gorgeous little town it was and of course I've seen the Jim Carrey movie, The Truman Show, that was filmed in Seaside.

My hubby was supposed to come with me to Seaside but the boys had their Blue and Gold Banquet with Cub Scouts this weekend and Andy had to be there since he is a den leader. He and Hayden also had to bake their cupcake for the Cupcake Bake Off. So I headed out on my own for Seaside.

Once I made it to 30A the traffic was horrible! I'm assuming everyone was arriving in Seaside and trying to find their houses and condos. Plus I learned that in Seaside pedestrians have the right of way so if you see one on the side of the street you are supposed to stop so they can walk across.

Most of my friends had arrived in Seaside on Friday. I was staying with my friend Coby and her family. They rented a house in Seaside and it was perfect! It was only about a two minute walk from the town square and where the expo, packet pickup, and start/finish line were.

I felt pretty good about my directions. I had the address plugged into my gps and all was good...until I was on the wrong street. I had to call Coby and figure out where I was. She wasn't sure so she handed the phone to her awesome Dad. After a few turns in the wrong direction he finally saw me (he was walking on 30A trying to spot my car) and I had him jump in the car with me to get me to the house. It was easy when you were on the correct street lol! Turns out I had missed an important word in my gps address..."East." Because the street our house was on was East but there was also a street with the same road name and West....and those two streets did NOT intersect! Tricky! But I was glad to have finally made it!

See how cute and "Seaside-y" our house was?

One thing I noticed in Seaside is that all of the houses had a name and the owner's names and where they were from on the picket fence. Our house was called "Going Coastal."

The house felt like a little cottage. It had a full kitchen, half bath, dining room, living room, and a bedroom (with a queen bed and bathroom) downstairs. Upstairs there were two other bedrooms (one was a master with a bath and the other was a bedroom with twin beds). There was also a full bath and a loft with a twin bed. So overall it would sleep 7 people! 

I slept in the bedroom with the twin beds upstairs! Very comfy and homey! 

After checking out the house we headed to the Seaside Neighborhood School where packet pick up was. This race benefits the school...as a teacher I LOVE that! The school was so cute! And I found myself not believing that people actually lived there in Seaside. It seemed more like just a place to visit. 

The line to grab your packet was so long! But surprisingly it moved super fast! The race organizers had the process down...this was the 11th year of the race! 

There were signs that pointed you in the right direction...whether you were going to the expo or packet pick up!

The first thing you did was go in and get your race bib. The race organizers were very adamant in all their race literature that you and only you could pick up your packet. They DID ask for my driver's license but I don't even know if they looked at my face to make sure it was really me. After getting your bib you walked to another part of the building to get your race goody bag and shirt. 

The shirt was super cute!!!

It was all a super easy and super quick process! We only waited in line about 5 minutes and picking everything up took less than 5. Now it was time to head to the expo. The expo wasn't far away...and was located in central square by the amphitheater.

The vendors were set up under white tents that circled the edge of the square. I wasn't expecting much but I was highly surprised! There were several vendors there including my favorite running store (Running Wild), Team 413, and Saucony! I was impressed!

They also had a silent auction. I had a blast looking around in there at all the neat things! I didn't bid on anything but Coby's mom won a cute bike that was just like a bike she had when she was a little girl!

After shopping we were ready for some lunch. We wanted something quick and easy so we headed in front of the amphitheater on 30A and found several Airstream trailers that served food! There was a hot dog place, yogurt place, grilled cheese place, and bbq place. I decided to get a grilled cheese at the trailer called The Meltdown on 30A! They had so many options but I decided to not try anything adventurous the day before a race and just got the classic grilled cheese. And it was really yummy! I also got sweet potato chips with it....sooooo good!!!

The Airstream trailers were nestled around the Seaside Post Office. It was awesome to see this landmark building! It is said to be one of the country's most photographed post offices! You bet I got my own photo!

We ate our food out on the lawn in front of the amphitheater...they had a band playing. But it was soooo cold and soooo windy that we didn't last there as long as we wanted. We headed back to the house to relax a bit.

For dinner we had a home-cooked meal of spaghetti, salad, and garlic bread. I was so hungry that I totally forgot to take a picture! Just believe me when I said it was super good! :-)

Soon it was time for bed. Luckily we didn't have to wake up super early because we were only about a two minute walk to the start line. Most of my friends were staying outside of Seaside and they had to get into town before 6AM because that's when they were closing the roads. Lucky me I didn't even wake up until 6AM!

Per race tradition, I laid out all my clothes and gear. This would be my first half marathon (out of 15) where the weather was super cold and windy. Normally I train in those conditions but come race day it's warm. I prefer running in the cold so I was looking forward to it. Although the cold did mess up my outfit lol! I couldn't wear my cute compression socks! It was tights instead. And layers!

I was ready for half marathon #15!

QOTD: Have you ever been to Seaside?