Surprise! Despite having resigned myself to sitting this one out, I ran the Brooklyn Half Marathon this morning.
I know what you’re thinking: “Didn’t this chick tell us she wasn’t going to run the race because of her ITB syndrome, lack of motivation, and, well… not training?” And you’re right on all accounts: up until about two weeks ago, I had decided it would probably be best if I didn’t do it. The longest run I’d been on since the NYC Half Marathon was 6 miles (last Saturday),and endurance aside, although I hadn’t had any pain in my knee for over a month, really didn’t know if it would hold out for 13.1 miles.
Still, when it came down to it, the bottom line was that I hadn’t trained properly. But I made a decision that should I race and get injured, now is the best time for me to recover since I have a little extra time on my hands. It may not have been the smartest choice, but it was one I stuck by. There are some things I hate to quit, and this was one of them.
When my alarm went off at 5, I got dressed, packed 3 Clif Shot Bloks into my shorts…
… and made my usual pre-race breakfast: two slices of whole wheat toast with nut butter (cashew and almond), banana, honey + cinnamon and coffee.
We got to Prospect Park pretty close to 7 (the starting time) and after I waited in line at the line of Royal Flush port-o-potties, the it had already started. I wasn’t worried at all when I saw that the starting line was nearly empty: I was just going to go in, do my best, and see what happened.
I ran a consistent 10 minute/mile for the first four miles, and got down to 9 for the next two. A friend and I were going to try to meet at one of the water stations, but there was a bit of confusion about which mile marker we would go to. I waited at two separate stations for five minutes each, and borrowed a policeman’s phone to call Ari to see if he’d heard from him (he hadn’t) and finally just started up again. Again, I really wasn’t worried about the lost time, but still sort of incredulous to even be running at all.
It’s a bit hard to see here, but the course started with two laps around Prospect Park, then 6.5 miles down the Ocean Parkway.
Somewhere between mile 6 and 7, as we ran down the highway, I felt a twinge in my knee. It got increasingly worse, and around mile 8 I stopped to stretch for a few seconds. At 8.5, I saw a familiar face… Ashley! She was also struggling with hip pain and nausea, and we decided to continue walk/running together.
All I can say is thank goodness we literally ran into each other: we were both ready to call it quits, but kept each other going until the end. We didn’t get discouraged when our splits were in the 13-14 minute zones; we just kept repeating that we could do this.
We ran up onto the Coney Island boardwalk after mile 12, and started to see spectators and rides.
Ari snapped this photo of Belay Kassa, the men’s winner (1:08:02).
When the finish line was in sight, I took off. The pain seems to go away when I sprint, so sprint I did! I always like to finish strong.
I came in at 2:32:13, a 11:37 average mile. Honestly, the time wasn’t important. I went in not expecting to see the 8-mile marker, and considering I stopped for 10 minutes, walked a lot, and was in pain, I’m very happy with this time. I really don’t know if I would have completed the race without Ashley. It was so good to have a friend to talk to who was going through the same thing. Thanks for being a great running partner, Ash!
I didn’t feel hungry but knew I needed to eat, so I grabbed a chocolate chip bagel and a banana.
I didn’t end up eating the banana, but quite a few runners ate theirs!
All I wanted to do was sit down and stretch out my legs.
So… am I happy I ran? Yes and no. I was so proud of myself that I could do it, and that endurance-wise I was all there. I do, however, still have sharp (ITB-related) knee pain, a sore ankle and an uncomfortable sensation in my hip flexor (all on my right side), and I’m hoping these are all things that will go away in a few days. I know I could have really hurt myself, and don’t want to set impossible standards for myself that, in order to meet, mean I have to be in excruciating pain.
That being said, I know that one day I will run a half-marathon pain and injury free.
After I got home and scrubbed down in the shower, Ari, Ilana and I went out for lunch. I was a hungry girl, and wanted to take advantage of the lunch special at our local Japanese restaurant.
Started with miso soup…
We shared edamame…
… and I ordered the sushi + sashimi special. I also had two pieces of Ari’s spicy scallop roll.
After conking out for a 3+ hour nap, I woke up and made a yogurt mess with plain Chobani, almond flax banana bread, a tangelo, and agave.
When dinner rolled around, I steamed some swiss chard and topped it with the last of the Wild Mushroom Agnolotti, marinara, and cheese. (When I was little, I hated marinara and tomato soup!)
I’m actually not nearly as ravenous as I was last time, but I still went out to search for Mister Softee. I heard him faintly in the distance, but couldn’t track him down 
I’m going to make myself a dessert plate to enjoy while we watch Dead Zone. Hopefully I can sucker a certain someone into a back rub!
Have a lovely evening 
I am so impressed that you were able to do 13.1 on so little training. You are great! And much nicer than I am, I wouldn’t have waited for my friend at the water stations!
Congratulations Katie! I wish you a speedy recovery. I have a half Mary in the morning! Eek!
AHH congrats katie booo!! feel better love.. rest those leggies!
amazing! congrats!
I really want to run the Brooklyn half!!
Good for you for accomplishing what you set out to accomplish! Now rest up and feel better, you need to be in tip-top shape for your next pain-free half
You are amazing! Congratulations love!
Regardless of the situation I’m still proud of you for finishing! Fingers crossed for no long term injuries!! Also my mind is still wrapping it’s head around the men’s winner’s time. WOWZA!!
Congrats girl! I am SO proud of you for doing the race and totally rocking it:)
Congratulations!! That is so awesome
And on a side note, I totally cracked up at that picture of those banana peels.
<3 <3
Way to go! That’s crazy that you decided to do it anyway. I hope your knee feels better soon!
Wow, you’re so brave for just jumping in there! I still really want to do a half in the future, but have sort of lost my running mojo lately. I’ve just started focusing on yoga again and can never make myself get out and run.
I was signed up to do a 5k for the Houston pug rescue organization last week but ended up getting sick the day before :\ It was really disappointing and I considered running anyways, but it’s probably best I didn’t since I’m still getting over the cough and congestion a week later. I still went to support and take pictures of cute pups!
Your running is really inspiring, and I know I can get back into it as well!
Congrats on the marathon! Take care with your knee and all.
lol those bananas are making me laugh! what a great picture. the boardwalk is reminding me of mtv jersey shore right now! lol. ive seriously never seen a chocolate chip bagel before! i dont know why! that sounds delicious
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE MARATHON! im glad u made the decision to go, well i bet you are as well 
yayyy <3
I’m so excited for you Katie! I know that was a hard thing to do, and I’m SURE you will feel it tomorrow, but good or bad, this day will live with you forever! Hopefully it’s ALL good, and I’m so proud of you! Just watch yourself and be careful! I don’t want your pretty little self getting too hurt to try this again!
Great job, and do me a favor, take an Advil or two for me when you wake up with a nice big breakfast, ok?
XO,
Erin
Well done on your race, and well done for sticking with it until the end! I’m doing my first half marathon in September (the Great North Run, here in the UK) – I’m hoping that I’ll be ok when I come to do it, but reading about you doing yours is very inspirational, thanks x
Oh gosh Katie you don’t give yourself enough credit! That is SO impressive that you ran that race. And ran it with a good time =) Congrats!!
Hopefully your ITB doesn’t start acting up and you feel good.
Nicole G
CONGRATS! You are amazing–it’s a psychological game, and you won it.
Congrats!!! That really is freaking amazing.
Also, your yellow top is so cute!
Well I’m VERY happy that you run – congratulations, girl! And I’m also embarrassed that I was bothering you so much yesterday, not knowing that you were probably exhausted after running, hahaha
Sorry!
congrats on finishing despite thinking that you were not going to be able to! You did great!
Congrats again lady (twitter last time)! You totally surprised me because I couldn’t remember you mentioning it in the last few days here! I hope you rest up those leggies because yes, you definitely need to do a injury free half sometime! I feel ya though, I love running so much that I always want to at least finish a distance, especially at a race. Love the boardwalk shots, makes me miss ny more and more…
What an awesome surprise!!!! Congrats girl!
Wow congrats. I’m pretty sure this makes YOU the warrior!
I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU DID THIS! I saw your tweet and was so confused… CONGRATS!
Hope the pain eases soon, but major kudos for finishing…and I am so impressed that you did this without training. You are a natural, clearly!
Wow, Katie!
Running a half-marathon like this was, at the same time, the most stupid and the most wonderful thing you could´ve done.
Anyhow – I´m proud of you, love!
For not giving up. You decided to run, and you did.
Congratulations!
Awesome pics, as always. Wish you a lovely Sunday!
Brazilian XOXO´s,
Gabriela
Congrats on the half marathon! You should feel a major sense of accomplishment, and you’re right – if the timing’s correct, take the plunge and try it out. And I loved those Coney Island pics…reminds me of the times I’ve visited there with my family.
A huge congrats Katie. Isn’t it amazing how you can be dragging and then once you take off into your final sprint you just fly. Remember that feeling next time you race!
Good for you on doing it and finishing. I am undertrained for my planned 10k on Saturday. I have a hard time sticking to a training schedule. I’m looking forward to shorter runs when the 10K is over and focusing on the triathlon.
Hope you feel better soon! That’s one reason why I hesitate to do any hardcore running though…I’m scared of injuries! Er, perhaps that’s just my excuse!
http://www.firednfabulous.blogspot.com/
Katie!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats girl on the race!! I am so happy you pulled through girl, and also happy you didnt push yourself too hard, glad you found your friend Ashley and you finished together!!!!!
Make sure you get lots of rest though girl! I dont want you in pain!
Congrats love!!! xoxo
oh. my. god. when you commented on my blog and said you ran i nearly had a cow! i CAN’T BELIEVE it!!! you have SO much to be proud of girl
seriously you’re incredible! and i’m so happy you had ashley to help eachother get through it!
rest up girl you killed it today and be SO proud of yourself
congrats on the race! what a fun sight for the last few miles. I am never hungry after I finish either but if you don’t eat, your muscles will be sore for so much longer.
Japanese= ultimate recovery food. I’m always a salt-nut after sweating so much
Congratulations! For going in with the amount of training that you had, you really rocked that half. You’re a wonder woman, Katie!
CONGRATS MISS KATIE! sometimes we just gotta go for it – no matter what else is going on. i hope you took care of yourself post-race, and it seems from your last post you feel great, which is awesome. so proud of you!
and proud of that yogurt mess. DEE-VINE my lady.
let’s chat soon – i feel like a lil’ catch-up is in order
You and Ashley look so cute in that photo! I”m happy to hear that you had each other out there on that long and slightly boring course. I hope that your ITB issues are resolved ASAP and that you get back to running injury free!
Super congrats to you! I don’t know how you do it – once my sharp knee pain hits I just start to limp. When you figure out the cure-all, let me know!
huge huge congrats on finishing!