Double Bridge 15k - My First!!!

Feb 02, 2013

WOOT! Wow... I can NOT believe I did a 15k this morning! Not only did I finish it, but I actually ran all but maybe 3/4 of a mile of it and I have only ever run (jogged) a 10k!

It was the Pensacola Double Bridge Run.  I think it is a nationally known race? We had some elite runners from Colorado and such.  The start was in downtown Pensacola, next to the bay. It was sooo cold - around 35*, next to the water with the east wind coming off the bay.  I started from the 11min corral and stayed pretty true to that throughout the run.  The first couple of miles wound through the old neighborhoods then brought us to the foot of the 3mile bridge. There was a water station - I walked the water station and then started back at a comfortable jog.  My friend was with the 10 minute pack, so it was just me and my iPod (1 earpiece because the other fell off around 1 mile!).

This is the first bridge - it is 3miles long. They had northbound (towards Pensacola from the beach) traffic stopped for us. Most people sat in their warm cars, but there were a lot who got out and cheered us on. I tried to get the Blue Bell ice cream truck driver to give me a ride, but he was not cooperative. :)

There was a DJ on the crest of the hill blasting tunes. 

After the 3 mile bridge there was another water station and we were in Gulf Breeze. It was really cool because at this point I was getting tired, but there were folks along the street with signs and cowbells and pom poms, so I kept jogging.  I decided I would jog to the high school (5k start line) and then decide if I wanted to walk.  I jogged on past the high school. My left foot felt like I had a golfball under the ball of my foot, and my right IT was tight tight tight.  Thought about my trainer saying "it's gonna hurt anyway, might as well run faster and get it over with".

Then I came to the Bob Sikes Bridge to the beach - the whole north side of the bridge is uphill, then you get to go downhill on the south side.  There was another DJ set up on the crest. I jogged most of the uphill... walked one section of light post to light post.

From the base of the 2nd bridge it is about .75 miles to the finish. I wanted so much to walk a bit, but walking caused crazy pain!! It was like my IT bands seized up if I slowed to a walk. So I would wobble / walk for 10 seconds, then jog a little. I finally said "forget it" and just jogged.  When I turned towards the finish chute I started running a little faster. My trainer was there yelling for me so I picked up the pace a little more.  I remember thinking "what am I doing?!?! Still too far to the finish, I can't keep this pace!"  - but I DID!

I loved this race - not only because it was my first 15k and I feel super about it, but it was incredibly well organized and put on.  And they had finisher medals  ;)

My unofficial time (runkeeper app) was 1:49:01 -  OFFICIAL time is 1:47:34,   11:33/avg mile  The only information I have for splits is the runkeeper info,

1 - 11:29
2- 11:13
3- 11:22
4 - 11:11
5 - 12:03
6 - 11:36
7 - 11:38
8 - 11:21
9 - 11:52

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