This was not a good race for me. I went out too fast (9:30/mile) for the first 6-7 miles, and then the last 6 miles almost did me in. My knees, left hamstring, and sciatica were really bothering me. Miles 4-8 were hills and the weather was warm. Needless to say, I didn't do too well. I was really disappointed in how I did. I had run two other half marathons at 10 min/mile. Maybe if I had kept that pace all the way through, I wouldn't have been in such bad shape at the end.

I didn't wear my heart rate monitor because I was afraid of chafing. But now I'm curious what it would have showed.

The photo above was in the home stretch. I was looking for my husband. I wish I had worn a running cap - my hair was all over my face during the run.

I was feeling really bad by the end of the race. I needed help to lift my leg so that the race volunteer could cut the timing chip off.

I could barely walk back to the car after the race. Thank goodness my husband helped me. I think it was a case of heat illness combined with sciatica. Whenever I have a race like this one, I think of the Paula Radcliffe video/song: "You Had a Bad Day".