DeLeon Springs Half Marathon is a little out-and-back race about an hour from Orlando that just about everyone seemed to run. A friend from my CrossFit box mentioned this race a while ago so a few of us signed up. Gotta love a $25 half marathon!
The 8am start time allowed for a relaxed Sunday morning. We arrived later than planned but made it to the start line seconds before we heard, “go!”
We all discussed approaching this race just for fun; none of us felt up to a PR. In the first mile we stuck close, but John and I eventually made our way up front. John and I are training for a race in April together but this was out first run together.
I planned on running with John for as long as I could and then breaking off to my own pace. I’ve never run an entire race with another and consider myself more of a solo runner. Nonetheless, side by side, without saying a word, we ran next to each other from start to finish.
We went out fast and I knew it! We clocked low 8 minute miles for the first four miles before settling into the early 9′s for the rest of the race. It was an out-and-back road race so without much scenery, I tried to keep my mind in a good place. “Listen to the music, Ashley!”
My legs hit a wall and just started hurting around 9.5 miles. I tried to pull away from John around mile 11 but he didn’t let me leave him so I slowed for a few seconds and went right back to race pace.
We finally crossed the finish line at 2:00:45- a PR for both of us, but so darn close to sub-2! Next time, I guess 
Go, Erica!
Go, Geoffry and James!
I waited a few minutes for the rest of the crew to cross the finish line before we headed to an awesome post-race food spread. I ate a ton of grapes and a pear.
I ran the race in the new Bose SIE2i Sport Headphones from Reebok. Honestly, the first thing I think of when I think of these headphones is WOW. The sound coming from little earbuds is incredible. I heard more from my music than ever before. They were comfy, too! I love having quality sound that’s designed for athletes, as seen in the cord with adjustable lengths! I also love that you can take calls and control your music from the cord.
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Gotta love smaller races! Congrats on a rockin’ PR!
erin recently posted..in january…
Congrats on your PR!!
lynne @ lgsmash recently posted..Crafterday: Bottle Cap Magnets
you’ll get a sub-2 soon. Hell, I bet you’ll even get a sub-1:50 this year. Great race!
Carolina John recently posted..Farewell Couchbed
I ran this race this weekend too and really liked it! (especially the fig newtons)
There was this half mile area that smelled like cow poop at the beginning and on the way back, I was never happier to smell poop. I knew I was almost done! hee!
Congrats on the PR! You rocked it!
congrats on the PR and sticking with it when it got tough!
You always make me want to get out there and RUN!
I think that it is so great that you finished the race. I have always wanted to be able to participate in some sort of run, but have never been able to. Seeing stories like yours inspire me to one day run a race myself.
Sarah Isdell recently posted..Fitting Your Workouts
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