A good pair of running shoes, preparation, proper hydration, energy chews and a music playlist.
Those ingredients, plus my determination, training and planning, paid off late last month when I crossed a makeshift finish line.
For the first time ever, I had run a 13.1-mile half-marathon.
Pre-pandemic, a little over three miles was the longest I had ever run outdoors. It was only a couple of times with a running group, and I never dreamed of finishing a half-marathon.
Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and it stretched on.
The worldwide pandemic closed several doors during the 12-plus months, but it also opened the door to new opportunities by allowing more time to try new hobbies.
For me, it was an unexpected activity: running a half-marathon.
Distance running was something that would let me spend more time outdoors and get some exercise while the gyms were closed.
The first step was registering for a race.
The 2021 United Airlines NYC Half, hosted by New York Road Runners each spring, went virtual in response to the ongoing public health crisis.
The race is one of the world’s largest half-marathons, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity because it could be run in any location and at any time over eight days.
After listening to the advice of returning half-marathon runners, I committed to a 12-week training plan that included a schedule of how many miles to run a day, what days to run, and a long run at least once a week.
When I started training, I was excited, and my adrenaline kept me going. I downloaded a new exercise app to track my pace and distance. This was a good way to hold myself accountable and track my progress.
Halfway into the training, the miles got longer, so I ramped up my running with a handheld water bottle, new athletic socks and Hammer Nutrition’s recovery supplement to help reduce muscle soreness. I also went to Santa Barbara Running on Coast Village Road for some gear and advice.
The training was tough, and it definitely had its ups and downs. I had blisters on my toes, body aches, and sometimes the goal felt impossible. I didn’t always feel like continuing my routine running.
And covering my face with a mask when I passed people along the sidewalks took some getting used to, but maintaining social distance was pretty doable in the open-air space.
The Santa Barbara community was on full display during my training on the waterfront. Other runners and people of all ages would sometimes give me nods of encouragement, thumbs-up, smiles and the occasional peace sign. It was uplifting to see strangers acknowledge each other with positive interactions while exercising outdoors.
Scheduling an official date for the race helped me stay motivated during the training process. I stuck to my plan, rain or shine.
Training for 12 weeks flew by, and I felt encouraged after finishing each run. Overall, I noticed many mental health and physical health benefits of consistent training.
The night before race-day, I laid out all of my gear and running clothes, and made sure to get a good night’s sleep.
My race route started and ended at the parking lot adjacent to the Andree Clark Bird Refuge in Santa Barbara.
I ran along the coastline on the bike path from East Beach to Shoreline Park, up to the Mesa, and then near the Las Positas roundabout just before Arroyo Burro Beach (better known as Hendry’s Beach). The Arroyo Burro Open Space area near Alan Road was the halfway point where I turned around and ran back.
For most of the race, I was mesmerized by the waterfront view and my endorphins kept my feet moving. I knew the race route because I did most of my training along it. The course felt familiar, and that helped.
At the 11-mile mark, my attention was on putting one foot in front of the other. A few good songs played on my curated playlist, and I was able to push through and complete the race.
I was grateful to have some friends and family cheer me on as I crossed the finish line.
Victory!
I still had a great time, although I missed out on the typical race atmosphere with large crowd support and energy. Afterward, the race organizers provided a virtual race wall with the names of all participants from around the world.
Running a half-marathon seemed like a difficult challenge at first, but with hard work and commitment, it was definitely worth it in the end.
Up next — my goal is to complete a full marathon for the first-time. I’m looking forward to that 26.2-mile race.
— Noozhawk staff writer Brooke Holland can be reached at bholland@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
