I officially completed the Philadelphia Love Run Half Marathon this morning. Not my best performance overall, but given the fact that the starting temperature was 28 degrees and decent winds. It was COLD! I was able to get out to a nice steady start, and had my music going for the first time on an outdoor run. Somewhere around Mile 7, my right calf and left knee both started acting up. Long story short – I walked the rest of the race. Trying to run was a futile exercise as after a few steps that calf muscle seized up. One of the medical volunteers tried to get me to hop on his cart and call it a day, but I refused. After crossing the finish, I got my medal and was escorted to a wheelchair for a trip to the medical tent. As much as I didn’t want to take that ride, the cramping in my legs got too painful.
Looking back, I may need to increase my electrolytes up front, and perhaps slow down a bit at the start. I’ll get my redemption race in a little under a month at the St. Luke’s Half. For now, a slow 3 hour 7 minute finish will have to do for half #8.
2015 Philly Love Run Finisher