The Last Virginia Beach Half Marathon

This past weekend I ran my very last Rock n Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon. It was the 20th Anniversary of the race!

The day before the race we went to the Expo for packet pick up. We were suppose to scan the QR code when we arrived to receive our bib number for pick up. This was something new and not very user friendly. We finally got our bib number and shirt along with a Rock n Roll mask.

 

Usually this Expo is pretty large but this one was a bit of a let down. They had their usual Rock n Roll merchandise but other than that there were not really any other running related booths such as purchasing gels, sweaty bands, socks, etc. After getting a few pics with the banners we were finished. 

 

Race morning came very early. This year the waves were starting at different times. Waves 1-8 started at 6:30 am. The following waves started at 7am. In years past the start time was 7am for everyone and each corral usually had about a 1 minute or so in between. 

 

This year they were doing something slightly different at the start. Once you got near the starting line you had to single file in a line. There were about 7 lanes. Once you were in front of the timing mat and you were not suppose to start until the lights above you turned green. Then the lights turned red and then the next 7 would wait 4 seconds until the lights turned green again then they could begin. I assume they were doing this to spread out the runners but we were all standing shoulder to shoulder while we were standing in our corrals just a minute ago with no masks. So I didn't think this really made any sense if they were trying to do this for social distance purposes. It did help with not feeling like you were on top of one another at the start like you usually feel.  If that's what they were trying for, then why haven't they done this in the past?

 

My friend and I decided not to run together because he wanted to try and push himself and go for a good time. I, on the other hand wasn't going for any time so I wanted to just run my own race. 

 

I started in the back of corral 3 which was perfectly fine by me. When I start up front I feel like I start out too fast to keep up with everyone and I pay for it later. My plan was to just take it easy the first half and try to push later in the race if I was feeling good.

 

Prior to the race I had not run outside for over 3 weeks. I had been favoring treadmill runs lately since its been so hot out. It wasn't until I arrived in Virginia Beach that I finally ran 8 miles outside and then another 4 miles the following day and my legs were definitely feeling it so I wasn't expecting too much of myself during this race. 

 

Once we started I did get my groove and I was cruising along at a comfortable pace. Usually they have several bands throughout the course and there were very few this year. Most of the music was coming from the speakers not the bands which was a bummer.

 

About 5 miles into it, I saw my friend that was helping along the course. We gave each other a wave and I continued on. It's always nice to see someone you know while on the course. It definitely gave me a pep in my step. 

 

Once I hit the halfway point I was still feeling good and knew I was on target with a time I was hoping for. I was happy to have my sunglasses by this time as the sun was getting quite warm and sweat was dripping into my eyes. However, it was still a perfect day for a race with slight breeze. Much different from years past when it would already be hot and humid by the start. 

 

I was right before the 11 mile marker, still feeling good, and knew the last two miles were going to finish on the boardwalk. Here was my time to pick up my pace. I saw a runner in front of me that was a Pacer that said 2:00 on their sign. Perfect! I knew if I passed him that I would be under 2 hours. 

 

I was increasing my pace when I got to mile 12 and it felt like my shoe was beginning to untie. I was already too close to the finish that I wasn't about to stop and retie it, so I just started to run faster. That didn't help, because now my shoe was completely untied. By this time, I could see the finish line, but we all know it always looks closer than what it really is and I was still about a quarter mile away. I still wasn't going to tie my shoe. Luckily I didn't trip on my last stretch of the race. I finished strong with a smile on my face! 

 

After the race we took a few pictures on the beach and listened to a local band that was playing. Usually the headliner plays in the evening as part of the America Music Festival that goes on all weekend. But this was canceled due to Covid so that was another bummer. 

 

My friend was given a wristband at the expo for his complimentary beer for after the race. We didn't realize that it said Heineken 0.0 meaning it was non alcoholic.  Why the heck did you need a wristband for that? They were handing them out to everyone after the race anyways. 

 

After the race I was trying to search my name to see my time and I was having trouble so I texted my friend to see if he could help me since I didn't download the app. When he responded with my name and time from the app I thought my time would have been faster than that since I knew I had come in before the 2:00 pacer.

 

When I looked more closely I realized that they had my name right but my bib number was wrong and so was my time. I emailed the timing company and they emailed me back in a timely manner stating that they fixed it. Of course it was after I got my photos emailed to me of someone that was clearly not me. I don't buy them anyways so I never followed up on those. My friend that was helping with the race said they were having trouble with some timing issues. I wonder if it was because of the new start mat with the lights and such.

 

Overall, I was happy to have been able to run the final Rock n Roll Virginia Beach. This was actually the first race this year I ran and it felt great!

 

Have you run any Rock n Roll races this year? What are some new protocols that you have noticed? -L

I'm linking up with the ladies from the Fit Five Friday link up.