Atlantic City Half Marathon

Atlantic City Half Marathon Finisher 2:35

Sunday morning, October 21, I laced up and got in the car with my mom and brother Patrick to head to AC. It was chilly, around 48 degrees at 6am. Saturday my mom and I went to Bally's to pick up my race packet. I do not go to AC often and couldn't tell you where anything is other than the ocean, but it is pretty cool to look at! The boardwalk is really interesting because you walk inside and you are in a casino. It was really pretty inside with waterfalls and cowboy paintings. Oh and yes they did have a Balloon Arch at the Expo (ohhh fancy)!

Sunrise on the Beach

I was surprised there were not more people at the start when I got there at 7:20am. The race started at 8 and I thought for sure I would walk up to a sea of people. At about 7:45, that sea flooded in. I think most of the runners were inside waiting. The sun was out but it was still pretty chilly when we started. The first 9 miles we ran around on the streets, on some ramps, through a tunnel, around the Borgata, and in front of the new casino Revel. I had forgotten my watch and the holder for my phone, so I held my phone the whole time. I ran the first mile without walking and then I switched to a run 5 mins, walk 1-2 mins. Since I was using my cell I just looked at the lock screen and did not have an accurate second count. Of course if I saw a water stop ahead I would run until I hit that, then walk a bit. The momentum of the other runners kept me going longer than normal.

Patrick

Mom

Once we made it back on the boardwalk, we only had 5 miles left. We passed the finish line around mile 9 to go out and back…. I felt like I was NEVER going to reach the turnaround point. I saw the Full Marathon Winner pass me when I was at Mile 11, he was at mile 25… Crazy town. 

All in all, I did not hit a wall. There was a point when I wished it would be over but I think I hit that point in all of my races (even 5Ks). In every run I do, when I know there is only 2 miles or 1 mile left it feels like 4 miles. Once I finally hit the turnaround, I could see Bally’s and where the finish was, way off in the distance. I started cheering on everyone that was heading the opposite way to reach their turn around. I saw a few of the Marathon Maniacs and realized they were not even half way! I was so grateful to only be running 13.1 miles and not 26.2! It had been awhile since I was in a run and able to finish with the majority of people and not continue my trek. 

My first Marathon, NJ Marathon, it was a double loop so you literally run to the left of the shoot where the Half Marathoners are finishing and you are only half way… That will make you hate things real quick. Then in Philly last Fall it was the same thing, the Full Marathoners continued on Kelly Drive while the Half Marathoners were done in front of the Art Museum.

Where's Nookie Thompson?

With about a half a mile to go, I started to get emotional. There was a stage for 100.7 (the rock station down the shore) and a band was playing, so automatic goose bumps. I started to think about the next few years and how far I had come in the past 3 years. I was able to keep it together as waves of joy and gratitude pulsed through my sweaty body. 

I finished strong with a 2:35:36… and I am very happy with that. It is not my best time and it is not my worst but it was my only Atlantic City Half Marathon time and I did it! I finished and that ultimately is what I signed up to do.

This is how we Do AC :p

Inside with the Wild West Theme