In short, I did and improved my time from the Miami Half. Score one for me for hitting a goal.

Last Saturday at this time (7:14 pm ET) I had finally managed to get myself out of my AirBnB apartment and drag myself to get to some food. I was satisfied and happy.

I can say with certainty that I love the Rock ‘n’ Roll DC Half Marathon. The course is fantastic, with the minor exception of the hill in Rock Creek Park, and the crowd support was fantastic. I liked the start time of 7:30 am and the fact that I stayed in a place that was directly across the street from a Metro station, RFK Stadium, and the DC Armory made this a hassle free race.

My medal decided to hit the town the day after the race. #MedalOnTheTown (c) Stacey Cooper

Now for race details. For the first time in a very long time I felt completely comfortable at the start of the race. The temperature was perfect, unlike in Miami where it took me a very long time to feel warm.

I got to see the DC Front Runners at the first water station so I got tons of cheers from them. In a way, just like being home. I’m not sure if there is any other running club that has “sister” clubs, not only in every major city in the US, but around the world. It really is amazing.

At that point, I got to settle in to a nice rhythm and keep a steady pace and not worry about a single thing. Really, that is a tremendous feeling to have and one that I missed so much.

In Rock Creek Park I even got to chat, briefly, with a woman that I kept leap frogging with. Yeah, that says relaxed. If I were racing this I would say too relaxed but…I wasn’t racing. But that is probably what kept me from freaking out about that 75 foot climb that was quickly approaching. Seriously, that hill was just pure evil and huge shout out must go to the military families who were lined up along that hill. Their cheers and words of encouragement got me up to the top.

I don’t know about others but there is always a certain point as I’m getting closer to the finish that I start thinking abut my post-race meal. It sort of serves as the motivation to get my ass across that finish line. For this one, the motivating meal were the dirty water dogs that I knew would be at RFK stadium and a can of Coke. I like to think that I am a simple woman at times. Even better motivation was knowing I only had to drag myself across the street to my apartment after the hot dogs were purchased.

I said it before, but I just can’t stop thinking about my good fortune of getting this apartment for the race. I didn’t have to check a bag and all I had to do was walk across the street to start my post-race recovery.

This race, in so many ways, was the motivating confidence booster that we all need from time to time.