2016 Airbnb Brooklyn Half Recap

It’s been more than 24 hours since I crossed the finish line at the 2016 Airbnb Brooklyn Half, and I’m still feeling that runner’s high.

Yesterday was awesome.

Ellie wants a medal for Best Puppy!
Ellie wants a medal for Best Puppy!

I’ve never been able to say that after the Brooklyn Half!

Everything clicked during the race. It was a good day, and I finished in 1:46:31, smile fully in tact.

Normally I write really long, drawn-out race recaps, but since yesterday’s race was a bit more fun, I’ll try to keep this post fun, too. Or at least more readable. Probably still too long. Instead of a mile-by-mile play-by-play, here’s a Brooklyn Breakdown.

Cheesin' hard with 200m to go. Also looking like I'm just out for a Sunday stroll... (Pick it up, Feller.)
Cheesin’ hard with 200m to go. Also looking like I’m just out for a Sunday stroll… (Pick it up, Feller.)

Pre-race goals: “I want to have a good day.” I also wanted things to click, wanted to run well for November Project, and ideally wanted to go sub-1:50. Check, check, check, and check!

The weather: Perfect for running! A bit humid, but otherwise cool-ish and overcast.

The wakeup: Brutally early.

GO TIME. (All alarms set to the tune of "Shake It Off.")
GO TIME. (All alarms set to the tune of “Shake It Off.”)

What I ate before the race: Outback for dinner the night before, obviously. Two (fine, three) pieces of that warm brown bread with soft butter, followed by the coconut shrimp appetizer (shared with Brian, but sometimes he lets me have the last shrimp, even if I’ve already had more than half), then the 6 oz. Victoria’s Filet (medium rare), grilled asparagus, and a baked potato with butter. I love Outback Steakhouse.

#foodblogger
#foodblogger

My morning-of “meal” is one plain bagel. Not toasted. Nothing on it. Just chunks of dough, one bite at a time. And some water. But not too much.

What I listened to: Justin Timberlake’s new jam four times. Here’s my playlist. (Just for you, Scott!)

What I wore: This tank. These shorts. HOKA ONE ONE Clifton 2s. BodyGlide on my thighs, and a braid in my hair.

And later, I wore a medal.
And later, I wore a medal.

Number of porta-potties used before the race: Two. After using the bathroom three times at home, I obviously wasn’t done. Just like last year, the porta-potty lines inside the corrals were insane. They snaked around the entire corral and it was next to impossible trying to find the end of any of the lines. I waited in one long line, eventually got my turn, and knew I wasn’t quite done. “Not being quite done” was my downfall at this race in 2011, so I knew to just get right back in another very long line. I got out of the bathroom the second time just as the corrals were being collapsed and people started swarming to the start. Slight chaos, but NBD.

Mayhem.
Mayhem.

Number of porta-potties used during the race: ZERO. My stomach felt great the whole time. Aaaaamazing.

The start: With nearly 30,000 runners (the Brooklyn Half is the largest half-marathon in the country), this race is obviously going to be crowded. But I never felt too congested or overwhelmed. I was psyched to start the race with Mary Wittenberg, the former president of New York Road Runners and an all-around awesome woman, great role model, and total badass. She gave me some good words of encouragement as we crossed the start line, then took off and finished a full seven minutes ahead of me.

HERO.
HERO.

I love the first half of this race. The out-and-back is so exciting, and it makes me love being part of such a spirited team. I loved being on the lookout for my speedy teammates to my left, and felt so proud to be racing with them. Those miles flew by because I was just constantly scanning the crowd.

Greatest annoyances: I couldn’t figure out how to tighten my SPIbelt, so it was bouncing around the entire race, and my headphones weren’t really working, so the noise in my ears was half Bieber, half static. I forgot about both situations eventually.

I so desperately miss my old Sony headband-style headphones. RIP all 38 of them I used to own and love.
I so desperately miss my old Sony headband-style headphones. RIP all 38 of them I used to own and love.

Biggest surprise: How strong I felt on Ocean Parkway! The second half of this race should feel easy, since it’s flat, and technically net downhill. But the first time I ran this race, I spent the back half of the race dashing from one porta-potty to the next and melting in the heat. Last year, I was so beaten down (mentally, at least) by the time I got to the long straightaway to Coney Island that I was just jogging from one water stop to the next, where I would promptly “reward myself” with a walk break.

This year, I felt great on Ocean Parkway. Around mile two, I had found myself behind November Project’s fastest member, Ed “Hartdoggy” Hartman, who was pacing his wife. Instead of thinking “I shouldn’t be near them if they’re going for a 1:45,” I thought, “OK, let’s see how long I can hang.” Nothing to lose, right? I kept them within eyeshot, and was thrilled to be able to stick with them until the finish. I’m forever grateful for Ed’s unintentional pacing!

Where are all the other runners?!
Where are all the other runners?!

Favorite part of the race: All of it? I really did feel so happy the whole time. I felt like I was running hard and really racing, and told myself not to back off if I got tired. I was able to hang in and never got too in my head. I wanted to feel proud of my efforts by the time I got to Coney Island, and I was. I didn’t know my actual finish time until a little while after crossing the line, but I was pretty surprised by a 1:46. (There was a 4:30 or 4:50 delay on the clock from when I started, but a lot of the clocks along the course weren’t working — anyone else notice that?) I seriously struggled with doing math along the way, so I just kept running, hoping I’d be under 1:50 at the finish.

That shirt was a MUCH lighter grey when I started the race...
That shirt was a MUCH lighter grey when I started the race…

Least favorite part of the race: I always feel like the finish line is a lot closer to the end of Ocean Parkway than it actually is. I wasn’t miserable at this point, but I was definitely feeling like I had run 12 miles, and was ready to be at the finish line. Instead, I still had a ways to go. I remember seeing the “800m to go” mark and thinking a half mile felt far, and then seeing 400m to go, and still feeling like that was a lot. I didn’t have much of a kick left in me for the boardwalk, but I remember passing a few people, which is always invigorating.

200m AKA forever to go.
200m AKA forever to go.

Favorite thing to see at the finish: Brian and Ellie! They were stationed at the top of the ramp onto the boardwalk, and Brian was screaming, “Ellie, look! It’s mom! It’s mom!” (Brian said he met lots of people who came up to him and asked, “Is that Ali’s dog?!” He says it was nice to meet you all.)

200m to go, but I just want to stay and hug my puppy!
200m to go, but I just want to stay and hug my puppy!

Places chafed: For the first time ever, not my inner thighs, because they were properly Glided. But my right underarm has some brutal markings, my bum cheeks are raw (ugh, that one), and my underboobs are significantly scarred.

What I wore on the drive home: A whole lotta nothing. I packed a towel and change of clothes in the car, but by the time I peeled off my soaked race outfit, I just couldn’t fathom putting regular clothes back on. So I curled up in the towel, and that was good enough.

Cue me freaking out the whole drive home because "OMG THIS IS WHERE THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON STARTS, BRIAN!!!"
Cue me freaking out the whole drive home because “OMG THIS IS WHERE THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON STARTS, BRIAN!!!”

Duration of my post-race nap: Two glorious hours with a puppy at my feet.

My wolf pack.
My wolf pack.

What hurt the most when I woke up: See aforementioned armpit chafing. That post-race shower was not relaxing.

Number of brownie bites I ate in bed: Six, followed by three more once I emerged and reentered real life.

#nofilter
#nofilter

People who made the day extra great: Brian, for waking up at 4:15 AM, driving me to the start, then driving out to Coney Island and cheering, hitting up the after-party with the NP crew, and driving me back home. All with Ellie in tow. Husband of the Year. (It was our five-year dating anniversary, too! We went on our first date after the Brooklyn Half in 2011!)

Now she wants a medal for Best Underbite!
Now she wants a medal for Best Underbite!

Ed Hartdoggy, for semi-unknowingly pacing me for 11 of the 13.1 miles. I don’t think I would’ve hung in there as long as I did without keeping him in sight.

Super stud Ed.
Super stud Ed. #notmybeer

All the smiling spectators and volunteers. Especially the November Project cheer station at the top of the Prospect Park hill.

All smiles running through the NP Cheer Zone!
All smiles running through the NP Cheer Zone!

My Corral D girls — Emily, Sabrina, and Emma — for waiting in those porta-potty lines with me not once but twice, and keeping things light and fun while we waited to start running.

Corral D. Two blondes, two brunettes, no redheads.
Corral D. Two blondes, two brunettes, no redheads.

What I want to do next: PR the half-marathon distance. I tend to get so wrapped up in marathons, but I am really loving the 13.1 distance. I want to race many more half marathons, and would love to best my very outdated PR. I think I have it in me.

Officially.
Officially.

CONGRATULATIONS to all of this weekend’s racers! If you were in Brooklyn, tell me! How’d it go? Do you want to go to Dairy Queen with me to get celebratory Blizzards later?!

Ali

Ali

27 Responses

  1. wow, great post. I love the photos. along with your cute puppy!! Super cute. I look forward to following your blog and your story.

  2. ‘Atta girl! Loving your renewed love for your sport.

    Also, um, have you tried Desitin on the butt chafes? I ran into that one last year–so much ow!

  3. Wahooo! Congrats girl, you inspire me! I’ve been nervous to sign up for a race (although I’m only signing up for a 10k at the moment) but reading your race recap and your blog in general makes me feel inspired to do it! Can Ellie come cheer me on?!

  4. Only NINE brownie bites?! I’d have eaten the whole tub!

    Congrats, Ali! Amazing performance and so glad you had so much fun 🙂

  5. Nice job Ali! I love reading your detailed race caps! You sound like me with the porta potty line. Wait in line, go the bathroom and get back in line and then I have to go again! You are fun to follow! I am happy you are feeling better and had such a great race. That is an amazing pace for a 1/2 Marathon. =)

  6. Congrats! I’m so happy that you had a great race and I loved your recap, but the main thought I had after reading it was “the Brooklyn Half is NOT the largest half in the U.S., because my own Indy 500 Festival Mini-Marathon is the largest half in the U.S.”. So I googled it. That’s how I found out that we were the largest for 23 whole years, but Indy just lost out to Brooklyn by 86 finishers (86!). Oh well. Congratulations, anyway. 🙂

  7. Awesomsauce! Funny how we recognize people’s dogs. Last year I was spectating at the finish and saw a Facebook runner friends Labradoodle and his wife too but it was the dog that gave it away.

  8. Omg, Dairy Queen! Just watched an episode of “unique sweets” on ice cream…and this now adding to my craving. Congrats on a great race. I had tummy issues all day, had to use the porta potties like 4 times before the race. When I’m anxious I always think I need to go to the bathroom.

  9. We have the best guys! My guy flew to Big Sur with me for my marathon…got up at 3:45 to drive me to the bus…spent forever waiting at the finish line for me…put up with my hangry attitude later on when I couldn’t decide what I wanted to eat. 😉

    But I have to say my favorite races are the half marathons close to home in Boston because that means my dog is waiting at the finish line! She tries to run to me as soon as she sees me and it is the best. Who cares about finish lines and medals when there are dog kisses waiting for me?

    Enjoy your happy/well run race recovery!

  10. Nice race! That so great that everything just clicked and you do look like you were having a great time!! I agree that it’s easy to get wrapped up in the marathon distance and forget about the half, so go for that PR!!

  11. Lady, congrats on the killer finish. Ed paced me while I finished my beer. I think I set a record PR, too. Congratulations, again! #casual

  12. Congrats! I have to admit I was looking for Brian & Ellie but I was in wave 2! This was my 5th half marathon and by far my worst. So today I’m in pain and extremely bummed. Especially since NYC marathon is up next for me in November and that will (may) be my first ever marathon. Sorry to be all debby-downer !!

  13. In for DQ. Haven’t been since I lived in St. Louis. Very impressive race. Glad it went so smoothly. Congratulations!

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about ali

I’m the creator of the Ali on the Run blog and the host of the Ali on the Run Show podcast. I’m also a freelance writer and editor, a race announcer, a runner and marathoner, a mom, and a huge fan of Peanut M&Ms, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (way better than the first one!), and reliving my glory days as a competition dancer in the early 2000s. I’m really happy you’re here.
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