Time limits

I learned yesterday that there are actually time limits involved in this 1/2 marathon. Apparently, they want you to wrap things up in about 3.5 hours.

I freaked out and e-mailed my husband in a panic, worried that at exactly the 3.5 hour mark officials would scoop me up into the slow people paddy wagon and cart my butt off to the Land of Shame.

Having run a few half marathons himself, and being the patient and kind person he is when it comes to my various neuroses, he e-mailed me back and told me that such time limits aren't strictly enforced. It seems they're flexible, especially if you're a mile or two from the finish. He tells me the time limits are there to discourage those people that would finish in the 4.5 to 5 hour timeframe. This makes me feel slightly better, but I find myself sympathizing with those people, because apparently they are the citizens of the Land of Shame, at least according to the race committee.

On the upside, if I do end up being one of those people, my tendency to be harder on myself than anyone else would probably result in me being elected the mayor of the Land of Shame.