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Race Recap - Silver Comet Half Marathon
147 Plays25 days ago
We’re back with another bonus race recap, this time sharing our experience running the Silver Comet Half Marathon— a fast, flat fall race just outside Atlanta, Georgia. This one was extra special: it was the 25th anniversary of the Silver Comet Half. We talk about what makes this event unique, how it felt to chase new PRs (personal records), and what we loved (and didn’t love) about running this USATF certified half marathon with a small-race vibe. From cold-weather starts to Garmin fails, hard miles, and finish-line emotions — this one has it all.
If you’re thinking about running the Silver Comet Half Marathon or looking for a great proof-of-time race for runDisney, this episode is packed with honest insights, laughs, and lessons from the course.
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Transcript
Introduction to the Silver Comet Half Marathon
00:00:00
Speaker
Erica and I ran the Silver Comet Half Marathon this past weekend. It was the 25th anniversary of this race. On the 25th of October, 2025. So like 25, it was literally, oh, it was on the Silver Comet Trail.
00:00:14
Speaker
And silver is 25th anniversary. Like it was all the things. That's awesome. Right? So we kind of scored. Yeah.
Podcast Special: Race Recap
00:00:25
Speaker
everyone, this is a bonus episode of the One More Run podcast. We're going to talk about a recent race that we did. so kind of a race recap. And this was, I would call it a local race. Erica, how would you describe it? Like we found it online. How would you describe what we found?
00:00:42
Speaker
How does that line up to what you experienced, you know, on the race course this past weekend? Yeah. So this race course was like a flat out and back
Course Details and Goals
00:00:50
Speaker
sort of a deal. That's right. It was a little woodsy. It was nice.
00:00:53
Speaker
Yeah, it's on the Silver Comet Trail if you're not from the Atlanta area. I believe the Silver Comet Trail goes from Atlanta, I think, into Alabama. Like, um it mostly, i think people can run on it, walk on it, all that. But I think bikers, like cyclists use it. They run lot of them.
00:01:08
Speaker
I saw plenty of cyclists. It was still, um the trail was still open yeah when we were on it. So yes, it was straight and flat. And that's exactly how they advertised it. yes You know, like that's exactly what the website said and all that stuff. um It was a pretty small field of people. They had a half marathon and a marathon. I think it was probably split evenly because they said they had 600 Mm-hmm.
00:01:31
Speaker
And, uh, when I looked at the results, there were 300 on the half marathon side of things. Right. So I think it was probably half, half and half. ah Why did we choose it? I think it a little bit ah of the, the fast and flat yeah idea, but why did you want to do this race?
00:01:47
Speaker
I was hoping to get a new PR um that I could take with me for Run Disney next year. Right, for proof of time? proof time, yeah. Right, so if you have if you can prove that you can run a half marathon in two and a half hours or less, and you've got a certified course result or whatever for that, yeah you can submit that, right? And you you want it you need an updated version of that, yeah right? And so that was
Pre-Race Challenges
00:02:10
Speaker
your goal.
00:02:10
Speaker
Yep. So what was the pre-race experience like? We had to park off site. That was a little different. Well, tell me if you disagree, but I feel like it was our first time running in cold weather. This year. Yes, this year. This year, right. Yeah.
00:02:22
Speaker
I remember standing in the closet being like, well, we always tell our listeners, don't try anything new on race day. But it's been a year since I've worn any of these leggings. So I kind of feel like i'm doing something new. Yeah. But it was cold. I wore like two tank tops, sleeves, a sweatshirt.
00:02:36
Speaker
It was really cold. So that was kind of a bummer way to start. Yeah. Yeah. It was funny. We stopped, uh, we parked in a Walmart parking lot and, um, that was where you're supposed to park. And then you walk like a half mile to the start line. Yeah. And, uh, we went in, used the restroom real quick at the Walmart. I'm sure they appreciated that.
00:02:51
Speaker
And then, um, we're walking out to the car and we're just shivering. yeah And I was like, I can't believe, cause we ran out of mylar at the end of last, um, run Disney season. So we haven't restocked that yet. No reason. Right. Yeah. Well, you're like, well, bet they have mylar in here. Let's go buy some.
00:03:06
Speaker
And I was like great. And I reach and I didn't bring my wallet at all. Yeah, we realized that Walmart doesn't do Apple Pay. And so we were like, well, I guess not. So so we tried to get mylar on the morning of yeah and didn't. So we just toughed it
Race Start and Adjustments
00:03:20
Speaker
out.
00:03:20
Speaker
Yeah. And yeah, it was 44 degrees or something, 45 degrees, which is the coldest we've had to deal with in a while. Yeah. Yeah. The pre-race, I mean, once we got to the spot, it was very easy.
00:03:31
Speaker
They had signs with people that were it was like, hey, if you're going to run an eight-minute pace, follow me, 9, 11.
00:03:37
Speaker
and I thought they were like pacers and they weren't. They just like kind of like cued everybody up at the start line in kind of like what you're anticipating. You didn't have to prove anything. There was no corralled letters. Honestly, like a bunch of the groups went and I didn't realize what was happening.
00:03:50
Speaker
So I just like... jumped in with like the 11 group or whatever, you know what mean? Like just to get over to the start line. yeah Um, and then i took off, you know, when they, when the gun went off, you started a little differently though. Yeah. Like this was, this was like the most unique thing.
00:04:04
Speaker
Yeah. So tell me about that. Yeah. So we didn't really know like what the bathroom situation was going to be like. We knew that there was bathrooms there in the parking lot, but we didn't know if there were any port-a-potties on the course. And so I was like, well, with the whole unknown aspect, like I for sure want to go before we leave.
00:04:18
Speaker
And so there was a long line, of course, of the women's restroom. And I think there were like seven of us left and they were like, okay, we're going to start the race in one minute. And this one girl in front of me was like totally panicking. And then this girl behind me was like, well, you know, your time doesn't start till you cross the start line. So like, you don't have to start with a group if you don't want to. So literally there was like seven of us, like we hear them, you know, everybody goes and we're just like still waiting for the bathroom. And so then when it finished, we just like,
00:04:45
Speaker
ran up the hill and crossed the start line and that was it. So, um, like what, two minutes after probably the gun went off maybe three minutes. Yeah. race started at 745 and I crossed the start line at 747. So that seems weird to me that you wouldn't, it felt weird.
On the Trail: Monotony and Efficiency
00:05:00
Speaker
Let me tell you, but I guess if you think about it, like large race with 30,000 people,
00:05:05
Speaker
People in those corrals, e F, G, whatever, they don't cross the start line until an hour after the, you know, the gun goes off. So i guess really the the girl behind you made a good point. Like, yeah, it doesn't start for you until you cross the start line.
00:05:18
Speaker
And it was honestly kind of nice. Like the big bunch had already left. And so I wasn't really like fighting with people the beginning to get started. So that was nice. Yeah, I will say this felt very organized. Like we we call it a small race or whatever. um It was very well, I felt like efficient, organized, whatever. It had ah had a local feel, but not local, like no one knew what they were doing. Like it felt, you know, structured and good. So so I like that.
00:05:44
Speaker
Yeah, so start was, you know normal for me. i just started running and it was ah straight. Like that's what the course was. yeah It was ah when I say out and back, that's exactly what it was. it was There was no turn, no nothing. I think the silver common trail is a straight line to Alabama and back, you know, like, um, so what was the course like for you? Like any, any notable things on the course at all?
00:06:07
Speaker
It said it was an out and back. I said it was fast. it said it was flat. It was all of that true. Was there anything different from that for you? No, that's, that's exactly what it was. yeah It was nice. I didn't know what to expect because I didn't really even know where we were running. I just left that up to you. But, um, yeah but yeah, I mean, it was, it was nice. It was kind of woodsy. We crossed a couple of bridges. yeah Um, it was nice. Yeah. It was very woodsy. it felt safe. Uh, it was wide. So like if bikers did come by, you know, on their Saturday morning run or ride, they could just go right around you, you know, and it wasn't crowded with runners at all because again, pretty small, yeah small field of runners. How were the mile markers?
00:06:41
Speaker
There were none. Well, there was one. There was one at mile six. Turn around here. Yeah, turn around. There were no mile markers, and that threw me off a little bit. my gosh. Yeah. I don't need them, but I expected them. Right.
00:06:54
Speaker
Like, I've never had a race that didn't have them. Yes. And I'm not saying it wasn't. Like, I'm not saying i was a bad thing. Right. It took an adjustment because you kind of, like, mentally clock, like, okay, that was three. ah That was three. Okay, so now I'm headed up to four. You know, like, and I had no idea. had to rely on my watch.
00:07:11
Speaker
And I wish I could have relied on my watch, but let me tell you, I had watch issues. I had no idea, like between mile eight and 13, I had no idea what mile I was on. right um I asked so people that, you know, ran by me at some point, but yeah, I had a bunch of, I had a bunch of snafus happen. So bummer in a way I missed the mile markers, but in a way I'm glad I didn't see them because that sort of propelled me.
00:07:36
Speaker
They don't need to add them. I'm not saying that. Yeah. It was just that like an adjustment. Right. Like I'm used to. you're used to it. Yeah. When when you're used to it. What did you love and not love about the course or the race or the experience? Anything on either side that you love or didn't love? Yeah. I think given my goal of getting a new PR, yeah I loved that it was flat and straight.
00:07:55
Speaker
Yes. At Disney, you know, we end up with all the turns and and all the things. We end up going always. We always go over the mile it's like of whatever it's supposed to be. Yes. My watch, I know you had watch problems. Mine clocked 13.1 miles. Yes. Not anything over or under. Right, right. Which has never lined up to a Disney Never, never, yeah. A Disney race I've run usually says something like 13.4 or something like that.
Achieving Personal Records
00:08:20
Speaker
Oh, mine says longer than that, actually. Well, it's because of all those detours you take to the restroom. Yeah. Well, no, it's all the dodging and weeding from the back corrals. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yours is higher than mine because you have those off course. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, but yes, you're in the turns, you know, they measure those on the shortest distance you could possibly take the turn. Right. Which you can't do. Not when there's that many people. Absolutely not. Yeah. So yeah, this was accurate.
00:08:43
Speaker
Yeah. So I loved that. I would say something that I didn't love was that as I was crossing the start line, I asked them, I said, do you guys know, are there porta potties on this course? And the girl was like, um, yeah, I think there's a couple sprinkled in, but she couldn't tell me where they were. she was like, you go ask that lady over there if she knows where they're at. yeah um and so that kind of freaked me out a little bit at the beginning, yeah but I'm happy to report that I never stopped to use the restroom. Yeah.
00:09:11
Speaker
Not even one time. wow i did I did see one. I did see a port-a-potty at like mile four. And I was like, okay, I'm going to remember that's there in case I need use on the way back. yeah But I only stopped for water one time at the very, very end.
00:09:25
Speaker
The rest of the time I just did salt tabs because I was trying to go for PR. so Sure, sure. I think ah the with port-a-potty situation was that small enough race, they didn't bring in port-a-potties. right yeah It was whatever was on the trail, which is probably why they didn't know exactly where they were is yeah like a trailhead or whatever might have one but they i don't think they had that marked out yeah uh or or at least i didn't i didn't see it if they did okay was that it on what you did or didn't love i loved that it was flat i think what i didn't love is that that became very monotonous yeah uh for me anyway where like
00:09:59
Speaker
sometimes even though the curve will slow you down at least you get an instant change of scenery yeah or or even elevation change up or down actually really helps yeah for me anyway yeah like my legs say all right i'm gonna push hard up this hill right i don't want the hill to last long but at least it fires some different muscles than when you go downhill obviously you know you can kind of coast for a minute yeah the the ah flat meant that you're uh my my um Foot was on the gas the whole time. Yeah.
00:10:30
Speaker
Right. And the only way for any relief or difference would be to stop or walk. Right. You know, there was no no turning or anything. So yes, fast and flat. That is, I mean, it just, that's exactly what it was. Yeah. Just got boring after a little while.
00:10:43
Speaker
um But the scenery was good. So that's nice. Okay. What was the matt last mile or so? Like, I have a funny story about the last mile that I want to tell on you, but what was your last? Oh, do you want to hear it now? Sure. Yeah. So I get a phone call.
00:10:57
Speaker
And yeah you call and you're like, you know, you're yelling. i don' Are you on speaker phone when you do this? I had my, um, my shocks. So you're, you're what felt like screaming at me, you know what But really you're just running yeah oh on the, whatever.
00:11:09
Speaker
And I'm at the finish line, um, and area area stretching or whatever. And you're like Hey, Jay, how far am I? yeah I had no idea how much time was left. So I'm pulling up the find my friends yeah know thing. And it says where you are you know but What I didn't know at the time was like it was stuck like previous. And I didn't read that this was registering like 12 minutes ago.
00:11:32
Speaker
yeah know so I'm like, it looks like you're two miles away. And you're like, what? And you were so distressed about it. I was doing math in
Reflections on the Race Experience
00:11:40
Speaker
my head and I thought I was closer, but. So it said to me, it says, Erica is two miles away. yeah I didn't read the little fine print under it that says updated 11 minutes ago yeah or whatever. yeah So turns out you're actually a mile away. So you're on the phone and I hear this, I'm i'm telling you, I'm so sorry, babe, but you you got it, you got it, you can do it. you know And you're like, I can't believe that.
00:12:00
Speaker
And you're like, I hear you yell, yeah like yell talking to someone else Hey, do you know what mile we're on? Yeah. And I hear some lady or girl in the background say, yeah, we just passed mile 12. Yeah. And I'm like, oh, good. Yes. 12.1. And then you're like, okay, bye.
00:12:15
Speaker
And you just hung up on me. Oh, I thought you were going to tell them about the other time I called you. You called me again. Yeah. And you're like, talk to me. And I'm like, this it was after that when you're like, talk to me. Yeah. Just just talk to me.
00:12:26
Speaker
Right. This is the story. you Yeah. That's what I thought you were and i'm like. Oh, great. Well, how's your race going? You don't talk to me about running. yeah Yeah. And I'm like, oh, well, ah but yeah ah wow. How about how about the ah how about that baseball game? Like I had nothing, you know, like I had nothing to talk about. You're isn't working. Yeah. like I was like, this isn't helping. Bye.
00:12:46
Speaker
i was, I was not prepared to to help you in that way. Well, it was just, i was like so frustrated because I didn't know how much, how many miles I had left. yeah I was in so much pain, like both hip flexors just screaming. My left knee hurts so bad, but I was like, I think I'm close. Like, I think I can do this. And so I was just like trudging along, like so sad. But because your watch wasn't working, you didn't actually know your real time, your real pace. You didn't know where you were.
00:13:13
Speaker
so i'm like running and like trying to distract myself from the pain that I'm in, like doing math. I started at 747. Like ah maybe I can do this. Like i'm not sure. And yeah, it was, it was a hot mess. So you called me, then you hang up on me. Then you called me again. You hang up on me a second time. What, what was that last mile? Like you were on your, on your own to the end. Yeah.
00:13:33
Speaker
Well, sort of, but not really, not, not at the very, very end. Okay. What happened? So once I realized that we had like a mile left, I think I'd probably was within like a half mile of the finish line and I was just hurting so bad and I wanted to stop, but I also was like, you did not kill yourself for the last 12 miles to lose it on this last mile.
00:13:54
Speaker
you can deal with this pain later. And so I'm like, literally like, what can I do? Like, i'm already listening to like my hype music and, um, And this girl ran by me and I was like, we would tell folks on the podcast, yeah talk to somebody. Yeah.
00:14:07
Speaker
So I said to her, Hey, do you know where we're at? Like, you know what? She's like, yeah, we're like mile 12.5 or whatever. And I was like, Oh cool. I was like, if you're okay with it, I'm just going to follow you into the finish line. And she was like, She's like, oh my gosh, yeah, run with me.
00:14:19
Speaker
So we get, we started talking. yeah We're both like huffing and puffing, but, um, I found out it was her first half marathon. She had done like a couple of 10 K's before. And so we were talking and I told her that, you know, we do run Disney and, and I was like, I was trying to get a PR today, but I've been injured and I don't, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it. And so I kept telling i was like, if you can run faster than this go. Like, just leave me behind. And she was like, no, she was like, honestly, you're helping get me to the finish line. So it was this cool moment. Um, we just ran in and it was funny because by that point in the race, like nobody was cheering, like the cheer squad was dead. Like people were lined up on either side, but nobody was cheering.
00:14:55
Speaker
and i I told her, I was like, well, I guess the cheer squad's done. Like if you, if you ran at Disney, people would be screaming for you right now. They would. Um, which she said, she was like, I want to do a run Disney race. i want to do princess, you know, soon. So anyway, um, then this one lady like started screaming so loud and I'm like, thank you.
00:15:11
Speaker
Like, and I was like, this is her first half marathon. Somebody chair for her. Yeah. And so anyway, so we crossed the finish line together and that was, that was really cool. So. Good. So you had a friend. I had a buddy. Yep. That's awesome.
00:15:22
Speaker
So you set out, we set out really, both of us kind of hoping for some PRs on this one. Yeah. And you were hoping to get that proof of time. um We didn't say whether or not you got it. Tell us. Tell us what happened.
00:15:33
Speaker
I did get it. Awesome. I did not, did not think I was going to be able to do it. Yeah. Um, because I hadn't really run and, uh, I beat my best half marathon time by 13 minutes, almost to the millisecond. Oh, I'm so proud of you. Um, I think not stopping to use the restroom definitely helped. No character stops. None of that. Plus I did run faster. Um, so yes, I'm not having your watch excited because you were just like probably frantic running at the end. I was, I was, yeah. I sort of stopped doing run walk. I just was like, I felt like I was barely moving, but I was like, just keep running, just keep running. So yes. So as advertised, it's a fast flat course and it's a Boston qualifier. They advertise it as like, Hey, come get your PR here. Yeah. And both of us did.
00:16:19
Speaker
Yep. So tell us what you did, AJ. Uh, I ran the whole time, never walked. yeah um and I genuinely believe I'm paying the price for that now afterwards, you know? Yeah.
00:16:31
Speaker
So I have a new PR by a few seconds, like not, not a ton did not reach the goal that I would really hoping to get. ah but still a new PR. Right. And, and where did you place?
00:16:43
Speaker
Well, I've never gotten like an age group award or what not award, but like age group placement. I got second in my age group, which I just call the old man group anyway. It's not the old man group. So for the first time ever, I'm like in the, ah but again, small race, but um this I got second.
00:16:59
Speaker
That's amazing. in my In my age group, not in the whole race. So anyway. It's amazing. Wow. Thank you. So still chasing the elusive PR that I, or time that I want to be able to say I could run a half marathon in, you know, I'm still chasing that one, but again, improved time and I'm happy.
00:17:16
Speaker
Like I gave it everything I had. and Yeah. It was probably the closest I've ever felt to being like in tears of like, like in pain, kind of in tears. You know what mean? Where like i miles 12 and 13, I just, I was ready to quit. And I just kind of like you were saying like, no, like we just went through too much yeah to drop it here at the end. Absolutely. You know what I mean? Yes. And it was hard and it hurt.
00:17:39
Speaker
Yeah. And it was, and it was emotional too. Yeah. Probably a terrible finish line photo if there even is one. Right. Mine too. Because they're just like, ugh. yeah yeah Yeah. So I've been paying the price. I think that not run walking, because I did run walk my last couple you know PR type you know times. um I think that's why I'm having a hard time recovering. I think I put my body through so much distress, even though it was same amount of time as the run walk or whatever. Yeah. The walk breaks, I think, allowed...
00:18:08
Speaker
i don't I don't know the science behind it. Yeah. But it's the only difference I can figure is that I only beat by a few seconds, but I'm dying now. and last time we did this, yeah I ran a marathon the next day. next day, yeah.
00:18:21
Speaker
And was fine. Yeah. This time I had to go outside take the trash out because it's Sunday and I'm like, uh, do they, don't, we don't really need to take the trash out. don't really need the trash out. Because been hurting that bad. I know. I've been laughing at the two of us. We're like hobbling around the house. Like it was the first time we ever ran. Right. Right.
00:18:39
Speaker
So if you're chasing a PR, you know, this is a course to do it. Yeah, totally. I would say that silver comet half marathon in Atlanta is, is, and it's perfect timing, you know, fall race or whatever. It was really great.
00:18:53
Speaker
I think, um, you know, be prepared that it is fast and flat, which means that, you know, your legs are going to be doing the same motion the entire time. There's not a whole ton to look at. There's not a ton of spectators. yeah Right.
00:19:03
Speaker
But if you're just chasing time, That's your only real thing you're after on that one. It's a great race. It's a great race. And it was very well run, very well organized, tons of snacks. yeah The medal's awesome. Yes. And so I really enjoyed it.
00:19:15
Speaker
um If I need a new PR, I'll go for this one again. Totally. If I'm looking for a fun experience to run together with a friend, probably not choosing it. Yeah. You know what i mean? Because I can do this.
00:19:26
Speaker
i mean I mean, I could just run straight or whatever at home. I think that's who it's for, maybe who it's not for. Yeah. I definitely would do it again for new PR. For new PR. Yeah. Yeah. Perfect. Awesome. Okay.
00:19:36
Speaker
This is a fun bonus episode. little race recap. yeah Any other thoughts or we going to call this one done? No. I think that's it. All right. Great. Tune in for our main episode. We'll have a new main episode this week on Wednesday where we'll be talking all kinds of run Disney stuff. So join us then.
00:19:57
Speaker
Thanks for joining us for this episode of One More Run, the podcast. If you like what we're up to, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Instagram. You can find links to all of that at AJandErica.com.