Category: race

Race: Santa Hustle Half Marathon

Place: Indianapolis, IN

Date: December 16, 2012

Time: 1:47:48

Oh…yes.  You totally read that time right.  And let me tell you…my finish at that time was as much a shock to me as it may be to you reading this.  Because…let’s face it.  When it comes to long distances I am not fast…but I can (under good conditions) normally endure and still have some kick at the end.  So finishing a sub-1:50:00 half marathon was a huge freakin’ deal for me.

But I am once again getting ahead of myself.  It is always best to start at the beginning.

And that, my dearest friends, starts on Saturday…the day before the race.

It was going to be one busy day, I figured.  I woke up that morning and did an easy 1 mile run down and back from my apartment.  Why did I run the day before a race?  Normally I wouldn’t have…but I’m doing this Runner’s World Run Streak thing where I run at last a mile every day between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.  And I haven’t broken the streak yet.  I wasn’t going to let my taper be the death of it.  So I promised only 1 mile (normally I say that’s not worth lacing up shoes for and push out 2 miles…but not on race weekend) and took it easy on my legs.

With that done, I came home, changed, and packed up my run bag and my duffle for an overnight stay and then worked on putting everything into my running bag.  Now…here was the thing.  I wasn’t exactly sure how to even pack for this freakin’ half marathon.  And here’s why…

The weather was awesome that weekend.  A little chill in the air due to a strong wind, but not too bad for mid-December.  And the Weather Channel was predicting clear skies the morning of the race…with a high of 54 degrees that day.  That’s relatively warm for a December morning, yes?  The only hitch…was going to be the strong 14+ mph winds on race morning.  Hmmm…

I decided winter compression tights weren’t needed and left them behind.  I was going to be receiving a shirt to wear during the run itself.  So…the big question mark was what I was going to wear on my lower half.  I packed a few options…my capris and two running skirts.  As I had been having a little bit of an issue as of late with a very sore and tight left calf muscle, Friday night I ventured over to one of the local running stores and was sized for, and purchased, my first pair of compression socks.

Normally it’s not a good idea to try out new items of clothing on a race, particularly a long one like a half marathon…but I didn’t really have a choice this time.  It was going to happen.  So, the compression socks were packed, along with my other normal running socks in case I put the compression ones on and hated them.  You never know!  I packed my GU pack and some Sports Beans, my water bottle, and a headband for the race.  Made sure my shoes were ready.  And my roommate and I packed up the car and headed to Indianapolis.

From experience, we have learned the value of staying in the city the night before a big race.  While Indianapolis is only a 2 hour drive, this saved a 4 a.m. wake-up to drive from our home to the race, find parking, and get totally stressed out (and perhaps show up late) as is what happened the year prior to this one when I was running in the Santa Hustle 5K in Indianapolis (the half marathon was added this year!).  So, we decided to splurge and stay at the host hotel…the J.W. Marriott.  The deal runners were offered on rooms couldn’t be beat.  Besides, I’m a Marriott Rewards Member…might as well use it.

So, we made the easy drive this year the day before and checked into the hotel.  Our room was awesome.  We were on the 15th floor and were overlooking White River State Park, which just happened to be the start and finish point for the half marathon the following morning.  Awesome.  A room with a view.  And what a beautiful view it was too.  We hauled our bags up to the room and settled in briefly before heading back out to hit up the expo, which was actually at the J.W. Marriott in one of their expo spaces.

I have to say…as of late I have been quite disappointed with the race expos that I’ve been hitting up prior to half marathons.  There has been next to nothing at quite a few of the last race expos that I’ve hit.  Suck.  Well, this one had to be one of the smallest (the Louisville Sports Commission being the absolute worst this year) with only a few vendors and races in attendance trying to vie for our dollars and our participation.  So, it took me under 5 minutes to walk in, get my race packet and head out.  With this being a race run in various cities, I sort of expected a little more…so I was disappointed.

I left with my packet, my tech shirt, and all of my money, and headed back up to the room.  We were supposed to meet up for my traditional gluten-free pizza pre-race meal at Harry & Izzy’s with our friend Greg…but we still had plenty of time before that happened.  So, we decided to hit the streets and do some shopping.  Cathy and I hit up Hard Rock Café for a new pin for my collection.  We then went over to Monument Circle and checked out the Civil War exhibit that was free to the public.  That was pretty cool.  And then we still had hours to kill, so we went to the mall and walked around some before deciding it would be okay just to go hang out in the room.  It was getting a little chilly out and relaxing sounded like a good idea.  I was supposed to be resting my legs…and here I was using them for all I was worth.

That’s typical me.

We did receive a call from Greg saying he was going to head to Harry & Izzy’s…so we headed out ourselves.  Got to the restaurant, got seated (after about 4 attempts prior to that with tables not being ready as we were there between the lunch and dinner turnover).  With a table now provided, we were handed menus and left to wait for Greg.  He showed up soon after and before we knew it…we were feasting on delicious food, having great conversation, talking about plans…and even enjoying dessert.  My gluten-free pizza, in case you were wondering, was topped with caramelized onion and mushroom…and it was delicious.  I followed it up with lemon sorbet.  Mmmmm.

We said our goodbyes and Greg, who was heading out of town the following morning, wished me luck on the race.  We departed back to the hotel where we watched a couple of cooking shows and I got my clothes out for the next morning…opting for capris…although I would continue to go back and forth on that even the following morning.  We turned in at a decent time…and I had a rather good sleep, only waking up a couple times to check the clock.  Finally, with only an hour before my alarm was set to go off, I got up and went ahead and got changed into my racing clothes.  With the wind still a factor, I chose the capris still, then climbed back into bed to just rest until the alarm went off.

When it did, Cathy was up to get ready and I was getting us the first part of our morning breakfast that day.  I had Corn Chex with me and Cathy had a granola bar.  We ate those and lazed about in the hotel, watching the Weather Channel.  I also made sure Cathy taped up my feet as my podiatrist had shown her.  I wasn’t about to run 13.1 miles without my feet properly supported.  I think he would have had a conniption.  With that done…I looked at the temperatures again…looked at the capris…really thought about putting on a running skirt…then decided, once again, that the wind would be chilly so capris would be the way to go.  That decision made, I began to slip into my compression socks for the very first time.

Now fully suited up…and with an hour to go to race time, I ate my banana, strapped on my fuel belt with my water and my GU pack and Sports Beans, and down to White River State Park we went.  It was a brisk morning due to the wind, but not bad temperature-wise.  And the walk made for a great warmup.  That being said, the first thing Cathy and I noticed when we set foot on the bricks at White River State Park was how slippery they were.  Super slippery.  We made our way over the bridge and to the pace corral that I was choosing to run in, which this time was an 8 minute mile.  Ambitious, perhaps…but that’s where I put myself.  It was still rather sparse as far as runners go, but it was still at least 30 minutes before go time.

I did some stretches in the corral area, getting a kick out of some of the 5K runner/walker outfits.  There was a guy dressed up as Santa pushing a cart that was done up to look like a chimney.  Which…is awesome.  And one couple made their jog stroller up to look like a sleigh.  Some people get really creative.  I did notice, however, that many of the serious half marathoners opted out of the Santa tech shirt and were just in regular running gear.  It’s too bad…because these are the people who did come in first and it would have been nice to have the winners in the official race shirt.  I mean, they don’t require you to wear the shirt, hat and beard, but at least wear the shirt.  It’s all in the name of fun.  I mean…this is the Santa Hustle after all.

With race time getting close, the announcer, a local Indianapolis DJ began going over some course information.  At one point he said that there was only one water station between Mile 7 & Mile 8…but he meant GU station.  And…he pronounced it G-U instead of like “goo.”  We runners all laughed and said, “He’s not a runner.”  It was funny.  With all the safety precautions out of the way, they moved the corrals up…and we were getting prepped to head on out.  And just as quickly as we had moved up…we were sent on our way…at exactly 9:00 a.m.  How’s that for timing?

I took the first part of the race easy as far as getting out of the park.  The bricks were very slick and the last thing I wanted to do was take a header into the pavement.  Either way you slice it…that doesn’t sound like fun.  And to be injured so early in a race would not due for me.  Nope, nope, nope.  So…I ran with my head here…meaning I took an easier pace…made sure my footing was sure…and  once I hit the asphalt of West New York Street, I was free to pace myself as I pleased.  Mile 1 was just ahead at that point and I was right in line with a runner who was definitely trying too hard too soon.  His arms were swinging hard and he was just pushing with all his might.  I wanted to say, “Dude…it’s only the first mile…chill!”  But, I just ran my race.

By Mile 2 however, I was cursing my decision to wear capris.  I warm up…fast.  And now I was burning up in my long sleeve tech shirt, my compression socks and my capri pants.  In fact, every bit of skin, save my face and my hands was completely covered.  And it was in the mid-50s out as far as temperature went.  I ran in races in much cooler temps in running skirts and short sleeve shirts (or even a singlet at one) and here I am covered head-to-toe.  I should have known better.  Yeah…I wasn’t happy.  As I came into Mile 3, the sun was coming up and I knew we were going to warm up.  I pulled my sunglasses down over my eyes and just did what I came to do…run.

The first half of the course was fairly simple and relatively flat.  There were a few small inclines, but nothing more than running over a bridge or the like.  I didn’t stop at the water stations as I had my own water and often had to remind myself to drink it.  The first candy stop on this race (the Santa Hustle Race Series offers candy and cookie stops in addition to water stops) showed up between Mile 4 and 5 and I ignored it.  Running is no time for candy…and I wasn’t sure I could eat it anyway.  Nor would I want to eat candy with so many miles still ahead of me.  I think a lot of runners were bypassing the candy, actually.  I mean…when you’re going 13.1 miles…chocolate might not sit right and why take the risk of not finishing due to a candy stop?  Not this girl.  Nope.

I made my usual internal marking of the halfway point as I ran through 6.55 miles.  I normally do this just so I know that I’m halfway there.  I’m doing good.  I’m getting there.  As I came into Mile 7, there was a Cookie Stop, which I again ignored and kept on going.  The GU station was also here.  I thought about grabbing some GU, but I had yet to even touch the one pack that I had on me.  I need to get better about fueling on the run.  I tend to ignore it because I feel good…and I wonder how much better I might do if I actually fueled properly.  And with my goal to run a marathon next year coming, I need to seriously work on that.  I might be able to run a half marathon on cereal and a banana…but a marathon…I’m thinking…NO!  Anyway, I passed it up and here was where the race sort of merged with a bike race that was going on.  I’m not kidding.

There was a race official that directed runners to stay to the right and as we are running toward this massive hill (and probably the only massive hill in Indianapolis), bikes come zipping up past us on the other side of the dividing tape.  Bikers hop off their bikes to run up this muddy incline as we runners take the road, around the bend, and up…up…up.  Oh. My. God.  Having a hill like this so late in the race is just plain evil.  But…I crested it.  Got a comment about my determination from the officer blocking the road at the top, which made me smile…and away I went.  Not downhill.  Not really.  Minor.  Nothing compared to the incline I just climbed.  But, it wasn’t up…so that was nice.  Just past Mile 8 a child was sitting on the ground and his dad was there.  The boy was clutching at his leg, so I think he may have stumbled.  The dad was on his cell phone, probably trying to get one of the ambulances on the course to head that way.  They seemed to have the situation managed…so I kept on going.

The next couple of miles felt relatively easy.  At Mile 10 I told myself all I had left was a 5K, and only then did I glance at my watch.  I was making good time.  Really, REALLY good time.  Like…better than the Hershey Half Marathon time.  If I could at least maintain my pace…I could possibly set a new PR for a half marathon.  So…I pushed on, passing up another of the candy stops and making my way back toward White River State Park.  The run was starting to feel harder now…I think the hill took a lot out of my legs.  But…onward ever onward.  Just after Mile 11, I was back in White River State Park, making my way down the sidewalks and into the last couple of miles.  And here was where some issues cropped up.  I noticed I was passing quite a few people who were walking.  I glanced quickly as I passed and noted they were wearing the red bib numbers of the 5K runners/walkers.  So, here we have half marathoners coming in at the same time as the 5K walkers.  YIKES!

I dodged who I could on the narrow paths and started into my final mile.  The last cookie stop was easily passed up.  I was tasting the finish line now.  As long as I could get through the obstacles of walkers, who would spread out across the entire path, making it hard for the half marathoners running for time to get through and pass, I was doing good.  I did the best I could in the space I was offered.  I even high-fived a little girl who held up her hand, and I rarely do that.  But…this was all about having some fun and I was in my last mile!

I started over the bridge at White River State Park, seeing the race photographers and flashing a peace sign and a smile.  Then, onward because I now knew just how close the finish line was.  I wasn’t sure Cathy would be able to spot me in the runners/walkers coming in, but she did.  She was waving my sign and shouting at me as I dodged some more 5K walkers and crossed that finish line.  I had noted the time when I crossed and when I paused my Garmin, I had to look again.  I was a good 3 minutes under my previous half marathon PR.  REALLY?  Because this race felt a lot more difficult than Hershey.  But…that’s what it said.  I received my Finisher’s Medal and began looking for my roomie in the throng of people at the finish.

Cathy came running over…”WAS THAT 13.1?  WAS THAT 13.1?”  I showed her my Garmin to indicate that it truly was.  And we both just screamed.  I made my way through the recovery area, picked up some water and a banana, and went to get my finisher’s photo taken.  Then…I found Cathy…got a hug…and was handed my protein shake.  I downed it and began the walk back to the J.W. Marriott so that I could hit up the shower, pack up, and head out to lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise, where I would get a delicious gluten-free veggie burger of some sort.  I couldn’t wait.

The official results of the Santa Hustle Half Marathon are that I finished in 1:47:48, a brand new PR for a half marathon.  That is how you end a racing season, my friends!  YAY!  I was 138/941 finishers overall.  I was shocked to find out that I also placed THIRD (3/76) in my division.  I placed in a division at a half marathon!!  I was so excited and pleased.  Of course, by the time I figured this out I was already done eating lunch and the race had packed up.  I drove back to the park though, just in case.  The volunteers with the race were still there packing up, but said that the post-race stuff was already loaded up, but that they would mail me my award.  I was okay with that.

And so…there is a crazy year or running races in the books.  And I went out on a very high note.  Nothing like rounding up a year of racing with a new PR on a half marathon.  That being said, I did e-mail the race organizers about the problems with the finish and the half marathon runners and 5K walkers coming in around the same time.  So, maybe that is something they can improve on next year.  For now, I’m still smiling about this finish.  Awesome!

My next half marathon is in February…and I’m already training hard for it.

Race: Reindeer Romp 4K

Place: Louisville, Kentucky

Date: December 8, 2012

Time: 19:02

Welcome to the kick-off race for Louisville’s infamous Polar Bear Grand Prix.  I was able to participate in the Grand Prix last year and had a blast running the different races through the winter months (one race in December, one in January, one in February)…and through varying degrees of weather and temperatures.

It looked like that was going to hold true this year for the first race of the series.

The Reindeer Romp 4K is the lowest mileage of all of the races.  A 4K race (that’s 2.48 miles…but my GPS had me at 2.55 when I crossed the finish line) that runs the scenic loop of Louisville’s Cherokee Park.  We ducked out onto Eastern Parkway though near the end to loop the statue and re-enter the park before heading up toward the finish line.

Yes…up.  Remember, Cherokee Park is hilly!

But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves…

On Friday, I was constantly checking the weather forcast.  All I knew was that we were supposed to get rained on this weekend.  A lot.  Yep.  Ugh.  Now, I do love running in the rain.  I run some of my best runs out in the rain.  But…I also have a 10 mile run for training to fit in this morning (and it’s supposed to rain!) and I was hoping to return with dry shoes.

Mother nature had other ideas.  But…at least it was only 53 degrees out.  That at least meant I could wear shorts or a running skirt.

That morning I woke up and heard the rain.  I think I might have cussed a little under my breath, but went through my usual routine of getting ready for a race.  For the most part.  I pulled out my running skirt and one of my short sleeve tech shirts.  Decided that I could run this race in cotton socks and got out my green and red striped knee-socks for the holiday spirit.  My hair extensions were green and red as well.  And, as this is one of my winter races, I opted to wear my new snowflake BondiBand.  I was a mish-mash of spring and holiday colors.  But…that’s how I roll.

It was still raining after I polished off my breakfast and started to get a change of clothes together in my running bag.  I sighed, pulled on my hoodie (so I would have a hood to keep my head dry) and my roommate and I headed out the door to get to Cherokee Park.  I never made it to packet pick-up at Fleet Feet Louisville on Friday, so I had to get my packet, my Polar Bear Grand Prix knit cap, and my Reindeer Romp ornament at the race.  Which, normally isn’t a problem.  We park at the park, I get my gear, we walk it back to the car.  No problem.

This morning…there was a problem.  The race started at 9:00 a.m.  We pulled into Cherokee Park at 8:00 a.m.  One hour prior to the race and already the lot near the shelter where packet pick-up was being held was parked up.  And all along the side leading down the hill was already parked up as well.  No room in the park for the little Corolla.  So, my roomie and I circled back through the park and I said we should just go out of the park on Eastern Boulevard and park there.  So, we did, finding a spot a good ways up…but at least parked.

This, of course, meant that we now had about a .7 mile walk up hill to get to packet pick-up.  It was sprinkling rain, lightly, so it was still a damp hike.  I was at least getting warmed up…though not the way I would like.  I didn’t want tired legs for sure.  As we were hiking up, cars were lining the entire pathway.  A traffic cop, who entered the park, got on her loud speaker and alerted drivers they could NOT park there…as it was blocking the flow of traffic and the race came through here.  Those who were still at their vehicles moved them.

We reached the top of the hill and headed to the shelter.  Off came my hood and I went to go get my race bib, hat, and ornament.  I got them without any issue and then had to find my roomie, who had wandered off somewhere in the shelter.  She saw me looking for her and waved her arms.  Keep in mind, most runners and their families/friends were all under this shelter to keep as dry as they could before the race.  I got my number pinned on and stood around for a couple of minutes before getting my stretching done.  Between the parking craziness and the hike up, it was 30 minutes until race time.  So, it was best to get warmed up now.

With 10 minutes to go to race time, the rain had stopped and I made my way out toward the starting line.  It was humid out with a light breeze.  Not cold at all.  As I found a spot near the front of the corral, I spotted my roommate in Hogan’s Fountain.  Of course.  I waved and she attempted to snap a picture around a freakishly tall man who wandered into the shot.  That always happens!

And then…the skies opened up into a nice downpour.

Oy!

Well, I guess rain is the new cold.  Because it was relentless.  Before the race even started I was soaked to the skin.  Joy…oh, joy!

And then, moments after the rain started, we were off.

I crossed the start line, started my Garmin, and took off down the hill to run a route I know by heart – the Scenic Loop.

There were a lot of runners this year at the race.  Much more than last year when I ran it.  That was evident.  And I felt like I was doing a good job, running.  Keep in mind, ever since last week, my left foot has been twinging at me.  I think I strained a tendon or something.  The fact of the matter is…it doesn’t always like it when I move.  So, I was trying to keep that in mind as I was running.  But when it didn’t even hurt with each pounding my foot took to the pavement, I figured…why not push some.

Mile 1 ticked off in 7:10.  I was moving faster than I thought.  And that’s good and bad.  That’s good, because I’m teaching myself to be somewhat competitive and actually try to move up to my capabilities during a race.   That’s bad because the second part of Cherokee Park is the one with the steep hill ascensions that are definitely no walk in the park (or run, haha) to get over.  So, when I hit those…my pace did slow, but not too much.  For that, I am proud.  I was even passing people on the hills.  WOOHOO!!  I made it up Dog Walk Hill, feeling the energy I had to put into that in my legs, which were screaming at me.  But, it was downhill, out to loop the statue and hit Mile 2 on the way back in.  I ran that one in 7:45.  And I still had the last hill to conquer.

Normally when I run the Scenic Loop with my fun run group at the local BlueMile store, this hill is the first one we take on.  It’s not as steep as Dog Walk Hill…but it does go up.  And if a race is run in Cherokee Park, it’s the last hill that takes you up to the finish line.  Yes…you do finish going uphill.  I’ve run plenty of races in Cherokee Park…but this hill always kills me.

I decided to just give it all I had.  I was just under half a mile to the finish line.  Push.  Get through it.  See how you do.  So, I began just pumping my legs to get up this incline.  I passed a couple of people, including one guy who pulled off and started walking.  The woman in reindeer antlers (who passed me at the end) encouraged him by saying “Keep going…you’re almost there!”  She was right.  I could see the shelter.  Hear the crowd at the finish.  And there was Hogan’s Fountain.  The hill leveled off and I started for that finish line.  The woman in antlers passed me up right there at the end, but I finished…and finished as strong as I could manage on my foot and in the driving rain.  I paused my Garmin and attempted to catch my breath.

I should note the woman in antlers wasn’t even breathing hard.  I shake my fist at her.  Runners who can just run a race easy and finish that early frustrate me, because I have to work so hard for it.  But…alas…

It was a good, wet, romp in the rain that morning.  Cathy came bounding over and I asked if we could get under the shelter so I could at least attempt to start drying off.  Note to self: pack a towel in the race bag.  Seriously.  Do it this time.

We headed under the shelter where most of the other finishers were loading up on water, bananas and apples.  I grabbed some water and took a seat on the bench near the snacks.  I grabbed a banana and refueled a bit after that run.  Cathy thought I might have placed in my division because I was at least in the top 15 women to come in.  So, we decided to hang around for awards and see what might come of it.

Now…this literally took forever to get to.  We had to wait for all the walkers to come in.  And by then, it was still raining, but now a wind had kicked in and I was getting cold.  There I was, sitting around in super drenched clothes…

I finally asked for my hoodie to at least put around me in an attempt to stay warm.  That helped a little.  And since she wasn’t using it, my roommate put her hoodie over my legs.  It helped…a little.  No sooner had that been done, but the race directors came over to hand out awards.  They did the overall males first, then all the division winners for the men.  So, the females were up last.  I shivered through much of the award ceremony.  My division was up.  And, lo and behold, I took third place!  I was actually shocked.  While my time was a big improvement on last year’s time…I didn’t really expect to actually place.  So proud of that.

So, the official results of the Reindeer Romp 4K are that I finished in 19:02, my new PR for a 4K race.  On hills, in rain, with a sore foot, no less!  YAY!  I was 104/796 finishers overall.  My roommate definitely called it by saying I was in the top 15 women to cross.  In fact, I was 15/429 women finishers.  And, of course, I landed 3/67 in my division!  All of this in the driving rain this morning!  NICE!  I am so proud of my accomplishment on this race, besting last year’s time and even placing in my division.  I’m improving as a runner…and I love seeing the results.

So, this morning I have a 10 mile long run to do…before getting some stuff done in town.  Then I need to clean up the apartment and prep for a holiday dinner here tomorrow.  Lots to do…and only a Sunday morning and afternoon to accomplish it in.  Oh, and it’s supposed to rain this morning too…so my long run might be…interesting.  But it has to be done as I have a half marathon next Sunday.

Looking forward to the Frostbite 5K in January now!  Polar Bear Grand Prix…we are off to a famous start!

(Ticker currently not updating…but I am at 1035.1 miles so far for the year!)

Race: Fast Freddie Five Mile Foot Feast

Place: New Albany, Indiana

Date: November 22, 2012

Time: 38:24

A week ago, I had gone out on a five mile run, taking the route that I’ve been doing a majority of my five mile runs on…the route that the Fast Freddie Five Mile Foot Feast happens on.  And each time that I have run it, I have come up close to…but not quite beating my fastest five mile time to date, which I set back on June 16 at the Activate America 5 Miler in Frankfort, Kentucky.  I told Cathy, that morning after I got back from my run, that by next year, I hoped to run a five mile race in under 40 minutes.

She told me…I’d do it long before then.

And I laughed.  No…I literally shook my head, laughed, and went back to making breakfast.  I think I underestimate myself…

Fast forward to…Thanksgiving morning.

Now, most places on Thanksgiving have Turkey Trots and Drumstick Dashes and other fun Thanksgiving themed runs.  Here in New Albany, Indiana, we have the Fast Freddie Five Mile Foot Feast.  Which, doesn’t sound like a typical Thanksgiving run…but trust me…this happens to be THE Thanksgiving run.  I participated in it last year (finishing in 44:48), making it my first official running of this New Albany tradition.  And also lead me to discover that this is, without doubt, the least stressful race that I compete in all year.

Why?

Because it starts and finishes at the Floyd County 4H Fairgrounds…which just happen to be located across the street from my apartment complex.  On Thanksgiving morning, I can sleep in a little.  Get up in enough time to eat some cereal, change into running gear, stretch, and then step outside and walk across the street to mingle with the crowd a little, stretch some more, get accustomed to the weather (last year, I was in long pants and a jacket…this year…shorts!).  After I finish, I can just meander back to my apartment, hop in the shower, and finish getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner without feeling rushed or stressed.  Best race, logistically, for me.

And that was exactly how my morning went.  Cathy and I walked out the door about 30 minutes before the start of the race.  Already, our apartment complex’s main drive was filling up with parked vehicles of runners who were showing up for the race.  Trust me…this is no small happening.  Last year 880 people participated in the event.  This year, they were expecting a record number of runners…and the area didn’t disappoint.  The Fast Freddie Five Mile Foot Feast brought out 960 finishers this year.  HUGE!!

And somehow, within those 960 racers, plus their friends and family who came to cheer them on…I get found by the people who spotted me in Hershey when I was there for the half marathon.  They saw the sign, once again.  Turns out they were also at the Hot Chocolate 15K as well.  They even looked for my sign…but didn’t see it.  SO funny!  I really need to get their names at the next race I participate in and see them.  Only seems right.

Anyway…it was in the mid-40s on Thanksgiving morning, so I decided I would wear shorts and a long sleeve tech shirt.  Actually, I toyed with the idea of a short sleeve tech shirt and probably would have been just fine in that.  But it was a bit chilly at the start of the race.  I just tend to warm up faster than I think I will.

Soon after I shucked my jacket and finished a few stretches, runners were already making their way up to the line of white tape that crossed the entire street that we start on.  It was just before the drive leading to my apartment complex.  Like I said…I use this route on my five mile training runs, so I felt really prepared to tackle the myriad of hills that this course would offer at different points.  Feeling so strongly about the run, I actually moved pretty far up (not in the front, mind you, but a few rows back) near the start line.  All around me, runners were talking about their plans for the day, or upcoming runs, or what they were going to have for Thanksgiving.  It was just a really good vibe and I could feel the electricity of the crowd.  It can really lift a runner up when those around them are having a good time as well.

Soon, the announcement about the start of the race was being made over the bullhorn.  Now, this is not officially a closed course, so as a personal choice, I didn’t run with my iPod or headphones.  I do believe I run better when I have my music, but I am a safety first kind of person, and while there is a police presence out there helping with traffic control…the fact that there is still traffic and vehicles that pass by, I choose not to listen to music on this run.  I didn’t last year either for the same reason.  Despite this, there was so much commotion and conversation going on with all the runners that I couldn’t hear what was being said anyway.  All I know is that the front line of runners hunched down to take their marks…so it was almost go time.

A horn sounded.  And off we went.

So, last year when I ran the Fast Freddie for the first time, I ran this route for the first time.  What I didn’t know then was how hilly this course is.  When you drive it in a car, you don’t even realize it.  But when you are racing up these inclines and hills…yeah…you suddenly take note of them.  I remembered this…and this past year have embraced running some of this course to get used to the hills.  When New Albany installed sidewalks down Grant Line Road, I could now run the entire route, safely.  And by doing so, I trained my legs not to fear those hills, but to power up them.

Within the first mile, we tackle one of the steeper ones.  This one actually comes within the first half mile.  It is so close to the start of the race that it’s enough to strike fear into some of the first-timers.  Runners are sent up an incline leading to a bridge that crosses over the highway.  I’ve done this portion of the run more times than I can count…coming from both sides of the bridge.  I do not fear this hill.  I use this as a challenge as often as I can.  And on the Fast Freddie, despite my legs being a bit cold from the slight chill in the air…I powered up it just as I would have in a training run.  I ran down the rest of Green Valley Road to the turn onto Mount Tabor.  Here we tick off Mile 1.  And it was there that I noticed the clock said 7 minutes and some-odd seconds and I knew I had gone out fast.  Faster than my training runs even.

Going into Mile 2 is a mostly flat course, with just a couple of minor, rolling hills.  Nothing that is too challenging to say the least.  It is probably the easiest of the miles to run.  The entire length of Mount Tabor Road is run, and then racers are directed onto Grant Line Road.  Here, we pass by Mile 2 and make our way to Sam Peden Community Park.  We turn onto Alex Thorn Drive and we encounter a water stop, just outside the fire department.  I bypassed it, aiming to tackle the incline leading into the park.  It doesn’t look like much…but it is quite tough to get up.  I know…I do it pretty often.

Mile 3 is halfway through the park.  Last year, this was where a horrible side stitch got me and I had to slow my pace a little until it passed.  I didn’t walk though.  This year, I flew by it without an issue at all.  I was no longer even looking at the clocks, I was just running.  Like I said, I made a point to run this course often.  The park is one of my favorite places to run anyway…especially on weekend mornings before a lot of people are up.  It’s quite and peaceful.  And with the small, rolling hills, a little challenging without being too hard.  But after Mile 3 we hit the most difficult portion of the run.

Runners leave Sam Peden Community Park via Schell Lane.  Schell Lane offers a nice variety of hills.  Not small rolling inclines.  No.  When I say HILLS, I mean HILLS.  And we get just over a half mile of them.  It’s nice, because you start off with a slight downhill.  But then you meet your first uphill.  Not much of a downhill follows that and then it’s back up a hill.  Here you do get a downhill run, but the next (and last) huge hill you run up is quite steep.  On my training runs, I always congratulate myself for reaching the top.  No…I really do.  I did the same during the race.  It’s not easy running Schell Lane.  I always tell myself when I get to that portion that it just means the worst part is almost over.

As a reward, as you head into Mile 4, you get a nice downhill run on Daisy Lane.  I love this part.  The downhill gives my legs a little bit of a reprieve, because I tend not to push on the downhills, just let myself go with the momentum, while keeping some control.  I don’t want to get injured, so I try to reign in the urge to just fly.  It levels off though and the rest of Daisy Lane means you really have to push.  But, at the end of Daisy Lane, you come back onto Green Valley Road and soon you only have the last half mile to go.

That is an amazing feeling.  If you are familiar with the area, then you know that last half mile doesn’t take too long to run.  It’s just past the Catholic cemetery, and from there, you can even see the Floyd County 4H Fairgrounds.  The finish line awaited.  So, I pushed a little more.  I pushed because last year I had so many people passing me and this year…I didn’t want that.  I pushed because I knew I could.  I’d done it before.  I’d done it countless times.  I knew every up and down of this stretch of road better than any other in New Albany.  Every outdoor run ends with this portion.  So…I ran my heart out.

I turned into the 4H Fairgrounds and could see my sign near the finish line.  Cathy was cheering me on.  I noted the clock at 38 minutes.  I was doing so much better than even I anticipated.  I gave it my all and crossed the finish line in 38:24.  I paused my Garmin and continued through the chute in the order I finished, handing off the bottom of my race bib and rounding through only to spot Cathy already waiting for me on the other side.  Biggest (and best) surprise was that she brought my water bottle with her.  She apparently saw me off, took stuff back to the apartment, grabbed some water and was back at the finish line to cheer me on.  See…it really is the least stressful race of all year.  She’ll agree with me on that in a heartbeat.  She handed me the water and took my card I was handed to fill out for a chance to win prizes in the raffle.

We decided to stick around for the raffle as well as the awards…because, despite it being Thanksgiving…I love doing that.  I grabbed a couple of extra water bottles, took a short walk, then went inside the main building of the Floyd County 4H Fairgrounds.  There were only a few people inside, so we went over to look at the records and past winners.  Then scoped out the cool trophies for the top finishers.  It was fun.  I finished all the water and we got to see the top three men and top three women get their awards.  Raffles were handed out.  I spotted Santa and got my picture taken with him.  And then age group awards were given.

Afterwards, no stress of trying to get out of a parking lot and get on the road.  We simply walked across the street and headed back to our apartment building.  From there, I took a quick shower and got to work on the vegetable dish I was bringing to Thanksgiving dinner.

Later that afternoon, the results were up on the page.  I immediately pulled them up and got to share that moment with my roommate and her family.

Official results of the Fast Freddie Five Mile Foot Feast are that I finished it in 38:24!  Yes…my fastest 5 mile time to date.  And yes, my roommate earned the right to tell me that she told me so when it came to finishing a 5 mile race in less than 40 minutes.  I figured I could do it, I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon.  I was 173/960 overall; 7/79 in my division.  Results for just the women runners haven’t been posted yet.  I am surprised, to say the last.  When last year I was ranking 437 overall…jumping up to 173 is a TOTAL improvement.  In my division last year, I was 18/78 runners.  When I can compare results like that…I really can see how my training, and my podiatrist (since my injury) have helped make me a better runner.  I’ve been running outside more.  I’ve been diligent with my miles and listening to my body.  I’ve come back from a crippling injury and become a fighter and a stronger runner due to it.

And on Thanksgiving…I had reason to give thanks for the chance to be able to run…and the gift of the run.  And I’m thankful for all of you…who cheer me on either at the races, or over the miles and the Internet.

For as long as I live in this area, I intend to make the Fast Freddie Five Mile Foot Feast a Thanksgiving tradition.

And maybe…just maybe…I’ll keep on improving.

Race: Hot Chocolate 15K/5K

Place: Columbus, Ohio

Date: November 18, 2012

Time: 1:13:28

There is just something about running for chocolate, I guess, that makes me move faster than I ever imagined possible.  That seems to be my mojo when it comes to races that involve chocolate.  Honestly.  The last two races I have run that have involved some sort of chocolate at the end have turned out my fastest times yet.  I think I see a pattern, yes?

But, once again, I am getting ahead of myself.

I was so excited to see a race on a weekend that I was going to be in Columbus, Ohio.  Nevermind that I was going to be about two hours away the night before seeing a concert.  Why take that into consideration?  After all…this was the Hot Chocolate 15K/5K race.  Hot chocolate.  You get hot chocolate and chocolate fondu with goodies at the end.  Seriously!!  It came down to which distance I wanted to do that day.  In the end…I chose the 15K.

Packet pick-up was held on Friday and Saturday at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.  We went down there Saturday morning…and after getting lost in a sea of ballroom gowns and dancers, we finally found the small expo where I could get my number and my goodie bag.  The swag for this one was cool…a windbreaker.  I was pretty excited to be getting a jacket instead of a shirt.  However, in the end, Cathy purchased a long-sleeve tech shirt for me too.  And I love it.  After that…it was off to run a few errands, go back to Jenn’s, get ready to leave for Cleveland, meet up with friends for dinner, enjoy a concert…and drive back that night.  The following morning…I would run.  It occurred to me that choosing to do this race might not have been the best idea I ever had.  But, I was committed to it now.

It was really early on Sunday morning and I was at my friend Jenn’s house.  While I often wake up at 5:40 a.m. (or earlier) for races, this one was difficult to get up for.  Why?  Because I had been up in Cleveland, Ohio the night before at The Monkees concert.  The drive back to Columbus got us back to Jenn’s by around 1:30 a.m. or so.  We all immediately got ready for bed and it was near 2:00 a.m. when that happened.  A couple hours of sleep and my cell phone blared my GO RUN! alarm.  I was out of bed, shambling toward the bathroom with my race day clothes and talking myself into actually going.  I love to race, but I was dead on my feet and I knew it was a cold morning.  Sometimes it’s hard to get started when those are your conditions.

But…I managed.  Made my way downstairs to eat the cereal I brought with me and get the race bag packed up and ready to go.  I made sure that Cathy had a Luna Bar to eat while I ran.  Just cereal for breakfast is not an option.  I grabbed my Smart Water from the fridge and began to just get a few things together while sipping some water to make sure I was hydrated…without drinking too much.  I am a princess…and the thought of having to use a port-a-pottie is not a pleasant one for me.  Jenn made it downstairs…had a light breakfast as well and got a few things together.  I went to brush my teeth then get my bib number pinned onto my front.

The big debate now came.  Do I bring the hydration belt or not?  This was actually my first 15K distance race.  I have pretty much covered everything else under a half marathon distance.  It would be 9.3 miles when all was said and done.  I know I’ve run that far without my hydration belt before, but it was cold…and I still have yet to get that thing to sit right on my waist so it doesn’t bounce and try to move around to the front.  In the end…I left it behind this time and said I’d just make use of the water stops.  There were four of them along the course, so I wouldn’t have to worry about becoming dehydrated.  When the weather turns cold, that can be a major problem as most runners won’t even realize that they are dehydrated.

With all that said and done…we shambled out into the cold morning to get in the car and make our way downtown to the Hot Chocolate 15K.  We expected this to be an easy commute…and for the most part…it was.  That is until we got near the race area.  Then…then it got a little congested.  Lights would change and lanes wouldn’t move.  We knew where we wanted to park but it literally took forever to get there.  It was 7:20 a.m. when we finally got to the parking garage and I was already eating my pre-race banana.  Yes.  In the car.

We parked and began to make our way up the stairs of the parking garage to the street level.  We got there just in time to see a wave of runners take off.  Ah…the 5K was off and running already.  Sure enough…it was past 7:30 a.m. and their race was now starting.  We stepped outside so Cathy could snap some pictures and we cheered for the last few waves to go through the start gate.  We laughed at a couple of the costumes being worn by some of the runners.  With the 5K off and running, RAM Racing (the peeps putting on the Hot Chocolate 15K/5K) began to get set up to send the 15K runners off.

I didn’t have much time to get accustomed to the chill of the air…or stretch.  So as they began to put someone in place to hold the Corral G (my corral and the one that lead off the race) sign, I did a few important stretches to get my muscles a little warm.  I gave Jenn a hug and she sent me off with the traditional (and lucky) blessing of “Don’t pants your poop!  The power of Dean [Karnazes] compels you!”  I love Jenn!!  She always makes me laugh and can take the pressure and tension out of any situation with a simple phrase.  Cathy and I went toward where they were loading runners into Corral G.  She gave me a hug, took my warm fleece jacket from me, and told me to have fun and assured me that I was going to do great.  Cathy is awesome like that.  Even when I have doubts she makes it seem like this will be an easy run…just like training…just like a fun run.  No pressure.  Just go out and do what I love.  I honestly have some of the best peeps cheering for me.  Seriously.

The announcer at the start line was thankfully energetic and getting runners pumped up.  I actually needed that.  But as I hit the button on my Garmin to begin finding satellites, I was already starting to get excited for the run.  It’s hard not to when you have the energy of other racers around you.  Despite being chilly, it was a beautiful, sunny day in Columbus.  So, it would be a good run.  Actually, the temperature was a few degrees warmer than originally predicted.  I felt a bit overdressed in my long sleeve tech shirt with my running jacket over it.  In fact, I figured I was probably going to get too warm in it.  But…too late to change any of that.

The 8:00 a.m. start time crept closer and we soon had a countdown to go-time.  I started my iPod when it reached the 15 second mark.  And then…the horn sounded and we were off.  I passed Jenn and Cathy on the way through the Start gate, just after starting (and again, stopping…stupid gloves!) my Garmin.  I flashed a smile and a peace sign…and I was off.  And I restarted my Garmin a few steps down the way.

The first 5K of the race was spent running the length of North High Street.  This was a great stretch to run.  Only a few minor inclines…but mostly flat.  I hit the first mile marker and noticed the clock time was showing a fantastic, but fast, pace for me.  I thought to slow down, but my legs were feeling good and the cool weather was definitely assisting.  The first mile marker also was where the 5K run turned off of High Street.  The 15K runners were to continue on.  And I did.  Mile 2 flew by just as fast, again, the clock showing a better time than I was used to.  Mile 3 was next…and at the 5K mark, I had managed to clock my fastest 5K time to date (which doesn’t count as this is not a 5K race…but hitting 5K in 24:07 was an awesome feeling).  Yeah…I may have been tired and running on fatigued legs…but this race was agreeing with me.  I only worried that perhaps I was going out too fast.  I tend to do that at races and then I fade at the end.  Soon after the 5K line we began to wind and twist through small roads near and around The Ohio State campus.  Yeah.  There were quite a few turns made coming into Mile 4.

Just after Mile 4, I decided to make use of the water stop.  I ran past the Gatorade pushers and to where water was being handed out.  I managed to work my way toward the back and snag a cup (no easy task in knit gloves).  I sipped from it and then tossed the rest of it.  I just needed a little and I was back on the path and running.  The clock on Mile 5 was a bit screwed up, so I stopped paying attention to them after that.  I tend to do better when I run and not pay attention to my time.  Takes the pressure off.  Miles 5 and 6 ticked off in no time and I hit the 10K marker with my fastest 10K time to date as well (again…it wasn’t in an official 10K race…so no points for it…but hitting 10K with a time of 48:25 was thrilling!).  I made use of the water stop here as well, taking another few sips of water before continuing on.

All I had left ahead of me was a 5K race.

The last bit of the race always seems the longest.  I don’t know why.  But, I was going to make this happen.  Mile 7 and Mile 8 were flat and easy.  I bypassed the water stop there, but got caught up in the crowd.  And then…somewhere just at the start of Mile 9…we get a hill.  Yeah.  That’s just evil.  So, I push myself up the hill and just continue on.  I know I’m getting close because I’m running past the convention center.  I can hear announcements being made.  I round another corner and there it is…the Finish.  I can see runners going through and I pick up my pace as much as I can.  We all know that I am not a sprinter…so my finishes are never with a flourish of speed…but I do try to push harder at the end.  I passed by the DJ that was keeping the crowds going and the runners encouraged near the finish and blew on through, catching sight of Cathy and Jenn on the side, waving my sign and cheering.

It felt great.  I paused my Garmin and walked over to where they were standing.  Cathy told me to make my way through the recovery area and meet them near the booths where they were handing out the Finisher’s Mug (yes…mug).  I managed to weave through other finishers and find them in the recovery area.  I tore the tag off the bottom of my race bib and went to retrieve my Finisher’s Mug.  I was handed a giant plastic mug that had hot chocolate in a cup in the middle, a well filled with fondu chocolate.  A full banana, a marshmallow, two vanilla wafer cookies, a Rice Krispie treat, and a square of chocolate.  Oh yes…I do love running for chocolate.

However, given my food allergies…I enjoyed the banana dipped in chocolate and the chocolate square.  I let Cathy and Jenn split the rest, which they happily did.  And they let me finish using the dipping chocolate first so there would be no cross-contamination.  My friends are awesome.  With our bellies happy and full of chocolate, we decided to call it a race well-run and return to Jenn’s so I could shower and we could think about heading out to grab a bite at P.F. Chang’s.

I would totally run in another Hot Chocolate 15K race in a heartbeat.  SO much fun.  If one comes to your area, I highly encourage you to sign up for it or the 5K and run for some chocolate goodness.  It’s fun.  I promise!

Official results of the Hot Chocolate 15K are that I finished it in 1:13:28!  That is now my benchmark for a PR in a 15K.  So when I run the Boilermaker in Utica, New York this coming July…I know what I’m aiming to beat.  I was 312/3021 overall; 129/2234 women; 24/347 in my division.  Do you even know how awesome those stats sound to me.  I am still surprised I could run that fast and that much on so little sleep and very tired legs.

Running for chocolate is always a good incentive to run.  I just seem to run faster when it’s involved.  Really had a great time at this race and was so glad that I did choose to run in it, even with the logistical nightmare of everything that came before it.  I hope Columbus hosts it again next year because I’d love to come out and do it again!

Race: Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon

Place: Louisville, Kentucky

Date: November 3, 2012

Time: 1:52:22

Ever do something that completely surprised you and surpassed all your expectations?  That’s kind of how I feel about the Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon.  Honestly.  In all truth, the way I was able to run it shouldn’t have happened.  I should not have been able to do it as quickly as I did.  Or as well as I did.  In fact, I probably shouldn’t have been able to run this one at all.  And there are a few factors that go into why I feel that way.

1. I was only 2 weeks off of another half marathon, and never let up on my training, including that 10 mile run the weekend before.
2. It was my first half marathon in bitterly cold conditions.
3. Rain and sleet…yeah…that was interesting.

Needless to say, when I crossed that finish line I couldn’t believe the time my Garmin told me.  Honestly.  My plan was to run this one easy, and that’s what I did.  Which means…I might actually be capable of breaking 1:50:00…one day.  You know…but pushing it some (but not too early), but only if the conditions are right.

The conditions last Saturday morning, however, were anything but ideal.

The night previous, after having my mandatory gluten-free pizza meal (it brings me luck!), I headed over to Dick’s Sporting Goods.  Why?  Because I really didn’t want to wear my jacket during a half marathon, fearing I would definitely get too hot and then I’d be stuck wearing it for the rest of the race.  My intention, being that it was going to be in the high 30s, was to find a long sleeve tech shirt with some sort of ‘keep you warm’ technology.  There were a few options, actually, but I went with one from Nike.  Purchase made…off I went to grab a dessert of ice cream and head home to get some rest.

And then came morning.  I could tell it was cold when my alarm clock went off and I had to fight with myself to peel back the covers and get out of my warm cocoon of blankets.  But, I did have a race ahead of me and I needed to get a little water into my system before that.  So…I got up and got dressed in my compression tights and my new thermal top.  For a moment, after seeing the exposed skin at my neck, I thought about putting on the running jacket anyway, but logic told me it would warm me up too much…so I skipped it.  An hour later, my roommate got up and we had some cereal for breakfast.  Then came the rush to get everything together.  We played this morning very casual because the race was simply across the river, not miles and miles and  miles and a lengthy car ride away.  I decided, that since we were in close proximity to home, I wouldn’t bother with a change of clothes this time.  I always have a change of clothes, even at local races…but I knew that post-race I was going to get some gluten-free goodies from my favorite allergen-free bakery and coffee from my favorite Louisville coffee shop before heading home.  Why bother?

THAT decision came back to haunt me…so lesson learned.

We got my protein shake, some snacks, and my water bottle together.  I filled up my race water bottle with Smart Water (my beverage of choice…yay electrolytes!) and then I shrugged into a few layers to wear pre-race and we were off.  As we were driving across the bridge, my friend Keith, who was also running, texted to see if I was down there yet.  I told him I was on my way and he said he was near the start line by bag check.

When we arrived, Cathy picked a close parking garage and for $5.00 we parked and headed out toward the start line.  Which just happened to be right outside the parking garage.  WOOHOO!  How is that for some good race day mojo, yes?  I couldn’t see any signs that said Bag Check, so Cathy and I meandered over to the Pure Tap 5K Registration booth…but still nothing.  I texted Keith to let him know where I was.  Then, I ate my mandatory pre-race banana while he made his way over.

Now, Keith and I had been going back and forth on what we were wearing during the race that day.  He kept telling me he was wearing a parka…because he doesn’t do cold.  Well, he wasn’t too far off.  He arrived where I was waiting for him, dressed in his running tights that heat up when you begin to sweat or they get wet, a thermal shirt, a windbreaker, gloves, and a hat.  I asked him if he was going to get too hot wearing all that.  He joked and said he’d be the guy scooping up the discarded clothing of other runners and crossing the finish line with more on than he started with.  We got a good laugh from that.  We stood around and talked and then the Pure Tap 5K was about to start, so we stood there during the National Anthem and cheered when they took off, after a call to post by the official bugle player from Churchill Downs.  Pretty awesome.  A gunshot…and they were off.

This left us about 30 minutes before the start of the half marathon.  While we were standing around and talking, the fountain we were standing next to came on.  Yeah.  Moments ago, runners were standing in there.  And on a cold morning, starting off soaked to the skin due to a sudden fountain surprise would not have been good.  Thankfully, they had all cleared out by this point so no one got soaked.

And soon, I was saying goodbye to Cathy and Keith and I were making our way to the starting area of the race.  We hung back a bit.  He said he was going to use me for pace as I was going to run this one easy being only 2 weeks off my last half marathon.  I said that was fine and promised to run faster than a 10:00 mile.  The National Anthem was played again…as was the call to post.  We were told to go on the gun.  But…no gun was heard.  And I hadn’t started my iPod yet.  Apparently it was fired because Cathy ended up getting the bullet for me as a souvenir.  Yeah.  Best souvenir EVER.  We walked with the group toward the start line…and soon we were jogging…then…we were off.

And so a comedy of errors began immediately when it came to me.  I started my watch…and it stopped.  So I had to hit it again.  My start line photo that Cathy took of me has me futzing with the damn Garmin.  Then, only a few moments later as I’m taking off down the first stretch of road…my iPod falls off my belt.  Seriously?  It was just dangling as I ran, so I had to scoop it up, reel it in, and reattach it, all while running, and dodging people in that first initial sprint from the start.  Blah.  Not the best way to start the race.  Kind of like getting off on the wrong foot.

Oh…and I left Keith behind…somewhere…

Mile 1 flew by, however.  I have run the streets of Louisville numerous times.  But nothing was as bad as coming out of the first mile and into the second mile and having to smell the fresh manure that was out in one of the feed store lots.  Yeah.  Not pleasant at all.  The worst part…we later had to run by there again as we were coming into the finish.

Just after Mile 2…it began sprinkling.  Nothing hard.  Just a little bit of water.  I had checked and the rain wasn’t supposed to get here until afternoon…so this was unpleasant, but if it stayed light…it would be okay.  And for the most part…it did.  I got through the third mile and headed into Cherokee Park for the next 3.5 miles of the race.  This is where the hilly portion was.  And I figured I was as ready as I could be at this point for it.  Why?  Because this is where I do a lot of my running.  And the day I accidentally ran 11 miles instead of 9 was done on the path I would be taking for this race.  Hills…I had this.  I could eat these hills for breakfast, brunch, and second breakfast.

Cherokee Park was great.  People who had been out getting there walk were cheering on the runners and just really keeping us motivated, even in the light sprinkling of rain.  No better way to get over the steep hills of Cherokee Park than with a lot of crowd support.  We had it here.  And as we exited the park, near Mile 6, that was when the rain decided to really kick it up.

As in pour.  As in downpour.

So, not only was I running in the cold weather…it was now cold and wet.  And as I stated before…cold and wet are my two least favorite conditions to run in…especially simultaneously.  BLECH!  And…even better…the rain didn’t let up.  Not one bit.  So, for the last half of the race…I did it in the pouring rain.

I had my sunglasses on, and I was glad I did to keep the rain out of my eyes.  However, my sunglasses were steaming up, so I’d have to use my gloved hands to rub them and clear them up.  In addition to that, my Nike shoes, which are about a full size bigger than my normal shoes, were now getting soaked.  Which, no big deal, except with how big these are, the water would slosh into the toes of my shoes and it just felt…weird.

So…the last half of the race was quite miserable…but you just have to make the most of it.  I was actually just enjoying the run, regardless of the chill and dampness.  I even broke a cardinal rule of mine and gave one of the announcers, around Mile 10, I think, a high five.  Why?  Because he asked for one.  And it was awesome.  Made me smile.

Coming back through the city meant that I was in the home stretch.  I ticked off Mile 11.  And then the announcer just after Mile 12 really lifted our cold, drenched spirits.  He’d call out the bib numbers as you were running toward him and just tell you how great you were doing, that you looked amazing, and that the finish line was just down the road.  Almost there.  Yeah…that’s what we needed to hear.

And yes…about half a mile later, I could see the finish line ahead.  I didn’t know what time I was coming in it, but I did pick up my pace.  Slightly.  Awesome.  I made my final push for a strong finish and crossed the finish line.  I went to pause my Garmin and saw that it said 1:52 with some seconds.  And then I moved on through the recovery area with Cathy screaming her excitement from the sideline.

I was handed a Finisher’s medal and then made my way through the lines for a space blanket, water, Powerade, chocolate milk, bananas, and whatever else was being offered.  I grabbed a couple of items.  And then I met Cathy in the recovery area.  She took my stuff and told me to go check out the runner’s afterparty to see what stuff they offered.  I went to move around through there, keeping that space blanket wrapped around me because…I was cold.  Nothing really grabbed my attention, so I went to find Cathy again.  As I had been getting ready to head that way, I had dropped my Vitamin Water and my regular water, so I ducked back through the line to get those again.  And then hurried back.  She had my protein shake out and ready for me and I downed it.  We went over to one of the buildings that acted as a buffer against the cold wind, and laid out the space blanket…and I propped my feet up to hopefully prevent any muscle cramping.  I kept them elevated for about 10 minutes.  Then…I was ready to get going.  The race was great, but it was still cold and wet and I was beyond shivering now.

We had plans to stop by the allergen-free bakery (Annie May’s Sweet Café) in Louisville, KY so I could grab some breakfast and then we were heading to Highland Coffee for some warm coffee goodness and so Cathy could have one of their breakfast wraps.  We did just that…and after devouring our breakfast at 11:00 a.m…we headed home.  Because I needed a hot shower to get warm after being chilled down to the bone.  And…we had the Bruce Springsteen concert in Louisville that night.  Whew…busy day and a busy night still ahead.

LOVED this race.  And fared very well in it, considering the conditions I was running in and how soon I was doing it after my half marathon in Hershey, Pennsylvania.  I wasn’t running to set a new PR, but I sure as hell came close to doing it.

Official results of the Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon are that I finished it in 1:52:22!!!  That is less than 1 minute slower than my PR I set in Hershey.  WOOHOO!! I was 490/2143 overall; 107/1066 women; 21/194 in my division.  Beyond thrilled and quite surprised at how well I was able to do two half marathons with so little recovery time in between.

I guess what Bruce Springsteen says is right…Baby, I was born to run.

On to the next…

Race: Hershey Half Marathon

Place: Hershey, Pennsylvania

Date: October 21, 2012

Time: 1:51:37

Ever have one of those races that you just felt good going into?  That’s how I felt about the Hershey Half Marathon.  After making a stunning comeback from my torn plantar fasciitis in numerous races of varying length, plus having some really great training runs leading into it, I was confident that Hershey was going to provide me with a good race.  New PR or not, I was heading to the land of Hershey Chocolate…also known as…one of the best places on Earth.

So, aside from my goal of joining the 50 States Club, why a half marathon in Hershey, Pennsylvania?  Running for chocolate, of course.  This race, just before Mile 12, hands out a candy bar.  No joke.  That was what originally caught my attention.  It was mentioned on an early date of my roommate’s Food Challenge Desk Calendar.  And I immediately knew I had to run it.  I also knew this would be a great road trip to include Jenn on, because she is as much a chocoholic as I am.  We made plans.  Registration opened.  And I signed up.

This meant travel.  Lots of time in the car.  And it all started the Friday before the race on Sunday.  Cathy and I worked a half day on Friday and then made our way up to Columbus, Ohio.  We crashed at Jenn’s house that night, knowing the realization that we would have to be up crazy early in the morning (5:45 a.m. which I was not happy about) to eat breakfast (I brought homemade gluten-free carrot cake pancakes), get coffee (from Caribou Coffee…because when I am near one I have to have it!), and get on the road for the 7 hour car trip from Columbus to Hershey, Pennsylvania.

The car ride took forever.  Honestly.  We made a couple of stops along the way for stretching, bathroom, and food.  I had to be very careful with my food decisions that Saturday because I didn’t want to consume something with gluten in it the day before I ran 13.1 miles in a race.  That would have been disastrous.  So, I stuck to products I knew and trusted and were labeled gluten-free for the journey there.

At around 2:30 p.m., we arrived in Hershey, Pennsylvania and had to make our way to Hershey Park and attempt to find the Ice Palace, where packet pick-up and the expo were held.  We followed traffic to Hershey Park and then Cathy had her immediate freak-out of normal proportions with the usual, “I don’t know what I’m doing…I don’t think this is right…I don’t want to ask someone else…”  But once you get her past that part of the trip, she does better.  Well, she had that moment and it passed when we got up to the ticket gate and she inquired with the lady in the booth about packet pickup.  She told us to drive all the way around and follow the signs for the Season Ticket Office, and we’d get where we needed to go.

That’s what we did and we were directed into a parking lot, where we did a little hunting for a spot before finally getting out of the car for a little while.  It was nice to stretch and move some.  We had a little bit of a walk to the Season Ticket Office, which was marked with signs and balloons for the Hershey Half Marathon Packet Pick-up.  We entered…and I immediately spotted the booth for BondiBand.  I love BondiBand, so I said I would loop back around for it…and focus for the moment on getting my packet, which is truly the most important part.

It was easy.  The packet pick-up was done from the first letter of your last name.  I went up to the B box and he was able to easily find my name.  He pulled out a packet, handed it to me with my shirt and a reusable bag and directed me over to Chip Check, where a woman took the packet, ran it over a scanner, and made sure my name came up and the chip was functioning.  It was.  And I was Bib No. 400!

With the important stuff now in hand, I was able to walk around the expo.  There weren’t too many booths there, honestly.  Your local groups, a few vendors, and…BONDIBAND!  So, after making one circuit of the small expo, that’s where Cathy, Jenn and I headed.  Like I need more BondiBands, right?  I can’t help it…these things are great and I wear them on training runs as well as during races.  They’ve become part of my running attire and people recognize me because of it.  So, after about 45 minutes of searching, Cathy and I narrowed down our choices to four, which she bought for me, and soon…we were heading out of the expo.

With some time to still kill before meeting up with my friend Kathy for dinner at a restaurant with amazing gluten-free Italian food options, we ducked into Hershey World and checked out the prices for activities and hit up the gift shop.  Shopping took us a little while, but we wrapped it up and made our way to the resort we were staying at that night.  Cathy got us checked in and we took our luggage up to the room and settled in for a little bit until Kathy arrived to give us a tour of Hershey and take us to Piazza Sorrento, our choice for where to have dinner.

Dinner was delicious and hanging out and socializing with Kathy was a lot of fun.  But as the night went on…she had to get back home to her family and we had to get ready for yet another early morning for the race.  I dug into my luggage and started laying out what I was going to wear that morning of the race, noting that it was going to be a crisp, cold 43 degrees out and I didn’t bring long sleeves, arm warmers, or anything.  So, I knew I was going to be cold that following morning.  I did bring my running capri pants, but opted for my running skirt regardless of the chill in the air.  With all that done, we turned in for the night.

The 5:30 a.m. wake-up call came and I dragged myself out of bed and went to get dressed.  I put on my running clothes, got my plantar fasciitis sleeve over my taped feet, then my running socks.  My shoes were laced up and I was good to go except for putting the colored hair extensions in my hair and putting it up in ponytails.  I managed that, put on my “Will Run for Chocolate” BondiBand I purchased online prior to this race, and headed out to the living room area of the suite.  I grabbed a bag of gluten-free cereal and settled in at the table to munch.  It wasn’t the usual cereal I would eat, but it was already in a portable container.  I had picked it up the weekend prior at a gluten-free expo, so while it would have been better with some almond milk over it…I work with what I have.  Both Cathy and Jenn (poor Jenn had been awake since 3:30 a.m.) had their breakfasts as well and we finished up getting ready before heading out the door.  I grabbed my banana to consume an hour before the race, filled up my water bottle with SmartWater, and we were off.

I stepped outside into the garage of the resort and immediately knew I was honestly going to be quite cold for the start of the race at least.  The wind was quite strong and very frigid.  But…I also knew I would arm up as I ran, and a half marathon is quite a distance to go being overdressed.  So, I freeze some at the beginning, but don’t have to worry about shedding layers or being too hot during the event.

We drove over to Hershey Park and found a great spot near the end of a row.  I didn’t want to get out of the car yet, so I waited for Cathy to futz around with what she needed in the bag she was bringing, what she wanted in the trunk, and whatever else she was futzing with.  And when she was finally ready, Jenn and I got out of the semi-warm vehicle and walked toward Hershey Park Stadium.  As we were walking, I peeled my banana and began to slowly eat that.  We ducked into the brightly lit stadium to take a look around.  I got to see the Finish…and knew that was my destination.  I just had to get there.  The start of the race happened outside of Hershey Park Stadium, but we still had some time.  Instead of standing out in the cold, we headed over to where Packet Pick-Up was happening and ducked inside.  On our way there, a runner spotted my “Go Karen Go!” sign that Cathy has at every race and she said, “Oh my God, you run in Louisville!  I see that sign at every race!  You won an award at the Big Hit Quarter Marathon!”  I couldn’t believe that the sign was spotted and recognized by someone else up from the Louisville area.  How cool!  We said hello, wished each other luck, and we went to step into the warm surroundings of the packet pick-up space.  It was in here that I began to stretch.  And as the crowd began to thin out, I knew race time was getting close.  So, sucking it up…I went back outside and made my way over to the starting area.

Being that this is the Hershey Half Marathon, a lot of the Hershey mascots (aka: Candy Bars) were out and roaming around.  I spotted the big Hershey Bar and knew I had to have my picture with him.  So after a high five, we took a great picture.  Jenn and I then hopped into a picture with the Reeses Peanut Butter Cup mascot.  Awesome.  And, little did I know that the Reeses Peanut Butter Cup was the featured candy.  It was on the medal this year!  SWEET!  Cathy opted to have her picture taken with the Kit Kat Bar.  It was pretty epic and so much fun.  What a great way to just sort of take the edge off before a race.   And, it got me out of my hoodie to acclimate to the cold air sooner than I would have otherwise.

With photos done, and announcements about to be made, Cathy and Jenn gave me good luck hugs, told me they’d see me at the finish, told me to have a great run, and Jenn gave me the best send-off with “Don’t pants your poop!”  HAHAHAHA!!  Love it.  Marathon Thoughts…thank you for that one.  I got lined up in the middle of the 8 minute miles and 9 minute miles…my proper spot this time.  The race director went up to the podium to give a small speech about the race.  I wasn’t aware that this was only the third year the Hershey Half Marathon had run.  I thought it had been going on for much longer than that.  He went over the rules…like not to take fluids from strangers…look for volunteers in the orange shirts instead.  It was great.  And then he turned the microphone over to the miracle child from the local Children’s Miracle Network picked to kick off this year’s race.  He was so adorable and not shy at all.  With much gusto, he got us out and going with a simple “Ready….Set…….GO!”

And so…the race was on.  The movement toward the Start was easy and smooth.  It took me about a minute to get from where I was corralled to the actual Start gate.  So, that wasn’t too bad.  I spotted Jenn and Cathy on the other side, flashed a smile and a peace sign…and was off.

Now, prior to the race, I watched the video of the course.  It looks pretty flat from the video.  But on Thursday night, I started looking up blogs on the Hershey Half Marathon and everyone was talking about how hilly it was.  I was determined that they ran a different course than the one I saw.  But…nope.  They were absolutely right.  HILLS!  Lots of hills.  And not just small rolling hills either.  Some of these were pretty good climbs.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.  The beginning of the race is mildly challenging.  The first mile, for me, flew by.  Honestly.  I was just sort of running at what I deemed to be a good, slower, start time for my run.  I want to get better at run easy…push more…finish fast.  But I was through the first mile and it felt great.  Mile 2 was spent running through Hershey Park itself.  That was a lot of fun.  I enjoyed seeing the park, the rides that were available, the vendors.  Sure, it was tight quarters with all the runners in there, but you make the most of it.  You enjoy it.  You choose a pace and you just work through it.  Quite a few inclines welcomed us inside the park.  I did my best to power up them without using too much energy so early on.  As we came out of the park, the race hit Mile 3 and off we went to wind through the streets of Hershey, Pennsylvania.  With the challenge of the hills I found myself focusing a lot more on the road ahead of me.  I didn’t glance at my pace, even when another mile beeped off on my Garmin.  I wanted to just run this at what felt comfortable.  It had been working for me in the past couple of races…why mess with it and try to rush myself?  Miles 4-6 just seemed to fly by because of the hills that greeted the runners.  I was so focused on getting safely to the top without expending too much energy, but not slowing down to a crawl either, that before I knew it…I was halfway through the race.  I was warmed up.  I was feeling good.  I was remembering to hydrate when I felt I needed it.  Halfway was where the relay teams tagged off, so I got to see some of that happening, which was cool.

Mile 7 took us basically up a hill almost the entire way.  But my legs were feeling strong and pushed forward.  I was moving at a good pace.  Mile 8 – 9 was done through a residential area.  The roads narrowed a bit at Mile 8 because we had runners coming up one way, and those going through Mile 9 were coming down the other way.  But everyone navigated it well and the neighborhoods were a nice change of scenery.  Some of the best crowds were out on these corners.  And if they saw your bib…they would shout your name.  This was one very awesome crowd.

Miles 10 – 11 felt amazing to me.  I hit that 10 mile mark and saw the time clock reading of 1:23:17 and I knew I was far above my normal race pace for this run.  My best 10 mile race time was 1:29:33.  This race was proving to be one of my best half marathons yet…even with the hills.  Normally by Mile 10 I need to refuel with Sports Beans or a GU.  But not today.  I had energy.  I was pushing now because I was only 2 miles from the end.

As I came onto Chocolate Avenue, I was greeted by the volunteers dangling Reeses Nutrageous bars out to runners.  It was the Chocolate Aid Station!  YAY!!  A lot of runners ignored it…but the whole purpose of this race was to get the chocolate bar at Mile 12.  This happened just before Mile 12, but I had to take one.  I had to.  I didn’t eat it, but I carried it with me as I ran up the street lined with Hershey Kisses topped street lights, and back toward Hershey Park.  Mile 12 had yet another hill, but I was so close now, I could taste it.  I came into the parking lot and started down toward the tram gate to run toward the stadium.  Then it was out and around the stadium before coming into it, dashing around a corner…and finding that Finish line.  I was rewarded with a Finisher’s Medal almost immediately.  That finish was one of my better ones.  I immediately spotted Cathy and Jenn in the stands and I was so pumped up from the finish that I was bouncing and pumping my fists.  Even more amazing…the chocolate I got at the Chocolate Aid Station didn’t melt.  I got my finisher’s photo taken and Cathy said they would meet me at the Results tent.

I made my way there, getting the little cooler of goodies along the way…and some water.  I was gifted with another space blanket to help warm me up…and I walked onto the field and over to results.  Sadly, my results weren’t up yet to find.  However, I did go and get hugs and congratulations from both Jenn and Cathy immediately afterwards.  I handed Jenn the Nutrageous bar I picked up at the Chocolate Aid Station and thanked her for coming out after a long trip and sleepless night to sit in the cold and wait for me to finish a race.  I was pumped.  I was so excited.  My best race yet and I was still feeling great!

I got my Arbonne Vegan Chocolate Protein shake out and drank that down while standing around and texting my family.  Then I sent the text to my friends.  And then…after downing some water…we got into the car to head back to the resort so I could shower and we could head out and do something out of town the rest of the day.  This…was one hell of an amazing race.  And when all was said and done, I shaved 7 plus minutes off my previous half marathon PR.  So a great run and a new PR…despite the hills!  YES!  All that hard work and training really is paying off.  What a fantastic run!

The official results of the Hershey Half Marathon have me finishing in 1:51:37.  I was 642/3932 finishers overall.  I was 212/2516 women runners to cross the finish line.  I was the 634th person to cross in the 25-34 age division.  And I placed 77th for people who were 32 to cross the finish line.  THRILLED!  Ecstatic.  Just…so proud of myself for such a well run race. 1/58 in my age division.  I set a new PR for a half marathon…and I have my next one, in…2 weeks.  No joke.  But I am treating that one as a training run due to it being so close to this one.

Being part of the Hershey Half Marathon was so much fun.  Pushing myself without knowing it and setting a new PR while here…priceless.  Running for chocolate…the best reason to run.  Period.  I might have to do this one again sometime!