Category: running

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!

Race: Republic Bank Big Hit 1/4 Marathon

Place: Louisville, Kentucky

Date: September 23, 2012

Time: 52:46

It was another chilly morning in the low 40s when I woke up at home to get ready for the Republic Bank Big Hit 1/4 Marathon.  I was actually pretty excited about this race.  I ran it last year…in 1:03:49.  It was held at the end of October last year, however, instead of the end of September.  They moved the date due to the bitter cold weather we had.  A lot of people initially complained, saying September would still be too hot for the races.  Boy…were they ever wrong.

The Big Hit race series is actually a double race.  Not only is there the rare 1/4 Marathon, but it runs with the 1/2 Marathon as well.  For over four miles, the races are together.  There was the split, where the 1/4 Marathoners turn left and the 1/2 Marathoners turn right around 3rd Street in downtown Louisville.  They still have a lot of race to go…while those of us in the 1/4 Marathon are coming into the home stretch.

A 1/4 Marathon is a 6.55 mile run, just over a 10K.  And I love this distance.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my half marathons as well, due to the challenge and the stress I have to work through to run them.  But when it comes to races, the 10K distance is one of my favorites to run.  This was another reason I was super-psyched to be out this morning at this race.  Not only that, I have been a part of the Big Hit race series now for the two years it has been around.  Both times running in the 1/4 Marathon.  Maybe next year I’ll do the half.  We’ll see.  It depends on my training schedule as I have a much bigger race that I’m prepping for that fall.

But, the journey to the race actually starts at the expo the morning before the big race.  While there is race day packet pick-up at this race, I prefer to have my stuff prior to the big day.  I feel a bit more together when I don’t have to go stand in line and then jostle everything around, trying to get pinned up and ready to run.  It’s race day.  I need to feel relaxed.  Eat my banana.  Stretch.  Talk to people.  Chill.  Zen.  Get in the zone.  So, Saturday morning after running a few important errands (local coffee, picked up my gluten-free birthday cake, indulged in gluten-free pumpkin doughnuts), my roommate and I pulled up to Slugger Field in Louisville, Kentucky and parked.  We climbed out of the car and made the stroll to the stadium, entering through the main doors and stepping inside.

Now, I love race expos.  I think they are a great way to showcase other races in or around the area, and get vendors in to sell products to the runners.  But…as with a lot of the races around here…this expo had next to nothing in it.  The local running store was there.  And Jam Active was promoting the fall Tap ‘N Run (which runs this weekend)…so my face was front and center on the promotional backdrop once again.  A few local companies were there…but that was it.  You know…I spend money at race expos.  This is a great opportunity for businesses and vendors and other races to get out there and promote.  That’s something I hope they work on for the future events.

Packet pick-up was a breeze.  My line was short…with only one other woman in front of me.  And…my bib number was the start of that line.  Number 2500.  It was funny.  I was asked what my bib number was and when I told them, the lady in charge of that line went, “AH!  Karen!  I feel like I know you.  I’ve been staring at your name all day!”  It made me giggle.  I told her that now she didn’t have to.  And she replied that now it was Kristen she’d get to stare at.  I collected the envelope with my timing chip in it and my bib.  Then I was directed over to the next line of tables which had the drawstring swag bag and the t-shirt pick-up.  One thing I also hope they go back to from the previous year is the women’s cut tech shirts.  I loved that option the previous year, but they weren’t doing it this year.  The shirts were back to being short sleeve.  And I signed up to get a small.  I got a small, but it’s still freakin’ big on me.  I find this to be an issue with most t-shirts I receive at races.  I am not built like a man…so the shirts just look strange on me.  Doesn’t matter though.  I still wear them proudly.  I collected my swag bag and shirt and then…I was done.  With no vendors to really walk through, my roommate and I headed home.

That afternoon…I did my new pre-race ritual…and went out for a belated birthday lunch (my birthday was September 19) with my roommate’s family.  I chose to eat at the Mellow Mushroom in Louisville as I knew they had gluten-free pizza.  And my superstitious athletic brain now has my consumption of pizza the day before a big race as linked to my fantastic finishing times I have had as of late.  The big races I ran after eating pizza (or something pizza-like) have me setting new PRs and turning out a great race.  The one recent time I deviated (pad thai before the Indianapolis Women’s Half Marathon), the race went horribly wrong.  So…pizza it is.  Until that fails me.  After a delicious couple of slices of Gluten-Free Kosmic Karma pizza…it was back to the apartment for presents and the most amazing gluten-free strawberry cake I have ever had, compliments of a local allergen-free bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café.  Even if you don’t have food allergies…check them out.  Their products are awesome!  When everyone left, I picked up a little and then settled in for a relaxing evening.  Because I know how high-strung I can be on race mornings.

And so, it was another early 4 a.m. wake-up for me.  I got up with my alarm and got out of bed.  The first thing I have to do is get dressed.  Even though I was home, I had laid out my clothing for the race the night before.  As the primary colors of the half and quarter marathons are orange and purple (the 1/4 Marathon is orange), I dug out my Frostbite 5K tech shirt (long sleeves) and my really crazy fun shorts.  Problem was, you couldn’t tell I had the shorts on when I wore the shirt, so I went to my regular running shorts instead.  I topped off the look with some fun knee-high socks and my running shoes.  The hair extensions were purple and orange that morning and my hair was properly put up in pigtails.  One of the BondiBands I picked up in Dayton was my headband of choice…it simply said, “iRun.”

When my roommate got up, I poured us some cereal to get something in our stomachs this early.  Then I grabbed a Luna Bar for her breakfast later and my banana to eat about an hour before the race.  This is another combination that seems to work for me.  No peanut butter this time.  No honey either.  Just the banana.  And, with that, we grabbed my race bag with my change of clothes, the sign, and away we went.

Since we left with plenty of time to spare, we had no trouble getting to Slugger Field at all.  That’s how it always works.  No worries though.  This just meant we had our pick of parking in the lot.  So we pulled in, chose a spot, and parked.  Grabbing our stuff, we headed into Slugger Field toward where the packet pick-up/expo was.  Packet pick-up for those who didn’t make it there on Saturday was open, but Cathy and I bypassed everything to claim a spot near the ticket booths (and a heating vent) to just sort of settle in until it was race time.  We dropped off our goods and I decided to hit up the bathroom at the stadium then because it would be empty…and they flushed.  As I’ve stated before…I’m a princess.  If flushing toilets are available…I use them before I even consider a port-a-pottie.  I know…princess.  I can’t help it.  I’m a germ-a-phobe!  So, I did that and made my way back, glancing longingly at the crew that was setting up the beautiful Finish banner across home plate at Slugger Field.  I told the Finish that I would see it soon.  Then, I hurried out of the cold and back into the heated interior of Slugger Field.  Just as I settled in, a text message from my friend Nikky came through.  She was asking about if I was wearing long or short sleeves.  I told her long sleeves but shorts (because…that’s how I roll…or run in this case).  She said she was going to layer up.  I told her I would see her at the end of the race, when we planned to meet up.

Here we have the ever-present LONG wait to the start happens.  While I like not feeling rushed when I arrive at a race, the hurry up and wait game gets a little old a lot fast.  Runners…you know what I mean.  So, Cathy and I just stood around talking, watching as the first few runners filtered in.  Soon…there were more.  All of them were doing pre-race routines.  The guy from Fleet Feet was giving out free massages with a roller and screaming at runners about putting Band-Aids on their nipples and using Body Glide (which they supplied) to prevent chafing.  It made me giggle.  A lot.  Runners were now filling up the interior of Slugger Field, some finding places to stretch out, or eat a power bar of some sort, or just meet up with the people they were running with.  It was nearly 6:50 a.m. now, so I handed Cathy her Luna Bar and I started peeling my banana to snack on and give some time to digest (I usually allot an hour) before the big run.  We chatted and after I finished the banana, I got up to throw away the peel and then begin my own stretches.  This definitely got me loosened up.  I did what I could to stay warm.  But it was inevitable…it was time to head out to the Start line.  That meant…stepping out into the 43 degree morning air.  I kept my hoodie on, of course, and away I went.

The morning was cold.  And as we walked with other runners towards the start line, we just sort of talked about the previous year and how much colder it was then.  So, this was a blessing in disguise.  The signs for the pace groups were up for the race, and I said I was going to hang out with the 9 minute per mile club.  Cathy told me to move up to the back of the 8 minute per mile group, so I did.  She was a bit more optimistic than me, apparently.  It was cold, so I told her I was just going to run a comfortable race.  Get warmed up and go from there.  My only goal was to beat last year.  Despite having a fantastic race at the Rock ‘N Sole Quarter Marathon in Milwaukee and setting a new PR of 54:52, I wasn’t confident I could beat that here…despite the flat course.  I started to let my Garmin search for satellites as Cathy gave me a hug, told me to have a good race, and went to stand on the other side of the Start line to cheer me on as I got started on the race.

The announcer at this race was great.  We had a bit of a delay with the start simply because the time clocks needed to be synched.  So, once that happened, he began the big countdown.  And then…as I started my iPod…we were off.  I crossed the starting line, started my Garmin, and flashed a peace sign at Cathy as I took off on the opening stretch of downtown Louisville street.  Despite the cold…I already felt good being out and doing the run.  I love races because I get to run with other people.  Even if we don’t say anything…the camaraderie is amazing and it does help with pacing.  I followed the people in front of me around a corner and through the first mile of the race.  I actually didn’t even hear my watch beep at me.  As I came through the first mile…I didn’t see a time clock or mile marker…but I did see a group of people up near the corner.  We were running back past Slugger Field and some spectators stayed out to cheer people through the first mile.  Cathy was one of them.  I spotted her and the sign when I rounded the corner.  It does make a huge difference to see your friends and family throughout the race.  Even if this was early…it made me smile.  And, with her telling me to “GO!”…I was through the first mile and heading into the rest of the race, feeling refreshed.

I headed into the second mile, this time seeing a mile marker and a time clock.  The clock was wrong…displaying the time for one mile…but that’s why I have a Garmin.  I really wasn’t interested in my time.  I was taking on this race with a very zen attitude.  I wasn’t going to look at my pace.  I was just going to keep it comfortable.  I could have pushed it.  I need to start doing that more, to be honest.  But not this race.  This race I was taking on with a whole new attitude than normal.  Let the pace set itself.  Run your comfort zone.  Push only if you feel the need to.  And that was how I did it.  Mile 3 was upon me in no time.  And then…Mile 4.  I didn’t see a mile marker or clock here either…but I might have just been zoned in.  What I did know was that the big race split was coming.  I needed to hang to the left.  And all half marathoners were going right.  So, I moved left on the road and sure enough, I could see a volunteer directing race traffic to the proper route, a giant sign behind her giving the split information as well.

I turned left and could see only a couple of runners ahead of me.  I think the majority of people taking part in the races were doing the half marathon.  And as I headed after them, I saw the marker for Mile 5 ahead.  One more mile and then the last .55 and I was done.  This is where I can always taste it.  And my legs felt good.  My feet felt amazing.  So, I picked it up a little.  Like I said, I would push where I felt I needed to.  I didn’t need to, but my run was feeling so great, I figured why not just speed up slightly.  So, down and around the downtown hotels I went.  Then, around a corner and toward Slugger Field.  It was getting real here.  I was so close…I knew I was close.  Mile 6 ticked off and I was heading toward the stadium.  I could hear the announcer as I pushed myself into the open area of the outfield wall and turned to make the run toward the finish line.  I rounded the left field area and hit the white cloth laid out across the baselines.  I sprinted down past third base and toward home plate, where the finish line was calling to me.  My time looked awesome.  It was at 52 minutes when I crossed, meaning, without even trying, I not only beat out (by a long-shot) my previous year’s time…but I also set a new PR for a Quarter Marathon…beating out Milwaukee by 2 minutes.

I felt amazing when I crossed that finish line.  I heard the announcer say my name as I was nearing the actual finish.  She said, “And here comes Karen…with her pigtails flying.”  I guess I’ll always get called out for my pigtails…but that’s my racing style…and it won’t change unless I drastically cut my hair.  LOL!  I received my finisher’s medal and continued on to where I saw Cathy, shaking the cow bell and waving the sign at me.  I threw my arms up in victory.  She said something like, “Holy crap!”  And then she told me to go get my stuff and to meet her at the end of it.  So, into the Race Recovery area I went.  I snagged another banana, an orange, some water, and a granola bar for Cathy…who I knew was probably hungry by now.  Then, I managed to cut the timing tag off my shoe on my own and head up the stairs to the top of the stadium to meet her.  I was bouncing with happiness.  I downed my orange and some water before posing in front of the Republic Bank Big Hit backdrop.

Then Cathy told me to go and get my results.  I did.  And when I was handed the slip with my name and time on it…I was shocked.  Not just by my time, but by the fact that it had me listed as 1st in my division (30-34).  I think I said, “Holy shit!” and passed it off to Cathy, telling her,  much like Geist…that was sure to change.  I nibbled on my banana and we headed down to sit on some chairs and wait for Nikky to finish up her run.  She said she would text me when she got done, but I was hoping to catch her as she came through the finish.  I missed her though because I got the text suddenly…so I told her to meet me at Results.  I went up to the table again and had them pull my results again…and I was still listed as first in my division.  Guess this time it stood.

Nikky found me and we hugged and congratulated each other on a good race.  We had a good time just standing around and talking.  I told her to come out to the BlueMile Fun Run’s on Monday (yes, Keith…I am coming back to those) and she said she would definitely consider joining in.  We discussed other races in the area that we are running.  And things we want to do next year.  It was fun to meet her in person, finally.  And we just easily fell into conversation, discussing anything and everything.  I got to meet her husband.  And after we talked and talked and talked…we all parted ways.  I wanted to go get into warmer clothes as I was currently still in running shorts and my lips were turning blue.  So, I grabbed my running bag from Cathy and ducked into the bathroom to change into jeans and my hoodie.  When I emerged, she was settled in near the Papa John’s area of the stadium where awards were going to be handed out.  And…as I won my division…I was getting an award.  The ceremony still had about 30 minutes until the start, so we cheered on the half marathon runners coming in for their finish.

Then…awards were given.  Three deep in each division…and then for overall men and women (three deep).  When my name was called, Cathy made a lot of noise.  I went up to receive my certificate to pick up my engraved bat once it was ready.  I can’t even express how surprised I still feel over that division placement.  I am just amazed with how I just set out to run a comfortable race and then ended up having my best one yet.  My actual award had to be custom made…so I have to wait to receive it.  But it will be next week.

The official results of the Republic Bank Big Hit 1/4 Marathon have me finishing in 52:46.  I was 54/486 finishers overall.  I was 13/322 women runners to cross the finish line in the 1/4 Marathon.  And I placed 1/58 in my age division.  Not only did I just set a new PR for a 1/4 Marathon, but I placed first in my division too.  This means that next week, I get to head down to Fleet Feet and pick up a custom engraved bat with my name, time, and division placement on it.  It was so unexpected to even place in this race.  I am still shocked…and thrilled.  Maybe all this hard work I’m pouring into my training is paying off.

For a race well run…I went to the North End Café in Louisville and treated myself to a delicious (and BIG) gluten-free pancake.  Just what the race doctor ordered.  Post-race carbs always taste the best.

And now…I’m ready to hit up this race again next year and see if I can do even better!