Wind.
Cold.
Sun.
2:17:13.
A time I am thrilled about. I tried to drop to the 5k because I felt so unprepared, but it was too late. I you know what, I am happy that I had to stick with the half.
Packet Pick Up was a breeeeeze. Got my shirt, bib, chip, and snuggie (first 200 to sign up) and picked up some racing fuel and was on my way. No big expo or anything, it was great.
I ran to the start line, just slightly over 1 mile from my apartment, how convenient! I got there about 10 minutes until the start and just stood around with the other runners. Race staff were constantly saying to watch out for the ice, be careful, there is ice. "It is ok if you don't PR!" "What color is the alert level??" "YELLOW" we all replied. With a singing of the national anthem and the blow of a horn we were off!
The first mile was full of ice, slush, crowding, so it was definitely a s.l.o.w. first mile. Shortly after my mile alarm I spied Dani and we got to meet and run and chat for a few miles until I spied my boyfriend on the sidelines. I told her I was going to stop and say Hi but I'd catch up to her. I never did.
With a kiss of encouragement and support from my dearest, I was off and feeling good. Down the lake front trail, then cutting over to the inner path via Belmont for some wet gravel-y type of path, and some wonderful patches of ice in the 5th mile. It was also this mile that there was the funniest dog on the grass, watching us all run by. Well, not watching but rolling all around in the small layer of snow on the grass, having a ball. A great chuckle. Some more ice, a downhill, and a curve later we hit the almost half way point aid station. I grabbed two cups of water and a volunteer kindly stuffed two Clif Shots into my pocket.
It was about this point that my left hip was starting to annoy me. I tried to stretch it out, but it wasn't working. I think it was from having to alter my stride and form so much over the ice. I took a speed walk break and then got back to it. Now that we were right along the lake and heading north, the winds were kicking up. Rude.
Fast forward to mile 11 and I was spent, but I kept going, I did not want to stop to walk. The end was such a tease because you could see the finish line over a mile away and you think you are going to finish but then you turn away and realize you've still got a mile to go. Just before entering the finish shoot I took off my sunglasses and was nearly blinded by the sun and the white ice/snow on the ground.
I finished in 2:17 and I was so happy. And thirsty. But there was no water. Or gatorade. Just Muscle Milk. Blech. I grabbed my medal and headed home (I had to get to the lululemon warehouse sale!). Just missed the bus home so I walked the just over a mile back. Yep, that made for over 15 miles. The most I've covered at one time ever.
me and dani chatting just after mile 1.
somewhere about mile 11.
mile 11. scarf matches my undershirt. i'm cool.
sorry dani, i cut you out. :)
