The 'Up and Down'

I can't believe I'm still awake -- and since I am, I figured I'd get my race report up -- a race report! I haven't written one since October's Nike Women's Half! It's such a great feeling!


We have been absolutely spoiled this weekend by Mother Nature. Nothing but beautiful sunshine... so yesterday, I took my bike out for some quality one-on-one time. A windy, hilly 33k ride -- amazing.

It's funny how big yet small the running community is. I've been running for about two and a half years, and in that time, have made some very amazing friends. Today I felt a little like a rockstar though! Let's see, other than the group I met at the shuttle bus stop (Ann, Alvin, Sonya, Stephanie, Tina, Domenica, Flora), I also bumped into running friends Marlene, Mark, Patricia, Ueli, Jackie (or was it her twin sister....), Bev, Pete, Colin, Heather, Bruce, and finally got to MEET Marci! Last year, I somehow spotted Marci on the out 'n back portion (she was obviously on the 'back'), called out her name hoping she'd respond and she did!  Today, she picked me out of the crowd in the start corral before the start of the race! Was so great to finally meet and chat with her.


I ran with Ann, one of the runners I met through the half marathon clinic 2 years ago... the other half of Team Anamoly for the 30k relay race in 3 weeks! We seem to have a similar pace, neither of us are very chatty while running, and just run well together. 


The Chilly Half Marathon is appropriately named -- let's face it, the weather is pretty unpredictable this time of year! Wearing a UA Cold Gear shirt, a t-shirt overtop, it didn't take long to ditch my throw away jacket. We started at a decent pace, but felt my shins burning just a bit in the first 3k. That's when my mind starts panicking and going into a protective mode. I kept mentioning to Ann that I might need to start slowing down.... she kept waiting for it, but our pace stayed surprisingly steady! This year's course was an out and back, and I much preferred this to the route from 2 years ago. 


At 18k, we passed a church, where a priest was standing outside cheering on the runners. Ann asked for a blessing, at which time she got a huge burst of energy and took off ahead. It's so funny, because it was at this point that she surged ahead during our first half marathon in 2008, and helped pull me together in SF during Nike! 


I had no time goals for this race... I knew it was unlikely that I'd get a PR as I've only been running twice weekly, and haven't really hit half marathon training distances very much. I was still in my happy range though, finishing in 2:13:18. My biggest goal was to not be limping away from the finish line like I did in 2008, or in the medical tent last May. Mission accomplished! :)


I took off shortly after the race, shuttle bus back to my car, drove back home to quickly shower and change, so that I could take Terron to a birthday party. I snuck away for about an hour to talk to a good friend on the phone, returned to the party room to the kids' having pizza and birthday cake. I declined both, and the offer to get an additional chair. I explained that I didn't want to sit for fear of stiffening up more after already spending an hour in the car after my half. Do you ever get this reaction? You tell someone that you're a runner, or that you've just raced an event, a 10k, a half, or a marathon, and they give you a once over? Look you up and down, then react? I actually take pride in it. Nope. I don't 'look' like a runner, but I do it anyway!