Half N Half Paved Half-Marathon

When a half-marathon is free, even if you aren't in quite the right place to run it, why not?! I initially planned to run the trail half at the Half N Half Marathon. We planned to visit Holiday at the Ark at the Endangered Ark Foundation to see the elephants and all the Christmas stuff. In order to arrive on time for the 1pm entry, we needed to leave the house around 10:30. I knew running this race would be pushing it to be showered and ready on time, but I could do it if I ran the paved half-marathon. I figured I'd finish the paved half in around 1:40, but the trail half would take me at least 2 hours. I was a little worried about how my bone spurs would feel after running back-to-back runs on pavement which I hadn't done in months and even more so, 2 paved races, but I knew I had a few weeks to run easy before training for Boston kicked off, so I should be able to recover. The race started at 7:30 and I needed to pick up my packet, but mom and dad said they'd drop me off so I wouldn't have to mess with parking and that saved me a lot of time! I wasn't able to eat before the race because my stomach had been off for days. I really needed Gu for the race since I wasn't able to eat anything and freaked out a bit when I realized I was out. Luckily Ty found 3 in his bike. I ate one before the race and 2 during the race.

It was a fun race atmosphere and April was running the trail half. We took off and a girl I knew would win was out in front. There was a girl who tried to go out with her, then someone I recognized from my Tulsa Run pictures, and me. We went downhill on 71st street to start and I focused on going out very conservatively since I had the 5k from the day before on my legs. I went through the first mile in 7:34. My goal was to stay around 7:30 pace so I could finish in under 1:40. This course is tough because it was really flat except for a mile long hill during mile 8 and then the last mile of the race is all uphill so I knew I wouldn't be able to pick up the pace in the last miles as much as I'd like. I had to plan on a slow last mile and try to build a cushion for that. It was so foggy, it was hard to see the people running in front of me! Mile 2 was 7:31 and I started really reeling in the girl who had gone out with the one in front. The lady in front of me passed her during the 3rd mile and I passed her shortly after. Mile 3 was 7:27 and I was closing in on the lady in 2nd. I went through mile 4 in 7:30 and caught up to her. As I was catching her, I decided it was worth it to slow down for a while so I could have someone to run with. The race was really spread out and I knew without her, I would be running totally alone. When I pulled up beside her, we started chatting. She was in the full paved marathon which was nice because we could run together without the need to race at the finish. I saw my mile split for mile 5 had slowed as I was running and chatting with her, we went through it in 7:40. It felt really easy and a bit too slow, but I really wanted someone to run with so I decided it was worth it. I knew with a 5k from the day before on my legs and the tough finish, I was better off running a bit too slow over running to fast early on in the race.

Photo courtesy of mom.

Official race photo

We went through mile 6 in 7:49 and I panicked a bit because that was so slow and would make it hard for me to hit my goal time since the last mile is so tough with all the elevation gain going back up toward Turkey Mountain. I dropped the pace a little and she went with me. I was so glad because I wasn't ready to lose my running buddy yet! We went through mile 7 in 7:34. Then we had to run up 71st Street hill during mile 8 which we hit in 7:42 which is decent considering the elevation gain. Mom and dad were all over the place, driving to cheer us on which was so nice. As we were climbing the hill they drove along on the road there to cheer. While I was running the out and back on the westside with no spectating options, they went to McDonld's, picked up breakfast, dropped it off at home for the kids, and then made it back in time to watch me finish! I was so impressed. They did all that while I ran a little over 4 miles! When we hit Turkey Mountain and the out and back on the westside, it was go time.  I knew with this course being long (it measures 13.22 miles),  I was going to be cutting it close whether I'd come in under 1:40 or not. I took off and immediately started gapping the woman I was running with. The westside trail is lonely because the race is so spread out and there are no spectators, but knowing she was close behind me made me not feel as alone. 

Mile 9 was 7:26 and then mile 10 was 7:15. I knew I had a 5k to go and was excited, but it also felt so long to go alone. Running this race with a 5k from the day before on my legs was easier than last year running it with a 20 mile long run from the weekend before on my legs. Regardless of how fresh your legs are, that last mile is so tough! I knew I ran the last mile last year in 7:48 so it was my goal to beat my last mile from last year. I hit the turn around at 11 miles and my mile was 7:27. I was getting tired! Mile 12 was 7:32 and I was mentally preparing for what was ahead. Looking at my overall time, I knew I wasn't going to finish in under 1:40 as my official time. I focused on beating my last mile from last year and was able to do so with a 7:43 last mile! I pushed the lap button at 13.11 so I would know what my half marathon time was. I was at 1:39:11 at that point. Then I ran as hard as I could to the finish line and was bummed to see the finishing clock was over 1:40. My official finishing time was 1:40:09. I don't understand why with this race being 2 out and backs, they would make it a tenth of a mile long! I finished with an average of 7:34 pace. I was 5th overall, 2nd female, and 1st in my age group. As I finished I walked over to mom and dad and we immediately headed out so we could get back and I could shower before we needed to leave at 10:30. We left the race around 10 so it was a quick turnaround, but thanks to Ty making me breakfast, we did it!

These pictures are cool, but don't quite do that uphill finish justice!