Race report: Pandora's Box of Rox half marathon

[oswin]

On Saturday I did my first ever half marathon. It was so much fun! I did way better than I expected, especially considering that I slept really poorly the night before (and most of the week before). My day started at 5am, trying to get DS2 back to sleep, then I ate some raisin bran and started driving. The race was at a ranch about an hour from home. I thought that my race started at 8am, but apparently I read that in the outdated race document (dated 2015, almost everything was still the same). We actually started at 8:30, with the marathon starting at 8. Some people were even doing a double marathon and started running at 5:40! 

The weather was great starting out, but it got hot pretty quickly. I started somewhere in the middle of the pack and probably started out a bit too fast, but I was feeling pretty good. Within a mile or so I picked a lady to follow, to help me not go too fast, especially up the many little hills. We ran together for several miles, chatting a little, but then she got a rock in her shoe and I didn't see her again. A bunch of this section was up on a granite dome, so it was a lot of somewhat tricky footing, uneven surfaces, and the potential to get lost if you weren't paying attention to the markings. I was with another group of several runners for another mile or so, but then the leader of our group missed a turn and noticed about 20m later, so we reordered as we got back on track and I took the lead. Before too long I was running by myself, feeling pretty good but getting a bit hot. This was around the time I started ignoring my heartrate on my watch, because either it was off or my body is just weird. According to my Garmin Forerunner 935, my heartrate averaged 169 for 3 hours, using wrist HR. Usually I feel like the wrist HR is pretty close when I'm running, based on percieved exertion, but I just don't see how I could have been having brief conversations at that level of exertion.

I was very glad to reach the aid station around mile 6.5. I was wearing my Camelbak with 2 liters of water in it (and I had probably drunk around one liter in 90 minutes), and had been munching on dried mango (the sugary kind), but I was definitely needing some electrolytes. I had some salt pills, a few pringles, and filled up my 20oz bottle with Tailwind. I'd never had Tailwind before but I sure liked it. 

I ran the next few miles more or less alone. I got passed by a number of much faster runners, who apparently had gotten lost on the dome and got some extra miles in. There were also a couple of runners heading the wrong way on the trail. One of them had a bloody knee, so I guessed he was heading back to the aid station,  though he was running rather quickly so I guess he was mostly okay. I also passed probably ten or so runners who were mostly walking or running very slowly. Don't get me wrong, I walked significant sections too, mostly the uphill bits and more treacherous footing. 

By the time my watch said 9.5 miles, I was hoping the next aid station would be soon. I was out of Tailwind and was just fading a little. But I didn't get there until closer to 10.5 miles. I made it a quick stop and just filled up on Tailwind. I had at least some water left in my Camelbak, though I could feel it was getting lighter. The terrain got much easier after that, so the end was quick. It helped too that either my watch was wrong or the course was short - I got back to the lake by the start/finish around 12 miles. So I had a good finish. My watch read 12.22 when I finished. I checked my GPS track against the course map and it's spot on, so I know that I didn't accidentally cut the course. Even if the course was actually short (since GPS is not infallible), I'm counting it as a half marathon. 

The run itself was really quite fun. I like clambering around on rocks and crossing streams (I just barely kept my feet dry). But apart from the feeling of accomplishment, the best part was the little pool right by the finish. I got to take my shoes and socks off and just sit with my legs in shallow water in front of my for like 45 minutes. And I rinsed some of the salty crustiness off my body. I also ate most of the oreos I had stashed in my pack and drank more water.

It turns out that I got 3rd in my age group, though I think I was in a somewhat small age group, I did see a few more finish behind me. They only gave prizes for the top 3 overall for each distance, plus the top masters runner. The prizes were adorable - literally a little box of rocks.

Then DH showed up with the kids. DD and even DS1 ran the youth mile race. DH ran with DS1 and they walked much of it. DD ran hard and was maybe 5th or 6th. All of the kids got a medal and a toy. Finally we headed home. My legs feel fine, though obviously tired, but my left foot hurts a bit so I'm walking carefully. I tripped many times on the course, always catching myself mid-step, and there were definitely some stretches of terrain that were pretty hard on the ankles. I'll be taking it easy with short runs leading up to my 25k in two weeks. I believe that the terrain will be much easier so I'm feeling confident that I can do the distance. I was really happy that for this race I ate the right amount, I never hit the wall.

[sadlebred]

Congratulations!!!! Sounds like a good race!

[labbie]

Congrats on your first half and the age group placement, nice! It sounds like a fun race. So cute that you got to run the youth mile with your DS.

[mysticmuffin]

Congratulations on your first half! It sounds like a fun race.

[lilypad1126]

Congrats on your first half. I'm glad to hear you had so much fun!

[jene]

Great job!

[shauni27]

what a fun (though challenging!) race! congratulations

[sassystace]

Congrats, sounds like quite an adventure! Not sure I'd be able to handle the possibility of getting lost and doing those 'extra' miles. Glad it went well for you. The cool pool to soak your legs sounds awesome.

[hurricanedrunk]

Congrats on your first half!!! Awesome job!