Mad City Marathon - Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

Very good course, cool weather (start was around 54 degrees F)

A little more endurance preparation. Try to watch out for drinking drivers more so I don't almost get hit and get injured during my training before any other races.

Walk around, stretch, drink some water.


Friggin' cramps during the last 2 to 2-1/2 miles.


Tony (2goggs) called me enroute and was waiting for me around 6:30 by the shuttle buses. What a Wingman! ;)

After getting dropped off before the start, the Port-A-Potties had long lines and were moving VERY slow. I was waiting in line for about 20 minutes (2goggs can vouch) and had about 2 minutes to get to the start. They needed a few extra stalls, or should tell people they only have a 1 minute time limit! I found my place around the 1:50 pace group, got up on the barricade and yelled out for Tony and brayed, LOUDLY, and had a number of people looking at me, like "what the heck are you doing?". Lo and behold, you couldn't plan this any better, but someone asked me "DONKEY?", and it was JoeRunner (Terri). We introduced ourselves to each other and wished each other luck. Turned out later, after Tony called me after the race, that he was with the 2:20 pace group at the start and had to battle his way up through the course, and finished around 1:44, 1:45! GREAT JOB, 2GOGGS!

I thanked as many volunteers and police officers that I could. It's funny that some officers are very pleased with being thanked, but there was a couple that had no reaction, like as if they didn't care or didn't want to be there, but that's alright - at least I showed my appreciation.

I also grabbed a 1/3 cup of beer that was being handed out at an unofficial station before the campus. Tasted good, but the carbonation hit me a little.

I was on target to finish within 1:50, but I started suffering with friggin' cramps in the calves, the top of the left foot (weird), and my left quad during the final 2 to 2-1/2 miles. I had to stop almost every 2/10 of a mile to stretch for a few seconds. Terri (JoeRunner) caught up to me within the last 2 miles. Good for her!

Good race, forgot about a couple of hills on the route (especially the longish incline towards Edgewood College), got hit with some wind a couple of times, but nothing major.

Saw a work employee and at least a couple of friends along the way. I saw the guy who did IM Moo last fall that had one leg (ran with a prosthetic). I stopped and talked with him for a little bit while he was trying to fix his leg since he was having some malfunctions with it. Very cool guy!

I saw DeannaS' jockstrappers (hubby and son) between the 10 or 11 mile mark.

I saw Schwammy past the finish line and she stated that Tony came in a little bit before me, but I couldn't find him. Tony left me a v-mail, which I didn't get until about an hour later since I left my phone in the car. I called him back and wished him a safe trip. Thanks for hanging around the Wisconsin area, Tony!

I didn't get anything to eat or stop at the massage since the mission was to stretch and look for my family.

I found my wife and 3 boys, #3 son had to make a potty break, and we ventured to the Brat Fest and had a brat!

I have leg soreness and will continue to stretch as much as I can for the next day, and will down some pickle juice and/or some chocolate milk (but NOT together, I'm not pregnant!).

I'm a little disappointed with my time, but still had a decent race. The hip bothered me a couple of times, but will make the claim of being under-trained again, just like last year.

EEEAAAWWW