The start was a little disorganized. No one seemed to know where we were supposed to be starting exactly so everyone just kind of hung around near the port a potty's until the group suddenly started moving down the road, so we just followed. We heard yelling and the pack began to move so we thought we started but then everyone stopped again. We heard yelling again and then the pack started moving again and didn't stop. I'm still not even sure where the starting line was, and since this was not chip timed don't know how long it might have taken to cross it after the start.

The first 5 miles, even though I could feel my plantar with every step, went really. I had a good pace going for reaching my goal of 2:10, and was feeling like I could sustain the pace throughout. Then right before mile 6 we started hitting alot of hills and my achilles were getting really tight and painful. I knew my pace was falling off and the next three miles were pretty rough with hills, plantar fascitis pain, achilles pain, and my left foot was completely numb from the ankle down. I kept thinking at least it could have been my right foot with the plantar fascitis that went numb so I wouldn't feel the pain instead of my "good" foot :) I was thinking I was going to have to walk for a bit to get the feeling back in my foot before I fell because of it, but I needed to pee too, so I thought I'd just wait for a port a potty and let that be my break. But then a couple minutes later before I had found a port a potty the feeling came back in my foot, my achilles relaxed, and I was suddenly feeling pretty good again. Ran up doomsday hill at mile 9 with no trouble and found a port a potty at the top with only one person in line, still took about 4 minutes to get in it though. I would have just waited, but I thought there was a real possibility I might wet myself and it was way too cold to be wet for the rest of the race :) At mile 10 I though "it's only a 5k from here", and pushed myself to pick up the pace. I passed alot of people in those last three miles, but alot of them had passed me while I was in the port a potty line, so I was really just playing catch up. It still felt really good though, and my friend, who hates the cold so I never dreamed would be there, was waiting just before the finish line to cheer me on and run in with me! So, I did a final sprint at the end and crossed the finish line. I would have liked to have done it a bit faster, but given the course and my recent injuries (excuses, excuses) I was pretty happy with it. This was my 3rd half marathon and I learn a little more with each one, and the miles seem to go by a bit quicker each time too :)


More hill training. Not get injured. Get to the start early enough to use the port a potty BEFORE the race.

Walked for a bit, tried to find a medical tent to get some ice for my foot, but couldn't find any. Drank some water, and ate some animal cookies. Walked (limped) back to the hotel.


Planter fascitis, lack of hill training


The course is beautiful, the volunteers were awesome. The only reason I give it a 4 instead of a 5 is the lack of chip timing and a little bit disorganized