First off lets get my complaints out of the way.
1)they place people in order of gun time so if you don't seed yourself in a faster section you are going to get placed BEHIND people that ran slower than you. My rank was 136/268 in my age group. I actually ran faster than 6 of those women so real rank should have been 130..whoe even knows what my real overall rank is..not a huge deal since Im not taking home anything in a half ever.. but this could be an issue for people that are in the top ten of their AG. Also some people like to do these races so they can compare themselves to others in their AG and overall..it should be accurate based on your chip time not the gun time.

2)put some effing GUs at the water stops. Its a half.. people pay good money to participate. Even itty bitty Colchester half had GU at the water stops. (My bad for not bringing enough with me.)


Now for the race!

I placed myself at the front of the 10min pace..its slow for me but I wanted some time to warm up and it was a good way to keep me slow to start!..not really sure where I ended up actually starting because we were pushed back about 3times so I could have been running in the 11min pace line for all I know!

I started out slow and worked my way down and stayed between an 8 and 9 pace the whole first 10miles. Had to do the bob and weave quite a bit for the first 5miles..when I got to the turn off for the 10k I looked longingly at it and two girls next to me said "hey last chance to turn off"..all 3 of us laughed and kept going. About 0.1 miles after that I got my first calf tweak on the right side. Its probably good that it happened after the turn off otherwise I would of chickened out and stopped. I managed to keep a full seizure at bay by running semi flat on that side. I was fine as long as I don't push off my toes..So Im running along and doing my usual switch off between sucking on cherry menthol cough drops and then dropping a GU and then drinking a few slurps of water off the fuel belt..I nommed my way through all my stores and realized shortly before mile 8..damm this is my last GU. (I usually bring about 6 for some reason I only loaded my pockets with about half that)..I hadn't stopped at one water station up until that point so hadn't looked to see what they had to offer..got to the water station at 8 then 9..nothing,nothing again..right about this time I look at my garmin and realize if I can keep a 9pace I could possibly PR this race..but uh minor problem in order for me to do that..I'd need some effn GU!!!...figured hmmm maybe I should hit up one of the runners around me? Finally at the 10mile station I found a granola bar and a banana..not really what I wanted for race food but beggars can't be chosers!! Anyway I was still hovering around the 9pace up until about mile 11 and then my right calf finally revolted all out..I couldn't push off it at all so was doing a left legged run and kept my right foot flexed the whole time and just slapped it down..I probably looked ridiculous and damm my toes were going NUMB!!..anyway so much for keeping a 9 pace and a PR..I made it to the end. Whats funny the past few months its my LEFT leg that has been bothering me not my right!! Anywho got to see everyone finish and have a yummy burger and beer with them all after..that was the BEST part!!





1)Not run a half when Im semi-injured.
2)Not run a half in the winter months when it snows so freaking much you won't go outside and train for it!
3)..oh and of course bring enough of my own gu to feed me and 5 other runners!!

stretched my calves and hammy's, drank some H20, hung out on the fence watching for KOM,Redsockschick, KathyG, and KevinG to come in!! (the 10kers in the group were way done before I got there!!) Great race everyone!!:)

Went back to RSC's room cleaned up..rolled out my calf and arse with the stick and then off to BBC for a burger and beer!


I need the legs of a 20something then I'd be AWESOME!!


post race expo and food area was packed..didn't even go in there.