My plan was to run ez, enjoy the experience, not mess myself up for next weekend, but still push myself to a comfortably hard state.

This was my first predominately women race. I liked so much of this. We did have a few guys and I liked seeing the few in the race; they were having fun. But I didn't find as much joking, casual conversation, and friendliness as usual. I thought a lot of people were more standoffish. You can't have a race without volunteers, police, and hopefully medics so racers should be acknowledging and thanking these people; I didn't hear a lot of women doing so. I was disappointed in that.

Weather was perfect and I wore my pink Power Ranger dress from last year's Ragnar. (Don't remember that dress riding up that much last year and I know much of the time, I looked like Hooker Power Ranger.)

Mile 9, we hit the north wind and it was cooler. But the temps started at 61 and ended at 64 so there were no complaints.

There was a DJ at mile 12.2 and I loved the music and felt like I was hitting a sub 2 hour race. But then the last part stretched and stretched and stretched for me. Why does that happen? Finally hit the wonderful people handing us pink boas and crown. Pulled off my hat, pulled down my dress to not be Slut Pam, put on my boa and crown, and headed around the corner for the finish line.

Wish I shave off 16 secs for sub 2 hour but really, I wouldn't have changed things because it was supposed to be (and was) a fun girl's weekend.

Got my medal from the shirtless hunks (Ooo-la-la, way too young for me but those boys worked hard for those bodies and deserve to be admired. They were also nice to all of the ladies.) and then got my champagne. And then another glass of champagne. Grabbed food and went back to room for shower. While it wasn't cold, the wind was chilling to me and I put on every bit of clothes I could find. Went back and cheered for M as she finished and then D as she finished. Saw several Tally girls there and talked to them; they had asked for and received one of the bottles of champagne. See, people in Tally are smart - aside from our d.a. QB


I didn't recover as quickly from Soldiers Marathon. Then I was just flat-out lazy during the cold and didn't do my mileage.


They catered to women and I really applaud the perks/blink. There was no food/gels on the course. Absolutely one of the most organized races that I have seen. And the volunteers were spot-on, amazing, and great. One hour after the race ended, the course and the finish line were spotless.

I prefer to go thru neighborhoods and soak up the scenery so I wasn't as happy that most of the course was on highways. But they did the right thing for the amount of people on the course. I cannot fault their organization one whit; they nailed it.