Sunday, May 19, 2013

Rockford Half Marathon Race Recap

Today I ran the Rockford Half Marathon.  It was my fifth half marathon and my first time doing this race.  My long runs have been going okay and I thought this race would go fairly smoothly.

The weather was forecasted for humid in the morning and warm all day.  I didn't think too much of it until we stepped outside that morning.  I guess I'm use to it being cooler, living by Lake Michigan.  I knew it would be warmer inland, but I wasn't prepared for how much.

This picture is before the race.  Weirdest pose ever by me.  

The race started at 7 for both the marathon and the half which is way earlier than I am use to running!  I think I started out too fast.  By mile 3 I was having some problems.  I was way overheated and starting to feel like I was going to pass out.  I told Becky to keep going, because I had to walk.

The rest of the race was just a struggle for me.  I had Becky in my sights for a bit, but she was long gone by mile 5 (and ended up PRing!).  I ran/walked the rest and stayed by the same group of about 5 runners the whole time.

I finished at 2:55, much slower then I thought before I started!  That just goes to show, you never know what race day will bring.  And it turns out, word on the street is that this race is always really hot.  Oh, well.  I finished and that is an accomplishment in itself.


Becky had to get a shot of me with all of my food.  I was choking down a giant bagel and they were giving away whole bags of this puffed corn stuff that turned out to be pretty good.  And we got coupons for a free ice cream cone from McDonald's.



Overall, I liked this course.  The race support along the route was awesome.  There were water/gatorade stops, people riding on their bikes handing out GUs, a GU stop, a sponge stop (where I told a volunteer that I loved them), and they even had ice at the last water stop!  I don't know if I'd do this race again just because I am not good in the heat.  I hate summer races and am glad for the cool weather here most of the year.

Did you race this weekend?