Williams Route 66 2010 half

The Runners World Family pre 2010 Williams Marathon / Half and Relay

My running buddy and running fashion designer (link coming soon) was kind enough to give me a ride to the race. We met the Runners world family at o'dark thirty and began to wait with nervous anticipation. And many silly faces - mainly me.  It was a warm - muggy day and I have repeatedly referred to it as "swamp like conditions" Mid 70's and high humidity - NOT ideal race conditions.

 

After the prayers and National Anthem we were off

The first few miles seemed to fly by. At mile 5ish we saw my parents and RW buddies cheering us on. As you can see by the photo my face is flushed due to the heat / humidity.  Right along in here  my first gu was kicking in and we powered on.

The course has several rolling hills and by mile 7 I was a bit of a hot mess. I had just taken gu 2 when I saw a nice man who had pulled his garden hose out to the street to shower hot runners as they ran past - I took a run thru and was very refreshed. The homes in this stretch were great to look at but the part I enjoyed the most was the people, one guy was sitting on his front steps playing the bongo and his kid had a tambourine - some residents put out funny signs - it was great! I shouted many thank yous to the spectators!

Just after crossing the 21st street bridge my ipod took a turn for the worse, this was about mile 8 or 9... could this have had anything to do with my shower at mile 7? Probably. By mile 10 it was dead. This was the first time I had NO music on my run and I was not preforming well. This coupled with the woman who was exactly my pace wearing nearly a gallon of perfume (I am allergic to most perfumes and my nose runs like crazy when I am around it) I was not in a 'happy place' and was lobbing some pointed comments about oxygen and perfume. Needles to say I was a bit of a pain to my running buddies - sorry! We had hit the portion of the race where we do a out and back on riverside. I run riverside a lot - sometimes 4 times in one week. I know where I am and how far I have to go at any given point - this sucks for a race. I saw my buddy holding a sign reading "Run this bitch" and that gave me a little push and I was good for about another mile.

As you can see by the above photo by mile 11 I was mentally and physically toast.  The upside to this was that the woman with the perfume was no longer near me.

 

Just as we neared the turn around I saw the TATUR Trailer parked along the course and Brian stationed at the turn point to prevent the half from going too far or the full from going too short (although he did try to get me to take the full lane and not the half). That lifted my spirits and I was up and running again. To the little kid with the sign "this parade sucks!" you made me laugh for quite a few blocks, thanks!

I crossed the finish line at 3:02:17. I had really wanted to finish in under 3. But the humidity just took it out of me. In any case, I did it! I finished my first half-crazy run! And I was pretty darn proud of my self. And I got a medal that spins. This time next yer I hope to have my first full marathon medal hanging around my neck!

And on that note I took a much needed break with a massage and a beer - (yes it was Anheuser Bush - don't judge me. It was free.) 


After a few days of waddling every where I went I am now back to normal and training for my next half while getting my dad ready for his first 5K. After seeing the half he decided he wants to run too!