Race Report: Wisconsin Half Marathon

I've only been running for a little better than a year, and I still consider myself a newish runner. I've learned so so much in the past year - how to train, what to wear, what to eat, what NOT to eat, when to push myself, when to back off. But I think that the biggest lesson I've learned over the course of my racing career is that you NEVER know what race day will bring you. You can do everything right, and sometimes it just is out of your control. Sometimes, everything just goes wrong.

But SOMETIMES, everything goes wonderfully RIGHT...

After my 16 last week, my legs were feeling pretty beat. I took a run off last week, just to give my achy shins a rest before Saturday's half. I was pretty excited about this race, mostly because I knew SO many people running it. There were more than 30 from the running club signed up for either the half or the full, lots of my daily mile friends, and as I said in my last post, lots of bloggy friends were going to be there too.

I had a really nice send off dinner with the club Thursday night, when I finally started to think about the race itself. I was still itching for my 2:20 redemption, and after hearing more about the race and course from runners who'd done it more than once, I was starting to think I could pull it off.

Friday I picked up my bib and shirt while James was at school. The race was held in Kenosha, WI which is just a short drive for me, and I was in and out of there super quick.

I hydrated with nuun all day Friday, and decided to go back to my standard Taco Bell pre-race dinner. Don't judge - it works for me, and with my stomach issues at races and runs lately, I wanted to go back to what has worked for me in the past.

Saturday morning started bright and early and went off without a hitch. I ate cinnamon cheerios and had 2 cups of coffee. The weather, which had rain predicted all week long, was STUNNING. Gorgeous sunrise and warm at the start. I wore my running club singlet for the first time, and capris, since my chaffage from last weekend is still healing. I made it up there, parked and found everyone with no problems. I porta-pottied twice before the start, just for good measure.

This race is touted as the "cheesiest," and in keeping with that theme, they have what's known as the "Cheese Corral." That means that if you sport some sort of cheese, you are allowed in the very front.

This is one of the running club peep's photos. I'm a couple people back in the center with the pink hat. That caution tape in the lower right corner is the very front Line. I think my chip time and gun time were off by maybe one or two seconds. It was fun to be way out in front! Well, for a minute anyhow, until the planet passed us. Don't worry - we stayed way to the right.

With a 2:20 finish in mind, I was aiming for 10:30 miles. I was determined to run my own race and not let the club or crowd pull me or push me. I spent the first couple miles watching the club people I was going to run with pull ahead of me, and really NOT worrying about it - RUN YOUR OWN RACE was my mantra in the early miles.

Once we all settled in though, I was running strong with a group of 3 other runners from the club. I felt really good and steady. We passed up the first water station, but after that I took both water and gatorade from each one. After a few miles, our group was down to 2, and Kate and I ran the majority of the race together. The middle miles seemed hillier than the course elevation shows, but we were handling everything well and motivating each other and just enjoying each other's company. It was super nice to run with someone who's pace so closely matches mine.

After mile 10 or so, I was still holding strong, and Kate was feeling really good too. Her goal was always to make it to 10 and then kick it in. I just wanted to make it to 10 and not die. So when she kicked in her afterburners, I tried to hold on for a bit, but I had to let her go. I walked up one hill at the end, and I could never catch her after that. But it was motivating to try, and that kept me moving for a while.

During mile 11 I started to struggle mentally for a while. I was pulling out all my tricks, and thinking of Emz, and mentally pushing myself. I started looking at the numbers and realizing how close I was to smashing my goal. And then? I looked up and saw my WHOLE cheering crew heading towards the finish line, and that was such a huge boost for me! I started screaming (they weren't even looking for me at that point) and they all waved and yelled and then I was smiling again, just like that.

I hit the aid station at mile 12, and I decided that I wasn't going to walk again. I kept saying, "you don't have to run fast, but you have to keep running!" I knew I was going to make my goal, and I was smiling so huge! The closer I got to the finish, the faster I got. I was going to make it!!

Coming down the home stretch - I promise I was running, even though it doesn't look like it.


Crossing the line, I saw 2:18 and change and I was so freaking excited! I finally ran a race where nothing at all went wrong. I made zero potty stops. I felt GREAT. The weather was outstanding during the race. It was all SO GOOD.

While the weather was perfect for running, the clouds showed up and without the sun, it was NOT perfect for hanging around, so I sent my freezing family home. I got my gear, put on my jacket, and went to get some food. In true WI style, there was beer, brats, and polka. The beer was good, I 'll say that much :)


We huddled in the tent and took some more photos, and then headed out to try to see some more people cross the finish. I unfortunately didn't get to meet any new bloggy peeps that day, and it was WAY too cold to hang out as long as I was hoping to. Bummer, but the only one of the day for me.

Later when I got home and uploaded my data, I was even more excited about it all. I called my husband in, and asked him what, if anything, he noticed about THIS:

He glanced at it, and in his best Spinal Tap voice, said, "These DON'T go to 11!"

My official time was 2:18:12. It's not ever going to win me any age group medals, but it sure as hell made my day. That's a 4:23 PR, and I'll take it.