Race Report: Wisconsin Half Marathon

So with the culmination of the "Birthday Month of Running All the Races" you'd think I'd be done racing for a while. You'd be wrong! On May 4, I ran the WI half marathon for the third year in a row.

And even better? I got to spend the weekend with ALL THE KIMS! On Friday afternoon, Kim (who graciously let us stay with her during the Veteran's Marathon last Fall) and Kim (who spectated that race for us with her son Miles, who had probably the MOST apropos race sign ever) drove up from Indiana. They didn't make fun of me for not cleaning my house and didn't mind going out to eat (Olive Garden! Yum!) and didn't mind my crazy gaggle of kids (Julia was thrilled to have more girls to love on). Which means I will love them forever!

Friday night was an early one, and race morning was uncomplicated (the benefit to living so near a race). We got there just as I'd planned, but I think this race has grown - it took forever to get through the potty lines and we barely had time for a quick blogger picture (which i don't have...fail). I didn't even get to see Kim (ALL THE KIMS!) as she prepped to smash her half marathon PR! I was stressing about meeting up with my friend Sarah. You see, I was pacing her to her first half marathon finish, which I totally couldn't do if I couldn't FIND HER.

Luckily, we met up 4 minutes before the start, tucked in to the 10:00 minute mile corral and were off without a problem. Sarah's goal for the day was the obvious one - finish - but I knew (and told her) that I was confident that she could finish between 2:15 and 2:20. We started slow on purpose (WIN!) and settled into a pace in the 10:20s and NEVER STRAYED. Sarah is a freaking ROCK STAR.

I love everything about this course (which I guess is why I keep going back to it). The first few miles through town were effortless and chatty. We were having fun. Then we headed north along the lake on the out and back section.  The weather was amazing and for the first time running this race, I actually could see the lake! This is my favorite part of the course - I spend all my focus on looking for my people. Well, my people and my feet - there are some giant potholes at the beginning of this part. But I probably knew 40 people running that day, so I spent a lot of time scanning the crowd and waving.

I carried NOTHING with me except a gu in my pocket. I felt naked - like something was missing. And when I stopped for water at the 6 mile stop, the volunteer HANDED ME AN EMPTY CUP. Doh. Not turning around and going back. But it wasn't hot out, so while it was annoying, it was not critical.

At the far north end of the course I met (but didn't know it) Nicole and her husband. He was wearing a sign on his back that said "My wife asked me to run a half marathon with her for Mother's Day - Here I am!" BEST PRESENT EVER! Sarah and I had to comment on it. Seriously huge points to him!

By mile 10 or so, Sarah was quiet. And kind of right behind me (but since we run so much together, I know that this is what she needs when it gets tough). I just did my best to hold us steady. The last mile was really really hard for her. And I was really really obnoxious (I told her she could punch me in the throat but not til we were DONE). Haha! But honestly, she barely slowed. She has no idea how well she did.

As we came down the chute, I started screaming to the crowd that it was SARAH'S FIRST HALF MARATHON!!! They totally got into it, which was perfect. She finished, and even though she felt terrible, she was smiling! Here's my photo dump:

Flying preggo - she finished well before we did!

SMILING SARAH! and PROUD PACER!

Oh LOOK! more friends!

sad Kim in the middle

ALL THE KIMS (I was running extra miles during these...)

Me and Mark from EFitt who rocked the full

post race blogger redo (I stole all these pictures from Kim's husband Steven - best race photog around!)

Our splits (if you are interested and for posterity): 10:43, 10:36, 10:29, 10:23, 10:22, 10:12, 10:26, 10:27, 10:16, 10:32, 10:28, 10:19, 10:34, 9:50 for the last bit...

I ended up running 6.15 extra miles running the course in reverse and cheering for the speedy marathoners. It was a lot of fun, until I turned around and realized they were still running faster than I was at mile 24 of a marathon. Ha! But I felt great, and was truthfully a little sad I wasn't running the full. When I was finished and we were done cheering for all our people, we decided food was in order. Red Robin of course.

best beer ever

nom nom nom!

It was so nice to hang out with all the Kims and chill for the afternoon. And we ended up watching Pitch Perfect that evening, which I loved. I am so glad they could come for a girl's weekend and I really hope we get to do it again soon!