This is my most favorite race EVER. I first did this race back in 2003, when I famously left my bib number at home on race morning. My mother has a picture somewhere to prove it. There's just something about running on the North Shore - the scenery is gorgeous, and the course is interesting. It doesn't finish with a victory lap on the high school track anymore, but it's still one of my must-dos. The fact that it wasn't the day after Ragnar this year gave it major bonus points. (Not that I even did Ragnar... but that's another story for another day.)
My calves had been super sore from running and walking on the sand in Cancun (I know, poor me, #firstworldproblems, etc), so I decided to wear full out compression socks. SPOILER ALERT - they super duper helped.
I got to the race about an hour before the start, snagged a sweet street spot a few blocks away, and walked over to the race site, where I immediately spotted Nicole and Kirk. We hung out by the start line, and were quickly joined by a bunch of other Fanatics. There may have not been a formal picture, but Fanatics always manage to find one another!
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| Half Fanatics! |
Right as we headed to the start corrals, it started to rain. Like, more than a drizzle, but less than Nashville. People around me were panicking. But I figured, I've already done two halfs in the pouring rain this year, what's one more?
At the odd time of 6:50am, we were OFF!
Mile 1: I've run this stretch of road approximately a million times. Actually, the last time I did was back in February for the
Cupid's Dash 10K, which was also in the rain. I'm an old pro at this, OBVIOUSLY. Started off too fast, as I usually do. Best mile of the day. 7:46
Mile 2: The guy at the start line kept telling us that the weather would blow over in 15 minutes. It's 15 minutes or so into the race, and it starts raining harder. Two guys behind me go, "Don't worry, it'll blow over in 15 minutes or so." Hahaha. 7:55
Mile 3: FINALLY we get a turn, where we pick up Sheridan Road and get to look at HUGE houses, and one of the Ravinia gates (we previously ran on the gravel path behind Ravinia... but I have done that so many times that it's NBD at this point in time). 7:50
Mile 4: Yes, there are hills on this course, but I think my body is desensitized to hills after Nashville and Delaware. Which is a good thing. This course is tough, but it's a heck of a lot tougher if you let the hills beat you. 7:58
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| Having fun running in the rain :) |
Mile 5: I can't believe how quickly time is passing. The rain has let up a little bit, and I'm running at an excellent pace. Proud of my efforts so far today! 7:51
Mile 6: I should mention at this point that I had the stomach flu for the 2 days prior to the race. I didn't even drink my usual Diet Coke before the race, but stuck with water instead, because I feared that I was a little dehydrated. I felt fine when I woke up, and for the first few miles of the race. About a quarter mile after the last aid station, my stomach started doing the "Uh oh gotta go" dance. It was gross. And there's no aid station in sight. 8:04
Mile 7: I'm concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other, and trying to ignore the excruciating pain from my insides. It's not working out so well, and I am so convinced that I'm going to Paula Radcliffe that I crank my tunes up a few notches and just try to hang on.
Oh, and to make everything more interesting, this is the mile where I get to climb the infamous Park Avenue hill. Because things aren't difficult enough right now. Blergh. But I take it easy on the extreme downhill, and then power up the Park Avenue hill with my parts still intact. WIN. 8:20
Mile 8: FINALLY I see an aid station, and a smelly poo house without a line. Let me tell you, once I was done, I felt a thousand times better. Not 100%, mind you, but good enough to continue the race. I am no longer looking for a shortcut back to the start line to drop out, so that's progress. Worst mile of the day (well, time-wise, anyway). 9:42
Mile 9: Don't really remember anything about this mile, other than the mile marker was in the exact place that the Fort 2 Base race starts. So there's that. 7:52
Mile 10: Most boring loop ever, but we're in Ft Sheridan, which is pretty cool. If it were hot or sunny at all, I would most definitely be melting and be feeling terrible at this point. 8:02
Mile 11: I did the creepiest thing ever - the guy running right in front of me had the best-smelling hair EVER. I think I picked up the pace just to keep smelling him. That is weird. I'm going to hide under my blanket now. 7:50
Mile 12: Out of Ft Sheridan now. I see some of my friends on the turnaround, and wave and share smiles. I'm glad for the aid station, as I'm starting to get uncontrollably thirsty. (Glad I brought an extra water bottle in my car!) I'm killing this race, even with a toilet break. Pretty incredible. 8:16
Mile 13: Only 2 more little hills left. Everyone around me seems to think that we are done with the hills, then they see the remaining ones looming and groan. The wheels are starting to fall off the bus at this point, and I'm very excited to be done with this one! 8:00
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| I am awesome! Haha |
Mile 13.1: I absolutely TAKE OFF and sprint to the finish. This is where I famously ran my cousin in last year, in her quest to qualify for the Half Fanatics. I pick up my feet, even when the announcer tells me it's slippery on the way to the finish, and cross the line with a huge smile on my face, and a course PR of over 10 minutes. 0:40
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| FINISHER! |
FINAL TIME: 1:46:06
AVERAGE PACE: 8:06
LESSON LEARNED: Baby the steep downhill on the course, because as soon as you turn the corner, you hit the Park Avenue hill. You'll be gassed if you fly down the hill and try to go up right away.
NEXT PIKERMI: Chicago Women's Half Marathon, 6.23.2013
Once I got out of the finisher's chute, I walked back on the course a bit to cheer for Heather and Nicole as they came in. I didn't stick around after the race, because I was shivering after the colder temps and the rain, and I just wanted to go home and sleep. But we did take this awesome picture first:
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| I am *barely* taller than Nicole, haha |
2013 Pikermi #12 / Overall Pikermi #73
