Sunday, August 15, 2010

Georgetown to Idaho Springs Half Marathon Race Report

Getting out of the house on race morning is never easy, especially if it involves a 4:30 a.m. wakeup call. My body is simply not meant to function at that hour. Forget eating. Forget crapping. Ain’t gonna happen until my normal wake up time of about 6:30 a.m.

We hit the road at 5:00 a.m. for the two hour drive up to Georgetown, CO. Not an hour into the drive I feel the urge. We pull over at Loaf ‘n Jug. I’m sure you know why they call it that – duh -for all the people like me who stop there, don’t buy anything and pinch off a loaf. The jug part? I do have jugs, although it would be more fair to call them 5 oz bottles.

We made it to the start with time to spare. It was 45 degrees. Summertime in the Colorado mountains. Did the pre-run ritual of waiting in the porta potty line. Seemed every single person in front of me was in there at least 10 minutes. Since it doesn’t take that long to pee, I could only guess what was going on in there. The smell confirmed it.

Then we sat in the car watching people warm up. One of my favorite past times. My pre-race warm up, if anything, involves a 50 yard jog to get the nerves out. Other people, however, are more serious than I. They do push ups and jumping  jacks, they sprint, they even do this:

I’m pretty sure that this guy kicked my ass in the race, so maybe I should be doing this from now on before all my races. I am going to study his form.

I, however, preferred to sit in the warm car eating my cinnamon toast. I will say that I was sort of dreading the race. I wasn’t feeling the greatest (time of the month) and my piriform-ASS had really been bugging me lately. While this butt pain hasn’t kept me from running and doesn't jack with my pace or gait, it’s still no fun running with any kind of discomfort. In the back of my mind, I felt worried that by racing I would be jeopardizing my run with Dean Karnazes next weekend. I told myself that I could use the race as a training run, but my personality won’t let me do this. If I show up at a race I am going balls out, regardless.

I had to pee again, but no way was I going back to those smelly potties. I had Ken hold up a blanket by his truck and I squatted, giving many folks a gander at blinding white cheeks . Nice work.

I was feeling nerves - those moments right before the gun when you know the next couple of hours will hold a certain amount of exertion and pain. You know  you will want to stop, but you know you won’t. You might feel sick, you might feel elated, you might get discouraged. Chances are all of these things will occur at different points in the race.

They played the National Anthem and this got me into a more centered pace. The gun went off at 8:00 a.m. sharp.

The first two miles are through the small town of Georgetown, Colorado (elevation: 8,530, population: 2,000). This was the largest year ever for this race – 3,000 people in all – which made for some congested running through the narrow and pitted streets of this old mining town. Some woman inadvertently elbowed me hard in the left boob (or should I say 5 oz bottle?). Ouch, dammit.

Mile 1: 8:26

Mile 2: 8:13

We headed east out of town on a newly paved back road. I still wasn’t feeling it, but kept up the pace. With a cool breeze rustling the Aspen trees and cloudless bright blue skies, the day could not have been more perfect. Now if I could only turn around my attitude.

Mile 3: 7:55

Mile 4: 7:48

Mile 5: 8:15

Mile 6: 7:46 (fastest of the race)

At mile 6 I pulled my gel out of my pocket and my fingers grazed the good luck charm Emma had made for me the day before. I smiled big.

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My ass was really starting to hurt. I even contemplated stopping not because I couldn’t go any further, but because I didn’t want to do more damage. I told myself to press on to mile 7 and see how I felt. I slowed a bit and the pain calmed down, or maybe i just got used to it. I stopped to stretch at the next two aid stations. I knew I probably wouldn't beat my half marathon PR that I made on this course last year.

Mile 7: 8:06

Mile 8: 8:10

Mile 9: 8:15

Mile 11: 8:08

I was mentally really done. I’m not sure why this race felt so hard. Maybe the elevation or maybe my head was just messing with me. I told myself to hold back until mile 12, then kick it in a bit to the finish.

Mile 12: 8:44

Mile 13: 8:26

Mile .1: 8:00

The official race results aren't posted yet, but my Garmin says my final chip time was 1:47:36 (8:10 average). This is actually a new PR for me!! 21 seconds off my time of last year! Quite a shocker given how slow I felt I was going and those stretch breaks I took at miles 8 & 10.

Ken and I meandered around the post race activities. I rolled my butt on a cold bottle of water. It helped. This is probably the first race I’ve ever run where my stomach didn’t revolt at the end. I felt great. No cramping, no nausea. I could actually eat and took in a strawberry cream Myoplex shake for protein.

We met up with blogger friends Shana, Marcia, Tara and Jill. Really fun to see these guys and to finally meet Shanna and and Marcia in person. Catching up with other bloggers is great because there is no small talk. You just get right into subjects of erections and crapping right off the bat. Kind of like old friends. Here we are – Ken, me, Tara, Marcia & Shana.

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A couple of pictures when we got back to the car. Told you it was a nice day:

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Overall a good day. Time with Ken. A PR. Peeing on the ground. Clean shorts. Meeting new friends. Can’t complain.

47 comments:

  1. wow. a pr when you weren't really feeling the race?! you are one talented runner chica! i loved reading this and that is one amazing good luck charm. very adorable :)

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  2. Congrats on a PR, even if you weren't feeling it - great job!
    That video cracked me up; I see people doing things like that, too, but I never take out my camera and record it. Well done!

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  3. Awesome! And you look so casually, seriously fabulous.

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  4. Congrats on the PR, it really shows how hard you've been working if a PR felt slow.

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  5. Hooray on the PR---ya better be celebrating!!

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  6. Dang girlfriend - a PR when you're not trying!? I hate to think what's gonna happen in Boston when you're racing your ass off (or at least trying, assuming the Piriformis isn't kicking into gear at that point!).

    You look awesome for following a 13-mile run...I only hope I look half as good after my next half-mary!

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  7. Looks like you had a great time! Great job on your PR!!

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  8. Great Job - and a PR! Holy cow. I ran 11 miles today in preparation of next weekend 1/2 marathon. You will rock the run with Dean!
    Glad your tummy finally came around and behaved.

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  9. Great race and way to go on your PR!!!

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  10. Great job on the PR!!
    I also think that guy was channeling Phoebe from Friends for his warm up!

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  11. Wow...good job on your race and woohoo for your PR! Sorry about your butt, but yay for not having any GI issues!

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  12. great job to my out west RB!!! :) you kicked butt today! this means we are almost the exact same speed! my 1/2 pr is 1:47:10!!! whooottttt!!!!!

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  13. Congrats on your PR!!!

    Sorry to hear about the sore butt...but it certainly didn't stop you :)

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  14. Nice PR and great meeting you finally! :)

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  15. That video reminds me of a slow motion of Phoebe from Friends when she and Rachel go running, lol!

    Congratulations in the race!!!

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  16. Nice job Beth!! I can't wait for next weekend so I can't imagine how your nerves are holding up! Anything special you are doing to prepare? Did you find shoes you love yet?
    Oh yeah, that good luck charm rocks!!!!

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  17. Congrats on your PR Beth! It was nice to see you on Saturday! I hope you celebrated well.

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  18. congrats on the pr! i'm sure it would have been even bigger if you had done those windmill-thingies. next time, next time. perhaps you and dean can do them?

    your arms are rockin' - got any tips?

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  19. Great race! That drive would have made me a nervous wreck. Congrats on the PR. It looks like a beautiful day for a race.

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  20. Uh yeah--I'd say that's a day worthy of a few drinks, not complaints! Way to go.

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  21. Great race report although I wish there was a pic of you peeing by the truck... I am sure I could find it on someone's blog who also ran that race:

    "I guess the lines were so long that this chic decided to "cop-a-squat" next to her truck. A man held a blanket, but those white cheeks were in full view. When you gotta go, you gotta go!

    But wait... I think those cheeks belong to that super start runner who will be running with Dean next week... I CANNOT BELIEVE it is her.. and her cheeks!

    I didn't ask for an autograph because she was... well, busy!"

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  22. Those PRs are such a pain in the ass!

    CONGRATS :D

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  23. Nice race and report, well done with the PR! Most of my PR's came when I just ran and wasn't pushing for or expecting it.

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  24. PR! Rock on with your bad self!

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  25. Awesome work and congrats on the PR!! I'm going to have give that new "arm warm up" routine a try. LOL! So glad you got that video. hahahaha!

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  26. Funny video! I like the idea of doing a quick 50 yard jog. Ease the tension a bit. OMG, I LOVE That bracelet!! I want one!

    Congrats on PR!

    S

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  27. "peeing on the ground" - omg, Beth, only you. ;)

    Congrats on the PR!! Huge victory, no matter what the conditions!

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  28. I did that race too! Wish I would have known to look for you, although you finished almost 25 minutes faster :D

    Great job on the race, and yeah, SLOW folks in the port-o-potty.

    Congrats on PR!!

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  29. Congrats on the PR! I just passed on a chance to go to Leadville 100; I could've picked up my non-Vicodin pain reliever in person (and it would come in handy right aout now).

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  30. Those sound like the perfect conditions for a race - minus the elevation! Great job on the PR! Love the bracelet Emma made you :)

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  31. loved seeing all of your race reports. And congrats on a PR! That's always fun!

    And loved that y'all had a bloggy hook up!

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  32. Great race! You look great. 5oz bottles never looked so good!

    Congrats on the PR!

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  33. Congrats on the PR! Awesome pace, especially given that you had to stop a couple of times. Sounds like a nice place to run. 45 degrees?!?!?

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  34. Great run and gorgeous scenery. Colorado sure is a beautiful state.

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  35. great job pushing through and getting a PR too boot!! woo hoo!

    loooove the good luck charm, what a sweetie!

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  36. That charm is the most precious thing I have ever seen! So sweet!

    Congrats on the PR and a crapless run! Woot woot!

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  37. Congrats on the PR!!! looks like a great run on a gorgeous day!

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  38. Whoo hoo!! Nice PR! And not crapping yourself is always a plus in my book ;)

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  39. a few things:

    1. CONGRATS on the PR!!
    2. I can't poop any before 6 or 7 either :(
    3. I smiled when I read the part about the good luck charm too :)

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  40. Awesome job PRing even under the circumstances. Looks we run about the same pace ~ I wish I could join you on a run so you could make me laugh about poop the entire way and I could share all of my fart stories. Did I go too far?

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  41. aw congrats on the PR...that is always such an amazing feeling. and such a cute good luck charm your daughter made for you!! how sweet! the race photos came out very nice. my sister and i were thinking about each making our own scrap book full for each race and such. good way to remember all the good (and bad) times!

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  42. Hey SUAR! Great job on your race! I actually saw your finish, before you take out a restraining order, know that you came in 3 minutes before my hubby. I am bummed that I couldn't race too, I had a bib and everything but I was side lined by a knee injury...lame.

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