flying pig half marathon race report
Okay, looking back at the weekend, I was totally prepared for the actual race, but totally unprepared for the city and the giganticness of the race (in sheer number of runners). So here goes the whole weekend in review.
I had to work late on Friday (til 6pm), so I didn't even get on the road until almost 8. I stayed with a friend in Columbus Friday night, so at least the drive seemed a good start to the weekend. Saturday I got on the road later than I planned, which didn't seem horrible for my plans, but then again, I hadn't reached Cincinnati yet. I was all excited about getting to Cincy when I saw King's Island and the new coaster from the road. (My name is Coastergirl, after all.) But I had different plans, no coasters this trip.
So I get into downtown Cincinnati, completely unaware that it was insanely crowded and has more one way streets than I'd ever seen. (Note to the city of Cincinnati: your street signs are inconsistently placed and you need to mark your routes to the highways better. I mean it.) So it took me probably 15 minutes to figure out where to park my car, and then figure out where I was in relation to my hotel and the Energy Center. By this point, I had already figured out I didn't have time to check in AND pick up the packet, so all I could do was get my packet and head to the FE at Buca di Beppo.
I finally made it to dinner about 10 minutes late. The food was good, and so was the company. I made my way back downtown to check in and attempt to study for my finals a little. (Like that was gonna happen, I know. But I at least had good intentions... ) I ended up going on an ice hunt and then went to bed about 10.
5am came way too fast, and caught up for the group picture at the stadium before heading down to the rest rooms and the start. That was where I hoped I was ready for the race, because the sheer number of people totally overwhelmed me. (I think my first half last Sept. had about 8000 or so maximum.) The wave of bobbing heads just kept going and going and going. I didn't feel like I had any running room for most of the race, like until the split from the relayers & marathoners. And I had to keep dodging people who passed me then settled in directly in front of me, forcing me to go around them.
Somewhere around mile 4, I ran into Ali, who won the Biggest Loser (4th season?). She was sooo sweet, and we started chatting. We ran for a bit, decided to tackle the hills together, and then we got separated at the next waterstop. I saw her at the end and got a picture with Pigipedes. (I got a kick out of that little guy.)
I realize I am risking my life here, but I didn't think that the hills were that bad. Granted, I have almost no flat areas where I live, and have been deliberately running some really steep hills on purpose out of fear of the pig's hills. But it was really great to realize that while other people were pooping out and walking them, I just fell into my training mode and trucked right up them. I guess I'm not a half bad running coach. I loved hustling down the really big hills, I think that's where I salvaged my time some. I saw I had a shot at 2:35 or below, but didn't quite make it. I finished at 2:37.32, which took a hair under 7 minutes off last year's half. So for both of my half races, I've PR'd.
After the finish and the picture with Ali (which I'll post once I download it off my camera), I went back and was thwarted from an ice bath by a drain that refused to completely seal. So after a long shower and four room sweeps to make sure I didn't leave anything behind (because I never leave with everything, no matter how small), I headed to the FE party.
I knew I would be asked my time, so I had to call DH to find out what the chip time was, since I knew the gun time. I had guessed about right, that I was 7 minutes off. It was also really nice to hang out with people who are sympathetic to the post race grunts and groans. (I'm pretty much surrounded by non-runners at home.) I think I enjoyed the party more than dinner, because you didn't have to yell or strain to listen over the noise in the crowded restaurant, but really enjoyed both. And huge kudos to Luis, Lori, his kids, and everybody else for all the hard work and planning.
After a quick (and absolutely amazing) blueberry pie ice cream cone, I started the 4 1/2 hour trek home. That was some car ride, that's for sure. I was really, really glad to get home, probably just because I could move around. (I even stopped for a sandwich in Columbus, but that apparently wasn't enough.) All in all, it was a good trip, considering I had no idea what I was in for with any of it (first huge race, first actual road trip for a race, first FE, first looong road trip in several years). And that leaves me thinking I might break a sub 2:30 half come September, which was my big running goal for this year, anyway.
I had to work late on Friday (til 6pm), so I didn't even get on the road until almost 8. I stayed with a friend in Columbus Friday night, so at least the drive seemed a good start to the weekend. Saturday I got on the road later than I planned, which didn't seem horrible for my plans, but then again, I hadn't reached Cincinnati yet. I was all excited about getting to Cincy when I saw King's Island and the new coaster from the road. (My name is Coastergirl, after all.) But I had different plans, no coasters this trip.
So I get into downtown Cincinnati, completely unaware that it was insanely crowded and has more one way streets than I'd ever seen. (Note to the city of Cincinnati: your street signs are inconsistently placed and you need to mark your routes to the highways better. I mean it.) So it took me probably 15 minutes to figure out where to park my car, and then figure out where I was in relation to my hotel and the Energy Center. By this point, I had already figured out I didn't have time to check in AND pick up the packet, so all I could do was get my packet and head to the FE at Buca di Beppo.
I finally made it to dinner about 10 minutes late. The food was good, and so was the company. I made my way back downtown to check in and attempt to study for my finals a little. (Like that was gonna happen, I know. But I at least had good intentions... ) I ended up going on an ice hunt and then went to bed about 10.
5am came way too fast, and caught up for the group picture at the stadium before heading down to the rest rooms and the start. That was where I hoped I was ready for the race, because the sheer number of people totally overwhelmed me. (I think my first half last Sept. had about 8000 or so maximum.) The wave of bobbing heads just kept going and going and going. I didn't feel like I had any running room for most of the race, like until the split from the relayers & marathoners. And I had to keep dodging people who passed me then settled in directly in front of me, forcing me to go around them.
Somewhere around mile 4, I ran into Ali, who won the Biggest Loser (4th season?). She was sooo sweet, and we started chatting. We ran for a bit, decided to tackle the hills together, and then we got separated at the next waterstop. I saw her at the end and got a picture with Pigipedes. (I got a kick out of that little guy.)
I realize I am risking my life here, but I didn't think that the hills were that bad. Granted, I have almost no flat areas where I live, and have been deliberately running some really steep hills on purpose out of fear of the pig's hills. But it was really great to realize that while other people were pooping out and walking them, I just fell into my training mode and trucked right up them. I guess I'm not a half bad running coach. I loved hustling down the really big hills, I think that's where I salvaged my time some. I saw I had a shot at 2:35 or below, but didn't quite make it. I finished at 2:37.32, which took a hair under 7 minutes off last year's half. So for both of my half races, I've PR'd.
After the finish and the picture with Ali (which I'll post once I download it off my camera), I went back and was thwarted from an ice bath by a drain that refused to completely seal. So after a long shower and four room sweeps to make sure I didn't leave anything behind (because I never leave with everything, no matter how small), I headed to the FE party.
I knew I would be asked my time, so I had to call DH to find out what the chip time was, since I knew the gun time. I had guessed about right, that I was 7 minutes off. It was also really nice to hang out with people who are sympathetic to the post race grunts and groans. (I'm pretty much surrounded by non-runners at home.) I think I enjoyed the party more than dinner, because you didn't have to yell or strain to listen over the noise in the crowded restaurant, but really enjoyed both. And huge kudos to Luis, Lori, his kids, and everybody else for all the hard work and planning.
After a quick (and absolutely amazing) blueberry pie ice cream cone, I started the 4 1/2 hour trek home. That was some car ride, that's for sure. I was really, really glad to get home, probably just because I could move around. (I even stopped for a sandwich in Columbus, but that apparently wasn't enough.) All in all, it was a good trip, considering I had no idea what I was in for with any of it (first huge race, first actual road trip for a race, first FE, first looong road trip in several years). And that leaves me thinking I might break a sub 2:30 half come September, which was my big running goal for this year, anyway.