Cap City Half Marathon

Holy Humidity!!!  You can tell summer is already here with the mugginess that’s decided to take over the state of Ohio.  Today was the Cap City Half Marathon that took over downtown Columbus (if you’re into politics, it was also the day that President Obama decided like a week ago that he’d pay a visit to Columbus).

The past two weeks, I’ve been rotating in Cuyahoga Falls, OH (right next door to Akron), so my parents have seen me a few times more than usual in the typical year.  To boot, I’ve been on anesthesia, which means of there’s no cases, I don’t have to be at work so I’ve been getting done at like 2 every day at the latest.  Thursday, I was out by like 11 (my attending said I’d have to pace myself), so after a run, I headed down to Columbus.  I figured I’d pick up my stuff at the expo and a bunch of my mom’s internet running friends were coming in for the race, so I figured perfect opportunity for Greek food at Gresso’s on High Street.  After another drive up and back to work Thursday night and Friday afternoon after work, I met up with my mom at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Columbus.  Since we live about 45-60 minutes from Columbus, we figured we’d stay by the start/finish with people who came in just  to get more sleep.  On Friday, a group of 20 of us headed to Due Amici’s to do some Carb loading.  We had bags for all of our out of towners that included home made buckeyes, real buckeyes, water, Cheryl’s Cookies and an OSU bag (which isn’t so exciting if you’re a UMiami fan and still upset about the 2002 National Championship Game).  After some pasta, we headed back to the hotel and had clothes laid out, bibs pinned on shirts and relaxation before hitting the sack.

At 6:15, my alarm went off and I wanted to throw my phone against the wall.  Since everyone else wanted a team picture, that means I had to get up too and be there even though the race didn’t start until 8 AM.  Around 6:45, we met in the lobby for the Mom’s on the Run (MOTR) Runvention photo. Disclaimer, I’m highly single and by no means a mother.  I’m in the group by default since I technically started the Run with Joyce (RWJ) club back during by Freshman year of high school.  Anyways, the start was close to the hotel, but first we tried to get an official Cap City Half picture.  I snuck out early since I was the official bag checker (read, we were using my bib number to check a bag for anyone who wanted anything checked since I’d be one of the first done) and I wanted to make sure I had time to get to the start and all that fun stuff.  It was humid and muggy, yet cloudy once we got outside, making me think it was going to be rough.  After all the pre race bathroom routines and following the crowds of people to the start, I squeezed through an opening in a fence to the B corral.  The National Anthem was played and the A Corral was off at 8 AM.  At 8:07, I was off with the front of the B corral.  Don’t know how I was in front, but it definitely left me discombobulated because I was trying to keep pace groups in front of me.  Around mile 1, I stopped for a pit stop (my only bathroom break during the run).  After I passed the mile marker, I was messing with my head trying to figure out my pace.  The first 5K wasn’t bad, but the humidity started affecting me around mile 4 or so.  You can deal with so much mugginess in the air before it starts to mess with you.  There were parts of the race where I was straight up cold despite sweating buckets.  I hit the 6 mile mark in 57:33 (not bad) and continued chugging on while people were reaching over and around me at water stops.  The second half of the race, you could see the humidity getting to people.  People were on the side of the course stretching out cramps or passed out to the point of needing medical attention (my mom saw someone at mile 12 with an IV in crying and looking at her Garmin).  Every once in awhile, we’d get a gust of wind which felt good. Come mile 10, I was with the 2:05 pace group and hung with them for a bit (not really a fan of using the pace groups, but that’s just me).  By the time mile 12 came along, I just wanted to be done.  We hit the last aid station and I started looking for the finish, which of course, was on a hill.  Once I was close, I started my usual picking people off and then was out of any sort of energy.  I could hear the announcer saying something about someone military coming through and I slowed down to try and let them pass me but it didn’t work.  Once I finished, I felt like I wanted to get sick.  Nausea and cold don’t go well together and they had no post race wraps 😦

As I walked out, I grabbed some water and bagels before heading to pick up my bag and to meet up with the rest of the group.  I was one of the first 3 to finish so I had to wait awhile for everyone to finish.  My mom PR’ed by 7 minutes (woot!) and my dad ran on an hour of sleep (what’s with those babies??).  The last MOTR member finished in under 2:55 .  We took an ‘after’ group shot, one of which included the Clipper’s mascot Lu Seal and saw Stinger from the CBJ skating around.  After some champagne, we headed for showers at the hotel (I was squeezing my shorts out that’s how sweaty and soaked they were).  I finished in 2:07:59, 21 seconds slower than the St. Luke’s Half on Sunday.  At least I’m accurate right?  We went after cleaning up to The North Market (if only there were hamburgers) and enjoyed some pretty good food. Now, if I can sleep well tonight, that’ll be icing on the cake

So you’re running your first half, huh?

This past weekend I ran the St. Luke’s Half Marathon in Allentown PA and was reminded how much I hate their hills.  The race was also 25% newbies, meaning this was their first half marathon. Ever.  I ran into someone at Kathrine Switzer’s booth at the expo who lost 125 lbs and was running her first half.  This weekend, I’m running the Cap City Half (and was stupid enough to go for a run today) and it sounds like there’s going to be another good crowd of newbies to the half marathon running scene.  On the Cap City Facebook page, they asked for advice from the veterans to people breaking their half marathon virginity.  It got me thinking, so here’s advice from yours truly (ME, of course!):

1. Don’t show up at the expo 5 minutes before it closes on the last day.  Make sure you get to the expo with plenty of time to get your bib, swag bag and shirt and to take care of any unexpected problems (like your 6′ tall husband registered the both of youand ordered you a large shirt when you’re 5’2 and 120 lbs) or if there’s something wrong with your registration.  You don’t want to get locked out!!
2. Bring your confirmation sheet with you (For Cap City, go to the Confirmation Page, look yourself up and there should be a print button to print out your ticket).  It eases things up on you when you’re picking up your bib.
3. NEW ADDITION: Make sure to fill out the medical info on the back of your bib.  If something happens to you (and yes, I’ve seen runners passed out on the side of the course or taking breathing treatments from medics and having trouble speaking), this is the first thing medics go to.  Be honest here!!
4. Enjoy the expo!  And scout out free stuff, there’s usually a lot of it.
5. Carbs. And carb loading.  2 nights and the night before, make sure you have some pasta (or something of the like) to get yourself enough fuel before race day.
6. Don’t try anything new.  This goes for diet (so you don’t mess up your GI system) and sleep.
7. Get a good night’s sleep 2 nights before the race.  The night before race day, you’re going to be too excited AND you have to be up bright and early the next morning to get to the start.  Don’t make me get Bart Yasso to yell at you!
8. Hydrate before the race!  And by before, I mean at least the day before. You’ll be sweating through whatever you’re wearing and you’ll have salt dried to you after the race.  Be nice to you’re body!
9. Have a certain type of Gel, GU, Powerade Chew, etc that you like?  Bring it with you race day.  I don’t go anywhere near gels, I gag on them.  I always tell people (for me personally) that the only way their getting me to use a gel or a GU is if I’m being threatened with an IV.  For the record, I’ve found that powerade chews work for me so they come with me every race.
10. Traveling for a race? Check the weather.  Or bring a few different clothing options if you’re not sure.  Or both.  I usually have shorts and capris, a short sleeved and long sleeved shirt.  For events early or later in the year, I plan accordingly.
11. Run your race.  If you’ve been running 10 minute miles, go with it.  Don’t try and run with the Kenyans and Ethiopians- you’ll hurt yourself and you’ll be miserable the entire time!
    

    Don't run so you're looking like Homer Simpson!

12. Run to enjoy the race.  You only get one first race, so it’ll be your PR no matter how you look at it!  Don’t worry about times, you have the rest of your running life to compare times

Capital City Half Marathon

With less then 2 weeks before the Cap City Half, people are tapering or making the last minute decision to sign up. Yes, deciding to sign up- a friend of mine decided to sign up last week (and I’ve been known to do that too)!  Wondering what you need to know about the Cap City Half?

1. The Expo: open 5/3 from 2-8 PM, 5/4 from 10-8 PM
2. There’s an app for that: Use your smart phone to scan this pic or search for M3S Sports in the App Store
3. Corral Times: wondering what separates people in the A,B,C,D,E corrals?  Here you go: Corral A:<1:45, Corral B: 1:46 to 2:00, Corral C: 2:01 to 2:25, Corral D: 2:26 to 2:50, Corral E: 2:51 and up
4. Gear. You know you want it so have at it!
5. Last (and not least), make it the yearly runnervention with you and a bunch of your friends (or internet friends) and then have brunch afterwards!

 

Couldn’t Register For Broad Street? Try These Races Instead!

So Broad Street went from selling out in over 2 months, to 5 days to under 5 hrs.  Wow.  People had a heck of a time trying to register and frustrations were running high (as to be expected).  Messages are going up on the IBX Broad Street Run Facebook page of frustration or trying to get in .  So to save you time (and sanity), here’s a list of other races to consider

1. The Long Branch Half Marathon (NJ)- Takes place on May 6, 2012 and you have 3.1 mi more on us Broad Streeters
2. The Ocean Drive Marathon/Half Marathon/ 10 Miler- Takes place March 25th (5 weeks before Broad Street)- something I considered, but have visitors that weekend!
3. Asbury Half Marathon (NJ)- On April 25th; they have a 1/2 and a relay full marathon
4. Penn Relays 20K (PA)- Takes place on April 22 and is one of the hidden distance races philly has to offer (and the oldest!)
5. Broad Street RERun (PA)- May 12, take out your frustration of the Broad Street Run by running the ReRun and running in something benefiting hemophilia
6. The Oddyessy Half Marathon- One of Philly’s newer half marathons is run May 26th, 2012.  Do something workout related on Memorial Day Weekend!
7. The Flying Pig Marathon/ Half Marathon (Cincinnati, OH)- for all you Ohioans, run the pig! Takes place on May 6th, 2012
8. The Capital City Half Marathon (Columbus, OH)- Still open spots for the May 5th race (you’ll see me there!)
9. The Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon (KY)- go run 13.1 miles on April 28th and then say hey to some horses the next day

These are only suggestions, but hopefully useful!

A Runner’s Race Dilemma

I hate when I’m in a race debate.  Or a race ‘pickle’ as some would say.  I’m signed up for the Capital City Half Marathon on May 5th, 2012 (a Saturday).  It’s at home in Ohio, I’m registered, I get my own bed for a night and there’d be a bunch of food and massive amounts of Runnervention going on.  My issue?  The Broad Street Run is May 6th, 2012 (Sunday). In Philadelphia. And, to boot, I can register a day early (ie TOMORROW on 2/14) since I have health insurance through IBX (there’s one plus of it being the school’s health insurance).  What’s a girl to do?  Sign up for the BSR and book it back to Philly for a second double digit run in 2 days? or enjoy home for an extra day and not make my legs suffer through the drive or flight back to Philly?  What Would You Do?

PS: the Broad Street Run sold out in a week last year so there’s not much time to decide!  Registration opens Wednesday, February 15th at 10 AM