Sunday, March 15, 2015

Montgomery Half Marathon Recap


Half Fanatics Info
I did it.  Booyah!  

I completed my streak of 4 half marathons in 21 days.  You can call me Jupiter {um...no just kidding}.

It looked like it was going to be warm, rainy and muggy for this race.  AND. IT. WAS.  It just sprinkled right before the start but -- Holy Humidity!  I'm so happy I did not run the full marathon that I considered for quite some time.  Whew!

It's natural to want to compare my performance to others.  I have to remind myself it's like apples and oranges. I know by running this many halves so close together I am sacrificing faster times (and possibly PRs).  I'm OK with that.  It's my choice and I love doing it. 

But, I wish I didn't feel the need to explain my times to people expecting me to do better.  {I just ran a half last week and the week before that...and...and}  When I do this again (notice I didn't say IF), I'm stamping my forehead DON'T ASK -- I'M STREAKING.  Or perhaps a T-shirt that says, "When's The Last Time You Ran A Half?"  OK - Enough of that.


I'm Ready!

Considering the course and the HUMIDITY, I was pleased with my 2:07:20.  This is a tough course with the first 2 miles straight up hill.  They roll along and then make another strong appearance starting around mile 10. The hill at mile 10 is so steep, very few people run the whole length.  I tried not to think about how muggy it was, how heavy I felt, and just run as strong as I could, saving a wee bit for the last couple of miles.  I felt like I accomplished that.



I caught up to my friend Valerie about mile 2 and it was nice to run together and chat for a few miles, until we couldn't talk at all.  I actually stayed with or just behind her until mile 12.  She gave me that extra incentive and I was able to kick it in high gear in front of the beautiful state capitol building running down historic Dexter Avenue, an awesome downhill section. {Thanks Valerie!}.  A few times I actually fought back tears just because I freakin' love doing this, felt strong and, yep, it looked like I would come out on the other side of this streak healthy. A WIN.

Valerie and I are working hard at mile 3!  If we keep our eyes closed...we can't see the fog, right?


I'll Nutshell The Race For You:

Thumbs Down...

Packet Pickup Disorganized
Holy Humidity
Long Course (13.32  ugh - again?)
Started Late  (Due To TV Coverage)
Difficult Course
Tiny Finishers Medal
Few Food Choices


Thumbs Up...

No Body Issues
Course PR by 4 minutes
Nice Finishers Ribbon
Good Tech Shirt
Visited With Friends
Completed My Streak


The last time I ran this half, it was held in October but the weather was identical.  They moved the date hoping March would be nicer.  That did not work.  This is the race where I cramped all the way to my rear end.  This is the race where they pulled me into the medical tent when I came across the finish line in so much pain.  I guess I can thank my SaltCaps for this one.  I'm very grateful to replace a bad memory with a much better one.

Did Anyone Else Race This Weekend?  If Not, What Did You Do?

Please visit my friend Tara who hosts the Weekend Update over @ RunningNReading


36 comments:

  1. That's a great finish time for #4 in 21 days (are you kidding me?!) and humidity. I'm so impressed!

    I don't run as many races because I'm so afraid of getting injured. I've spent way too much time recovering from injuries. It's so hard for me not to run...

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    1. Thanks, Wendy. And, it's so hard for me not to run. I just give in. Ha. If there was a half in driving distance this weekend...

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  2. Congratulations on completing your streak! The course does not sound fun w those hills. I wouldn't mind the humidity thought. I'm probably one of the few that likes running when it's hot. Way to go on the course PR.

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    1. Thanks. I can't believe you like humidity! Where is the air? LOL.

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  3. HUGE CONGRATULATIONS!!! Way to push through!!! Humidity is no joke - you literally feel like you have to take a bite out of the air and chew it before you can get it down. I am blown away that you were able to complete 4 half marathons in 21 days. I ran the RnR DC Half Marathon this past Saturday and I'm looking forward to not running another half for at least another 6 weeks. You are a BEAST!

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    1. Thank very much. I've GOT to remember that one. Chewing the air. EXACTLY.

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  4. Congrats Jupiter! You clearly love to race after doing 4 halves in 3 weeks. I applaud anyone who wants to challenge themselves in this way. What's on your calendar for next weekend? No races for me, but I did run a 20 mile training run at 10:30am to prepare for Boston. It is not easy starting a run later in the day.

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    1. If there was a local race, I'd be there! I've been following your Boston training and look forward to reading all about it! I would find it difficult to start that late too.

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  5. You are amazing! Congrats on another achievement. I ran a mere 4 miler and got a pr 😀

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    1. I've only done a couple of 4 milers. The last one was not pretty either. Congrats on your PR!

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  6. I think that's a great time in heat! Congrats Jupiter!!

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    1. Thanks. I guess I might as well get used to it for a while...

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  7. The first two miles are uphill?!? That's horrible! UGH. Congratulations on hitting your goal, girl; I'm so excited for you!!! It sounds like lots of racers had pretty icky weather this weekend; I keep telling myself that I need to go ahead and get used to this humidity since it's what I'll be dealing with for the next several months; definitely does NOT excite me, though - ha! Thanks so much for sharing your adventure and linking up with the blog; hope you have a great day!

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    1. Those rainy ones make you tough indeed. I was fortunate it was only foggy & humid. Yes, unfortunately we need to accept the humidity. We have no choice in the matter anyway.

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  8. That's a great time, period! You don't have to justify your times to anybody.

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    1. Oh, thanks for that. I wish I didn't feel like it was necessary. I must work on that.

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  9. Ok, you are way faster than me, but on Saturday when I ran a 2:18, I felt like I needed to explain to everyone that I ran 18 miles the day before LOL. (In reality, I'm not sure I would have been more than a few minutes faster if my legs were fresh.)

    And my race this weekend was the opposite of yours. Cold and rainy. We did have one wicked hill and then a bunch of rolling hills.

    Great job on mooning up!

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    1. I would have been crawling if I had run 18 miles the day before - so don't be saying I'm way faster! I think you are the only one that is close to my craziness with the half thing. And, why do we feel the need to explain ourselves? The rain is a total game changer.

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  10. Congrats! that is amazing! I ran a 5K this weekend, my second post surgery and I am happy with it- it is lifting my spirits and keeping me moving!!!

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    1. Thanks! It's great you are back to running. It does help lift the spirits.

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  11. You are just the Jupiter BEAST! I tell you! You did amazing in this race streak, I know it feels so good to be able to say that! That course does sound so tough alone but with the humidity added, but you stuck it out. Way to go! :)

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    1. Thanks, Tricia. When you get ready for a streak, just let me know. I'll be there. There were lots of them around here that were very close together.

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  12. I want to send a double congratulations! First on the awesome race finish this past weekend, but second on the 4 in 21. It's not easy to do so many races like that close together, this I know from experience. So I have to say AWESOME JOB!!!!!

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    1. Well, double thanks! The goal was to stay healthy. Yeah!

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  13. Oh my gosh, you did great! That course sounds ROUGH! I think races are supposed to measure long on your Garmin because they have to meet the distance if you ran the shortest possible distance of the course (inside corners, no weaving, etc.).

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    1. Thanks. I tried my best to cut those corners too. I saw several who really cheated. We were looping on a big circle around a park and some people just cut through the park. That's just not right.

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  14. Wow! Sounds like a crazy hard course. I can't imagine running the first 2 miles uphill then more hills at mike 10! Sounds like you did really great. Congrats on being even more of a half fanatic & completing your streak!

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    1. Between 2 and 10 are just small rollers, but the one at 10 almost makes you want to cry. Thanks. I'm more half crazy than I ever was, I guess. Ha.

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  15. Congratulations on finishing your streak strong and healthy!!! This race sounds TOUGH. What do you think your next streak will be?

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    1. I'm not sure. You get healthy, and we'll discuss! We can up meet at lots of races nearby. :)

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  16. YES! Nice job on the course PR and new course memories! And congrats on the awesome streak! :) Boo on that dang humidity!

    Isn't it funny when you find out people have expectations for your race performance? I run a lot of races for fun, with no time goals, and WHOA, people do NOT get it. Keep doin' your thang! :)

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  17. Thanks. Nope. They don't get running for fun, or as a warm-up, training run, or anything but all out racing.

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  18. Congrats on your streak! Way to go pushing through the less than ideal conditions :-)

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    1. I appreciate that. Humidity is a game changer for me!

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  19. Congrats on the streak and half finish :)

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