I should start by prefacing my stories with the fact that I ran this race in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, who raises funds for research to find a cure for blood cancers. The Society actually has what's known as the Team in Training, whereby they train people to run races in exchange for their help raising money. I did actually sign up for the Team, and I did raise a fair amount. However, in order to participate in this particular race, the minimum fund-raising amount was $2000(they set it up so a minimum of 75% of the funds raised go straight to research instead of paying for race entries and the like). Halfway to race day, they have what they call a recommitment date, where if you decide you want to continue, you give them your credit card number. Then, if you fail to raise the required amount, they charge what's remaining to your card. While I support what they do, I personally believe that amount for a local race was too much. The whole deal included 2 dinners at a price high enough I had to wonder what the food was going to be, private transfers to and from the race, and a hotel room for a night. After thinking about it, I figured I'd really rather the full amount that I raised go straight to research rather than renting me a hotel room I don't need (I'd actually rather spend a night in my own bed, thank you). So at the recommitment date I opted out of the program, but continued to ask for donations. I paid the race entry fee myself, slept at home the night before the race, and took the train to the race start. Thus, if you were one of the amazing generous people that chose to support me, I can tell you that 100% of your money will go towards funding research.
I might also mention that I have a little cousin that was recently diagnosed with leukemia, which is one of the reasons I chose to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. She'll be five years old soon and the little that I went through physically for this half marathon is nothing compared to what she's been going through with chemo and all the rest. Her name's Trinity.
All right, now that the housekeeping's done, on with all the goodies, 'cause I know you're all dying to hear how it went.
It went well. The day before this race, I was still unsure of whether I wanted to simply run this race for the fun of it, or I wanted to race it to see if I could post a good time. In the end I decided to go with a little of both. I didn't completely race the whole thing, but I didn't take my time or dilly dally either. Finishing chip time was 2:02:35, which isn't too bad, if you ask me. I think if I wanted to, I may have been able to post a personal best in this race, but given that I did that last year and then the marathon didn't go so well, I figured I should hold back a bit.It's a nice course, too. There was a bit of a hill just after halfway when the road comes up to Prospect Point, but right after that there's a good 2 km's of downhill that are just, to put it simply, freakin' sweet. On Friday night I printed out a map of the course with the elevations on it so I could at least be a little familiar with where the more difficult sections might be, and I remember thinking, "it's so short!" And it was. As mentioned several times in previous blogs, the full marathon is my favorite distance, so today was a bit easy. I could've gone farther. Not that I'm trying to brag...okay, I totally am. I can run really, really far. A half marathon isn't hard for me. Considering that less than 10 years ago I was a couch potato and overweight, I'd say it's okay for me to brag a little bit. I ran 21.1 km and I easily could've gone farther. There, I'm done tooting my own horn.
So now, on with the tidbits!The weather. It's always a factor in any race. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. Today, it was bad. 5 minutes into the race I was more than happy that I wasn't running the full marathon. Why? Because it was pouring. And it when it wasn't pouring, it was sprinkling. The entire race. It sucked. Thankfully I didn't get too cold, but it's still unpleasant running in the rain. Though at some point you do just say to hell with it and start going straight through the puddles rather than dodging them. There's really no point in wasting the extra energy, 'cause your shoes are soaked already anyways.
The chafing. It's always going to be an issue, I've just accepted that and moved on. Scars and all. It doesn't help when it's raining, either. There was a little bit of chafing today, but not much. Just a little around where the new fuel belt sits. Hopefully I'll have that dealt with before the marathon in June.
The other people. Sometimes I have a nemesis on the course, sometimes not. You may remember the last marathon when it was the 2 lululemon girls. Well, near the end there was one tall skinny guy I had to make it my mission to pass. I couldn't let him beat me. It just wasn't going to happen. I wouldn't necessarily call him my nemesis, but he was close. I did pass a lot of lululemon girls, though. And one girl whose friends was holding her up and she looked like she was about to hurl. I kinda wanted to yell at her to just get it over with and feel better, but advice from random strangers is often ignored anyways.
Glen. Some of you are aware that Glen has been working up in Fort McMurray for the last month and a half. He comes home every couple weeks for a weekend, and he managed to be home this weekend, so I managed to drag him out of bed early this morning to be my support crew. He's not the best with the camera, but he'll do as far as a free photographer goes. This time we even managed to remember his cow bell, though he wasn't very enthusiastic when I went by. He claims it's hard to take a picture and ring a cow bell at the same time.
I'm gonna pass you later. At the beginning of a race everyone goes out fast. It's inevitable. I've done my best in the few races I've been in to take it easy in the beginning and not go out too fast. But it's pretty easy to tell who is going too fast. So I just let them go, knowing that at some point in the race I'll be passing them. I never say anything, but I always think, "sure, you're passing me now, but I'm just gonna pass you later. So enjoy it while you can, but pretty soon you'll be enjoying a lovely view of my backside."
So that was the Half Marathon. Stay tuned, for in but a mere month you shall be reading about the full marathon down in Port Angeles. And if you've finished reading this and are interested in making a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, you can go tohttp://my.e2rm.com/
