First Half Marathon Race Report

[Aggie_Ama]

My first half marathon is in the books and was a great experience overall. I finished at 2:34 which put me 662/2955. The course was incredibly hilly, even more than I expected but I ran the whole thing except one massive hill and water stops. I didn't start to walk on the hill until the last 10 yards or so.

The Good
The weather was amazing, a little humid but otherwise I couldn't have ordered better weather. The wet winter meant an abundance of bluebonnets where lining the course, I love the bluebonnets! The water stops were well stocked and organized, oddly I was nervous about that. I also liked that every mile was marked, it really helped keep my head in the run. I ran most of the race with two sisters behind me, they were friendly and encouraging. At the end of the race they said I inspired and motivated them. Funny, I was motivated by the one that was the cheerleader for her sister. I felt great most of the run and had fun. Plus I finished with a smile which was my goal. The finishers necklace is cute and I will wear it again.

The Bad
The race was not that organized. I expected better for all the media hype and marketing they do. I would not recommend the Zooma race and although I enjoyed the run I won't plunk down $75 to do it again. When we got off the bus there was no one telling us where to go. We ended up in part of the resort conference center with long bathroom lines which I stood in for 10 minutes and a lot people. Just too much nervous energy, I seriously felt panicked around it. So my husband and I end up following the announcer's music until we found a huge group of porta potties with no line (go figure) and the gear check. We then walked towards the banners we could faintly see. They didn't have pacers as advertised and didn't even attempt to organize us by pace so it was just a mess for about 2 miles with fast people coming up and wanting to pass. At the end no real direction, it felt like we just wandered into the expo. The expo was cramped and not very big but oh well, I got a 13.1 shirt. The much hyped catered brunch was awful. Apple wedges, some cheese blocks and a bagel. I was glad we didn't pay $8 for my husband to have one.

The Ugly
The seems of my skort chaffed. I think it was mostly the humidity but maybe I should have body glided that area. The last 3 miles were on winding concrete through the golf course. I ended with one huge blister I didn't feel until about half way through that section and my feet feel irritated. Amazingly up to that point I felt no pains. After the concreate my feet hurt, my calves are tight and my back hurts. I probably ran 13 minute miles through it which was way slower. Most participants were saying they thought it was a rough way to set it up.

So overall, I had fun and feel incredibly accomplished. It was definitely my favorite distance I have run yet and it was a pretty course. I just had a little higher expectations for the way they advertised it as a "professional run race". It actually felt pretty amateur.

[colby]

You should feel accomplished! Great job!

Running on concrete after all those hills?! That sounds seriously brutal. On the bright side, you must have been decently cruising around your expected pace up to that point.

Treat yourself well tonight, tomorrow, and next week. Great victory picture, too.

[OakLeaf]

Way to go Amanda! Great job on what sounds like a tough course.

I love that banner behind you in the picture, it looks like a butterfly/angel wing.

Enjoy your recovery!

[Bike Chick]

Good job, Amanda! And I love your picture.

[skhill]

Great job, Amanda! Isn't it wonderful to finish a race with a smile on your face?

[katluvr]

Great job! Congrats on your accomplishment!

[hammertime]

hey way to go Aggie!!, nice job!!!

[kacie tri-ing]

Way to go! That's awesome! Sorry about the chaffing...I HATE that!

[Susan Otcenas]

Congrats Amanda!! Despite the challenges it sounds like you had a great time. Wahoo!!

[WindingRoad]

Kudos to you! Seriously sounds like that course was nasty! Concrete makes me cringe!!! It's making me worry about the Mini here in Indianapolis. We take a lap around the Indy 500 track and it is absolutely brutal! I'm praying it isn't super hot this year. Great job you should be proud!

[Aggie_Ama]

Thanks everyone! In a way the tough course made it more fun, you didn't know if it would get worse. I am giving myself time off until my chafing heals more, it is seriously nasty and with my sensitive skin I am just playing it safe. Plus my left hip is really cranky still so I just will wait. Everything else has healed just fine and I am looking for my next event.

One of the women on my bowling league ran (saw her at the expo), we were discussing our recovery last night. This was her second half and she agreed the concrete sucked the life out of her. What I forgot to mention was while winding you could see the runner snaking through, you wove through three times over so it was a huge mental barrier to overcome it. I did bowl good and our team won 3/4.

[colby]

Thanks everyone! In a way the tough course made it more fun, you didn't know if it would get worse. I am giving myself time off until my chafing heals more, it is seriously nasty and with my sensitive skin I am just playing it safe. Plus my left hip is really cranky still so I just will wait. Everything else has healed just fine and I am looking for my next event.

Have you tried aquaphor to help heal the chafed skin? It has made a HUGE difference in recovering from chafing for me, when I inevitably forget bodyglide somewhere sooner or later. I put it on before bed at night, after I shower, and sometimes before work (depending on what I'm wearing) and even if a little rubs off on my clothes or whatever, it makes such a big difference in the amount of time it takes to heal.

A friend of mine used it on her son when he had bad diaper rash, so I'm guessing it might be okay even on sensitive skin.

Stretch stretch stretch, and maybe some spinning on the bike.

[spindizzy]

That time is pretty respectable..darn respectable! Nice work. I hope you are able to evaluate on the race organization - they really should want to run a better race.

[rocknrollgirl]

WOOT!
Great Job. Congrats on getting it done! Excellent time!