It was the Haunted Hustle in Middleton, WI. I went in thinking I would take what I got (of course, I never really am 'okay' with it if my time is one of my worst) since I have been pretty hard on my body in the last week (What happens at the Fall 50, Stays at the Fall 50). Plus I needed to do a 17 mile run as part of my Disney Marathon training. So before the half began, I ran 4 miles - easy, but 4 miles none the less.
It was a chilly (32 degrees) and breezier than I expected. I opted to wear a t-shirt and then a long sleeve over it. When we started out, I was a bit worried that I was going to be too warm and no good way to take a layer off without a major hassle. But it turned out okay. In the shade I was fine and I was worried when we got in the sun I would heat up, but the very cool breeze actually made it cooler in the open than in the shade.
They encourage costumes and there were a lot of them. The most memorable was a guy just wearing a speedo sized, tiger striped swim suit with a tail. Yep, that was it. And it was COLD. I didn't get to see if the Seinfeld theory of "shrinkage" held true since I didn't notice him until I saw his tail. Happily its was a situation where the speedo looked good ;-). But I still shiver thinking about it. I guess it is an easy way to prevent bleeding nipples. Oy!
It also seemed like the average age was a big younger then other halves I have been too. Not sure if that was because it was in Madison or the Halloween theme attracted them. The numbers in the female age divisions show it too: 20-29:341, 30-39: 347, 40-49:215.
The course was very beautiful, but very challenging. Hillier than I expected, but only one monster which was at the beginning. Most of it winds through a Pleasant Branch Nature Preserve which I never new was so long. It was truly cool to be running through a little stream valley and see all the steam from our breath rising up in the morning sun. The negatives of this beautiful course were at times there was two way traffic on a narrow path which made passing very difficult. Also the frost on the wood bridges was pretty darn slippery - which was beyond their control. They did put salt on it, but I think sand would have been better.
I started out at my usual turtle pace for the first three miles (pace 9:12, 8:56, 8:54), but I seemed to warm up sooner (probably because of my 4 mile run) and then my double caffeine gu kicked in. I cruised miles 4-7 (8:37, 8:35, 8:20!, 8:39) and then I felt my first gu evaporate. I had another one about mile 6.5 and thank goodness I did otherwise the last half was going to be a big ole bummer and mile 8 showed it - back up to a 8:58 - ugh. At that point it was hard not to say - oh well - wasn't expecting much from this one anyway. And I still struggled through mile 9 & 10, but they were a tiny bit faster and under 9:00 (8:50 and 8:51). I was paying for that 8:20 for mile 6. Then I new the end was near and was able to bring up the pace for then end (8:44, 8:39 and 8:41) AND that last .1 of mile was 8:24 (it was all down hill). Believe me, those last 3 miles I did NOT feel like I was running that pace. No matter how many halfs I have run, it is still hard to remember that even if I feel great, if it is before the halfway point I probably am going to pay for it. Thank goodness for the double caffeine gu!
I can't say much about the post race. Or what I can say about it is lines, lines, line. This was the second running of this race and I think they got overwhelmed by the number of participants. It started at the expo when they only had one cashier that could take credit cards which = LONG line. Yes, I stood in it. The pre race wasn't bad. A lot of porta potties and there were the usual lines. (The guy in front of our line got quite a negative reaction from those behind him when he let woman in the next line over use our porta potty AND she was not quick!) Lesson for all you guys - when you are at the front of a long porta potty line it is NOT the time to let ladies go first (unless they are behind you in YOUR line).
The long line trend continued at the post race party. LONG line to get a beer - one small table handing out glasses (COME ON!). Another long snaky line to get at food. Ugh. But that is my only complaint and hopefully next year they will have figured it out.
It is a fun run, but not one to expect to PR on.
So, my November run is in Norwalk NEXT Sunday! And today I figured out my December half which was stumping me. It was looking like I was going to have to have the lowest attended half marathon (1) right here in Sparta. But I found a half 30 minutes away from my Mom's winter home in Texas. And with two airline tickets that needed to be used up by December 22, it seemed like a match made in heaven. So I am registered for the Fiesta Half on Dec 11 in McAllen Texas. I will be cutting it a bit close since I am flying in at 5:00 the night before (Mom might have to do packet pick up for me!) and of course I am already worrying about running in the heat after being acclimated to Wisconsin winter weather. The great thing is that it falls on a rest weekend in my marathon training plan and I am scheduled to do 12 miles that weekend. So, no worries about missing a long run.
