Holiday Halfathon, Dec. 9, 2012, Madeira Beach, Florida: race recap

When I looked at the weather for Sunday, I wasn’t thrilled. Hot and humid … in December. I guess that’s what I get for living in Florida.

But thankfully, I learned the lesson of not worrying about things I can’t change. So, even though I knew what was on the horizon, I didn’t panic. Even though I was wearing a cotton T-shirt with big felt pieces glued onto it, I didn’t panic. I calmly accepted my sweaty fate.

I did panic on the way to the race when I had to make two emergency restroom stops, making me way later than I intended. Thankfully, showing up 15 minutes before the start was enough time to grab my timing chip and start the Holiday Halfathon.

The Holiday Halfathon is part of a local halfathon challenge (four half marathons from October through March). I participated in the Halloween Halfathon in October as Mr. Potato Head. That gave me the inspiration to participate in this race as Rudolph. 

From this ...

... to this (although it required a new shirt
and new parts)

This race is a point-to-point race beginning in Madeira Beach and ending in Largo. The first few miles were along the beach (but you couldn’t see the beach). You then turn off of the road along the beach, run over a bridge (my first major hill in a race) and into a neighborhood, park, along a trail and into another park for the finish line.

I wasn’t running with anyone this race. It was just me. It went pretty well … for awhile. I stayed entertained along the beach road, over the bridge (I even ran the entire way up), into the neighborhood and the park. When I got to the trail, I was still entertained for a bit. It included another incline (an overpass), and I ran up it as well. I was impressed considering I’ve never really done any hill training (mainly because there aren’t many in the area).

Since it was hot and humid, I made it a point to walk through the water stops to make sure I stayed hydrated. But, that was it. After drinking my Gatorade (blech) and water, I’d start running again. I kept this up until about mile 8 or 9. Then, my walk through the water stop was a bit extended. Then, I walked over another overpass. And, I got bored.

I didn’t have many people around me at this point. I couldn’t talk to anyone else or listen to others’ conversations. It was just me and my dead Garmin watch. I’m not sure why it died … maybe the fog gave it problems with finding a signal. But right at the time I was getting bored and over this race, my watch died. I can’t decide if this was a good or bad thing.

I kept plugging along, mostly running. The trail seemed like it went on forever. If my watch was working, I could tell you how long it was (I’m pretty sure it wasn’t forever).

I finally made it to the park with the finish line. But, the course took you around a lake before coming to the finish line. Thankfully, people warned me about this so I didn’t have a meltdown when I heard the race announcer and had to keep running and running and running to get to the finish line.

I walked more than I wanted during those last 1.1 miles. I was hot, tired and over it. If my watch was working at this point, I wonder if I would have pushed harder.

I finally made it to the last 0.1 mile (my favorite part of the race), and I was able to run hard to the finish.

Making my way to the finish (look for the big red nose and antlers)

Almost there (look for the brown shirt and antlers)

My time: 2:41:10. Blah. Still not my worst, still not my best, but my best this training cycle. It didn’t feel like my best, which gives me hope. I know I have a better time in me waiting to get out. At some point, I’m going to get closer to (and pass) that sweet 2:33:39 that I ran during the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in February of this year. This just wasn’t the race. The pesky heat and humidity had a lot to do with that.

Denise found me at the finish, and we took a photo after I tried to cool down a bit (I don’t think I cooled down much … I was a sweaty mess). 

Overall, I really liked this race. I love that it was a point-to-point race. I liked actually making progress and ending up 13.1 miles from where I started. Thankfully, I had transportation to the start and a pickup at the finish. Thanks, boyfriend!

If you didn’t have transportation, they did have a shuttle that ran from the finish to the start. I’m glad I didn’t have to deal with that. I was hot, sweaty and tired and the last thing I’d want to do is wait on a shuttle back to my car (with a bunch of other hot, sweaty and tired people).

I loved the holiday theme and seeing Santa, reindeer and lots of red and green on the course. And I love the holiday-themed medal.

Too bad I’m not fast, I could lead the pack as Rudolph.

Happy Costumes!

I absolutely love Halloween ... mainly because it involves costumes. 

This year I had three costumes.

Black Swan-inspired ballerina

First up: a costume for an art show. I always feel some pressure at this event to not be something funny (my specialty) and be something more ... um, arty? 

I had big hopes and dreams for this costume, but they died when I saw it all together.

 
Hamburglar

Next up: a work Halloween party. We made this costume decision solely because we were Zorros the year before, and it was an easy switch (our work department kind of has a thing about dressing up as a group; try it — it's fun). 

Group costume #1 (only two participants, but this costume is
my favorite)

People realized the fun they were missing out on and joined our farm

Fun and easy costume encourages participation

Really simple conversion from fun and easy
costume doesn't encourage participation,
apparently

Mr. Potato Head

Final event: the Halloween Halfathon. It was a long thought process to come up with something that I felt was wearable while running 13.1 miles. 

I had Mr. Potato Head in mind for a regular costume, but thought I could modify it for running. It worked! 

This was extremely non-irritating (exactly what I going for), easy to make (another bonus), and I thought it turned out great.

 

Do you dress up for Halloween (or Halloween parties)? What is your favorite costume? Have you ever dressed up as a group? Have you dressed up for a race? Did it require a long thought process to determine what you'd be (and if it would be comfortable)? Happy Halloween!

Halloween Halfathon, Tierra Verde, Florida, Oct. 28, 2012: race recap

I love costumes. So when I heard the Halloween Halfathon encouraged costumes (and was part of a local Halfathon Challenge — four half marathons from October through March), I was so in.

I immediately began thinking of a costume ... and thinking. And thinking. It's tough to find a costume that won't get annoying while running 13.1 miles. 

I finally decided on this.
 

That's Mr. Potato Head. I cut out his parts from felt and used fabric glue to put them on a brown T-shirt. Cutting them out wasn't hard. Finding a brown T-shirt was. I finally found one online that I ordered last minute that fortunately worked out great.

I also found a mini bowler hat online. It had an elastic strap that went under your chin. I decided quickly that this would get annoying without running. So, I cut it and tied it on a headband. 

The finished product (please excuse my poor
self-portrait skills; it's my only pre-sweat
costume photo)

With my costume made and on, I was ready to race. Well, or do a training run. I really wasn't planning to "race" this race. I treated it as a long training run (I had 11 miles on my schedule). My training schedule is actually for the Women's Half Marathon on Nov. 18, so this was technically early for a half marathon. I can't resist a good opportunity to wear a costume, though.

After my pathetic self-portrait, I picked up my running buddy, Lori, and we headed to the race site.  It was early and really dark. I felt so disoriented (especially since the race is along a state park beach path, and it is super dark there — no street lights). 

I packed up my packet early, but needed to get a timing chip at the race site. We arrived at 6:30 a.m. (for a 7 a.m. race) and had plenty of time to get the timing chip, hit a porta potty and line up for the start. 

We couldn't find anyone else in our running group, though. Pitch black conditions don't lend to finding people. 

We started running in the dark, which was strange. I guess I've done it before, but in a city with street lights. It was really bizarre without any lights. But, it started to get light soon after the start, and we started seeing people in our running group.

The first part of the race follows the 5K course, which started 15 minutes after the half marathon. After running back by the start line, we headed out on a 5-mile out and back course.

At this point of the race, I was feeling good, but not great. We stopped to walk through water stations, but that was it. As we started out on the out-and-back portion of the race, the half marathon leaders were coming back. It is mind-blowing to me how fast these people are! I'm at mile 4, and they're almost at double-digit miles. Insane.

Anyway, the out-and-back portion is a path along the beach, but you rarely ever see the water. Because of that, it's pretty boring. Thank goodness this was a costume race! This provided entertainment. We saw angels, devils, cowboys, cats, bunnies, zombies, Forrest Gump, a Victoria's Secret angel (a guy) and many others. Thank you for dressing up!

Around mile 5, I took a GU gel. I still felt good, but not great. We kept up the same habit of running except for the water stations. 

Thankfully, it was mostly overcast for the majority of the race so it wasn't nearly as hot as it could have been. One problem: the wind. Because of pesky Sandy and a cold front, it was super, super windy. I didn't notice it too much on the way out on the path. But, shortly after I made the turnaround, I noticed it. It took a lot of energy to run.

I kept running, though, until about the 9.5-mile mark. I stopped to take my first walk break (besides the water stops) at this point. 

From this point on, this race was a struggle. I was losing energy. Every time I tried to run, I couldn't run for long. I took another GU gel. This helped some, but fighting the wind was still difficult. 

Even though I was treating this as a training run, I was really disappointed. Somewhere, in the back of my mind, I hoped to do really well. Even if it wasn't my goal to get a faster time, I kind of still wanted to do that. I can't help it. I always want that. Training runs were going well. My speed work was impressive (for a slow girl like me). I guess I thought I could sneak in a PR. Yeah, not this day.

I struggled the rest of the race, but managed to finish strong (thanks to support from Lori). My official time: 2:42:48. Eh, definitely not my best (2:33), but not my worst either (2:48).  

The good news: I finished, I had fun overall (at times I was bitter, but thanks to running friends, I quickly got out of that mode), I got a medal, and I see lots of room for improvement. 

 
Oh, also good news: beer at the finish.

Best beer EVER

More good news: my costume was not annoying (even the ears), and my hat did not move even in really gusty wind. 

Mr. Potato Head ended up being a sweaty potato.

And then, a couch potato.

I'm so using this idea for a holiday half marathon (minus the mustache and teeth, plus an antler headband). Yay! More race costumes! 

Do you secretly hope to PR every race? Do you wear costumes for races? What's your favorite costume you've seen? Do you enjoy beer after races?