RunTheBluegrass

A few months ago, one of the groups I follow posted a discount code for this race. I googled it and Lexington, Kentucky was only 5.5 hours away and the race was a Saturday. I was able to get a cheapish room and on a whim I signed up.

Not long after I signed up, the race director posted this on the Facebook page:

What did I get myself into? I don't even know what an incline of 9 looks like, I feel like I am going to fall off at 3!!! Based on this I made a real effort to train on an incline. Since the weather has been so horrible here, I have been spending a lot of time at the gym so at least I could do some practicing though I know it was nowhere close to enough.

All along my plan was to leave right after work and head down alone. About a month before the race, they opened more spots for the 7 miler opened up and my mom decided to come with me!! We were able to go down together.

I was really looking forward to this race. The race director is amazing. I was blown away time and time again by the race communication. I have done 10 half marathons and this was by far the most welcoming race ever! Since my mom was going to finish about an hour before me, I signed us both up for the VIP race experience so we had a place to be inside and so we could get something to eat before heading home.

The week leading up to the race, the weather was looking worse and worse. While we had some BEAUTIFUL days leading up to it, rain kept popping up in the forecast. As we drove down on Friday it was beautiful and mild. We hit construction/an accident/rush hour, in Cincinnati that really slowed us down but we made it to the expo with about an hour to spare.

I picked up the special edition bourbon I had ordered for Jeff and we got our race stuff. We checked into the Marriott Maingate. It was an OK hotel. Nothing special but it was clean and fine. We ordered hamburgers from room service (have to have my meat and potatoes) and it came quick. After we ate, it was off to bed. Since the race was not a super early start (9am) we did not have to get up too early which was nice.

The morning of the race, it was overcast and cloudy. Not raining and the forecast was saying it was going to start about 11am or 12pm. It was also about 49 in the morning. We drove the 10 minutes to the race and got parked smooth as can be. Tons of port a potties around the parking lot which was awesome. I got to see an awesome running friend and then we headed back to the car to wait since it was a little chilly.

As we headed to the start line, I ran into 2 more wonderful people I met through my running groups. It was so special to get hugs and pictures with them (though not on my phone so I don't have them).By the time we got to the start line it had started to "mist". Not really raining but not dry either. We did get to see 3 of our running friends as we started but there was no time to start because we were off!!

Halfway point

Now, I knew there were hills, I saw the elevation chart, I saw the treadmill training. Basically we started and as we came around the first turn, there was a hill, then another hill. It was hill after hill. I had set my watch to 1:1 but my plan was to start with 3:1 and see what happened through the first half. As you can see from behind me, that was just one of the hills.


Honestly the miles really just ticked by quickly with the hills. I really enjoyed it. The longer the race went on, the more it started to rain. By mile 8 it was pouring rain. Around mile 7 I switched to 2:1 intervals BUT I switched them up based on the hills. I tried to use a minute to walk up and run the rest and down and in between.

Mile 8.5

People on the course were amazing!! The volunteers, the other races, everyone. I always appreciate the volunteers at races but never more than this one. They had been out longer than we had and had more time to wait but they all had a smile, a cheer, a cup of water, a kind word. It was over the top.

Mile 11

Going in, I had registered for the Director's Challenge which meant I submitted my best time (Detroit Women's Half Marathon on flat old Belle Isle) of 2:26. If I beat that time, I would earn an extra award. Also remember, Detroit is rather flat. Belle Isle had an elevation change of 79 feet, (this one registered 840ft on my Garmin).  As the winter went on training was hard. I had only 1 outdoor training run between November and this race. I was just hoping for a sub 2:35.

At mile 12, I realized if I could pull off an 8 minute mile I could beat my time! Since that was not happening I settled for my 2nd best time! I have never been emotional when I run. Even finishing Detroit, I didn't cry. I wanted to cry when I finished this race. I was so proud of myself and I felt awesome. Frozen but awesome. My skirt was even dripping when I was done.

Because of the rain, the indoor area was opened to everyone (completely the right thing to do) but it made it hard to find and get to the VIP area. I was also freezing and dripping wet. I got in, met up with my mom and some other people from Michigan which was awesome. I went to get food and I was underwhelmed for the first time in this race. It was grapes, cold cuts, cookies and brownies. They did have a soup but I did not try it. Just a lot of money and not a lot of food choices but it was OK, my mom had a place to be while she waited and that was great.

We got out of parking, to the hotel, got showered and on the road before 2pm which was awesome. Even though we did not get to run together, I was so thankful to have my mom there with me. I am so proud of her and how far she has come. I can't wait until our next race together!!

I loved this race. It was the worst weather I have run in. It was 42 at the finish and pouring rain but I LOVED THIS RACE. I came home and registered for next year. I cannot wait to do it again. Hard or not, raining or not, it was so neat and I loved it. I will do better next year and maybe there will be sun and horses on the course!!!

I did it--I finished a MARATHON

To think that 18 months ago I had no desire to even go a mile, to complete 26.2 of them on a Sunday morning is huge. My first race over a 10K was in February but before that, I had already registered for my first full marathon. How do things like that happen? Well, this one was simple. For the Detroit Marathon the cheapest registration is the first week of the year. The race with the least amount of spots is the Marathon BUT unlike other races, Detroit allows you to change your race distance through August. So, I signed up for the full expecting that come August I would drop down to the half, well I didn't.

The race was amazing and hard and emotional and everything I had read it would be. Here is how it went.

The night before we stayed downtown at the RenCen. This has 2 benefits. 1. I would not have to stress about parking or getting downtown by 6am on race morning. 2. It meant the kids could be on the course. There was no possible way the kids could be outside from 6am-1pm and not go nuts.

I have to admit, when we checked in I got super excited. Here is the room key for the runners. I was wondering if everyone staying there that night got it but I saw others with a different, normal key so it was so cool!!

I had a nice dinner with my amazing group of running friends and then had a relaxing evening, I even skipped watching the Tigers play so I could rest.

Sunday morning came early. We met in the lobby at 6am to walk to the picture meeting point at Campus Martius. It was cold but not miserable (I think it was 41 at the start but very little wind). I even left my sweatpants and sweatshirt in the hotel. After the picture I realized I had not grabbed my inhaler and had not used it either. I knew I was going to go slow in the beginning so I texted my mom to bring it to Mile 8 for me. After a quick stop in the Compuware building to use a real bathroom it was off to the start.

I was in corral L and it was not bad. Not too crowded and the people around me were so nice and friendly. Lots of first time runners which was so neat!!! I knew in my head I had to start off slow because I had to make it the entire way. I got lucky and ran into a friend and her mom and I stuck with them for the first 10K. It was so much fun to run across the bridge and into Canada. The border agents were cheering and super friendly on the course and Windsor was very welcoming to us. I made it to the relay exchange, saw my team member off and I had to double back to get my tag cut off my shoe.


At this point I was feeling good and it showed in my times. My time from the 10K-20K split were the best of the whole day. I really liked the tunnel, though I know a lot of people don't. I thought it was just so cool and coming out to all the cheering fans. I also got to see my family for the first time at that point. The kids were so cold and I felt so bad for everyone standing out there. It meant so much but honestly I think it is too much to have the kids come to races, it is just not fair to anyone.

Corktown was fun and there was a group giving out M&M's (complete with someone dressed as one. That was fun and a nice treat.

At mile 13 we split from the International Half runners who had done the first half of the course with us. It was quiet on the course until about 14.5 miles when we caught up to the US only half runners who were doing the second half of the course. I got to see a running friend at 14 and it was a huge help to see him and have him check in with me. He caught a picture of me going past!

As I approached Mile 16 I started thinking, only another 3 miles until I see some friends who were coming out to cheer. Imagine my over the top surprise when they were there on the side of the road. They had brought signs, a speaker system to cheer and their kids ran with me for a little bit. It totally gave me a boost!!! I actually had tears in my eyes to know I have such an amazing friend to do this.

Indian Village was amazing. They seem to have a lot of fun with the event. So many of the people who live there were out and celebrating the runners. There were beer stations and one guy was out with Jelly Beans in a cup. I also found a PoP with NO LINE and I took a quick pit stop which I have never done in a race before.

Then it was time to get onto Belle Isle and I fell apart. My hamstrings got so tight (never happened before) and that was my slowest split time, including the end. I was just dragging around the island. I could not get into and kind of groove BUT my friend and her family where at the start of the island and the end! Leaving the island I felt better after seeing them and knowing there were only 4 more miles to go. I knew I could do 4 miles but I also knew my chances of getting below a 5:30 were GONE. The Riverwalk was nice but it was kind of boring, not a lot going on but it was the end!!! There was a nice man and his daughter with bananas and cider as we got on to Atwater and it was so sweet to see all the people who came out to support strangers.

I had been dreading the hill at 25 but I knew my family would be there and sure enough, I turned the corner and there they were. The kids even ran with me up the hill and it made me want to cry. As we left and turned on Larned towards the finish a lady said seeing the kids made her want to cry and gave her a boost. It was so sweet. Then right as I was questioning why I was doing this, I saw my amazing friends. Her husband and kids ran a little with me and then it was time to get to the finish. One of my relay team members was right there and that gave me a boost!!!

The finish line was emotional. I did it. I knew I could but I had not counted on it being so hard. It was the hardest thing I have ever done but I did it. I walked to the end to get my finisher picture and then to meet my relay team. I was even able to bend down which I count as a HUGE WIN!!!

I was so lucky on this journey to meet so many amazing people to help me through this and support me. Also I know without Jeff and my mom there is no way this could have been possible. The support and encouragement they gave me was beyond anything I could hope for. Not a single complaint when I headed out for my long runs on the weekends and braving the cold to be there to cheer me on. THANK YOU!!!

I will do this again, I am not sure. I love the half and enjoy running it. I am not sure if the full is my thing but I did it and I am proud, even if my time is not so pretty.

The best thing about being done was coming home. My sister and her family came over and decorated the house. It made me tear up, again!!!

























BONUS Surprise: Today I got a video of the start and finish! I am hard to spot in the start but it is just before it ends and I am in the middle wearing teal

It is almost here--Marathon Time

Hard to believe I registered over 9 months ago to undertake this feat. I am not sure what made me think I needed to tackle this but I am glad I have. As the hours and minutes tick away I am playing the event over and over again in my head. I am so thankful for RunDetroit for sponsoring the 18 mile training run on the course. I have a better idea about what to expect and I have more confidence in myself.

I am scared though. Am I eating right? Am I drinking enough? I know I am not sleeping well and I am not sure if it is the excitement, the fear or what.

This is so exciting and I just cannot believe it is almost here. I hope the weather holds out and we have perfect race conditions!!

It is almost time!