After a little it of hassle finding parking, we headed over to the start area to find the porta potties. We had to wait in line forever - I thought we would have to abandon the line in order to get to the start. Luckily we made it just in time and made it to the back of the start with about 30 seconds to spare. We were so far back, I'm pretty sure people who were planning to crawl the race were in front of us.
The first few miles of this race go through the University and downtown areas of Madison and are so fun. There are lots of spectators, music groups, and plenty to see.
This may be a good time to talk about the weather. It was crazy humid. Thankfully it was overcast so the sun wasn't beating down on us, but it was seriously hot. By the end of the first mile I was completely soaked with sweat. By the end of the second mile I changed my race strategy from "maybe I'll go to a PR" to "maybe I will avoid heat stroke." I walked the water stops, making sure to drink plenty and dumping water on my head.
At mile 11ish, the course starts back along the lake towards the University of Wisconsin. It was very tempting to get a little open water swim in and finish the race by water instead of road. But I resisted and finished (with an uphill in the last two tenths of a mile). 2:12:08. Definitely not a PR, but not a PW either. I headed right to the lake.
I had a lot of fun running this race again this year, although I must say it was more fun last year when it was 45 degrees. Even though my time pretty much sucked, I am happy with how I ran.
After the race, it was back to my grandma and grandpa's for a little recovery.
Don't even try to tell me you don't hang upside down from the monkey bars to recover from hard runs. Totally normal.
19 comments:
Ha ha, yep, totally normal:) Great job Heather! I really want to run this one next year...it looks like a pretty course and fun to run too!
Great race, Heather! Good for you for running so sensibly in the hot muggy. It seems we must have sent you a bit of our weather by mistake. Sorry. Hang upside down??? Not me! I'm the one sacked out on the couch an hour after the run. My first (and only) half, I made DH pick me up right at the finish line and slept the entire 3 hours of our trip back home.
"Maybe I'll avoid heat stroke" is always a good race strategy, LOL! Great job in yucky conditions, and I LOVE your recovery! :-)
Totally impressed by your ability to hang upside down like that! I haven't been able to do that since I was like 10 years old.
Sounds like a great race, you did awesome!
When do you head to Baxter? Maybe we could meet up at the expo on Saturday? We plan to leave here about 6:00, will be up there by 6:30 or so. Just let me know : )
Good job on a hot race. I'm sorry we didn't manage to meet up. Saturday ended up getting away from me...
Have to wonder why anyone would schedule a race in August - unless it's in Alaska. But kudos to you for finishing!
Who would have guessed when you signed up for this race that it would land on the "hottest" day of the year! It WAS a nasty day, in fact, I laid low on the couch all day with the AC!
Nice job on the race-awesome time.
Ugh, a humid half marathon... NOT FUN! Glad you made it through without heat stoke (ahhh, I would have been so tempted to jump in the lake too!) and a respectable time! Congrats on another 13.1!
Seriously you hang like that? I'm not sure I could assume that position after a race.
I ran that race last year as well and loved it. I'm kind of sad I didn't do it again this year. Glad you enjoyed it despite the heat.
I don't know how you people run through humidity! I'm always in awe - and you're time did not suck considering those elements!
Congrats on a strong finish ;) Loved the hanging up-side down pic!
I would love to do a race in madison! Fun! Good job on the race in the insane humidity. Definitely a good call on changing up your race goals. that would've been MISERABLE to try for a PR in that. Blech. Congrats on another race! :)
Great run! lol @ mid race change in strategy not to get heat stroke. Ummmmm hanging upside down looks like a good way for me to get injured!
have a great week
-Derek
Sounds like a fun race, and even though it wasn't a PR, you still did an awesome job!
Great race report!! Ugh, humidity is a killer!
wow...the humidity is such a beast. way to stand up and kill it anyway :) or at least not die at its mercy...
That looks like a great race! I'm looking forward to running in Madison when I go to watch do his Ironman. Sorry the weather was humid, but you did a great job! Humidity does not = PR, so glad you were smart.
Good job on the (hilly) half despite the heat and the humidity. I ran a (hilly) half in this period just once and I said to myself: no more in summer!
Great job on the race, girl! You are coming along so well!!! That heat/humidity just pulls the rug right under you but you stayed strong. Excellent!! :)
totally normal! :)
great run!
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