Polar Prowl Half Marathon (Race Recap)

Saturday, January 10
Lakewood, CO
Half Marathon #124
Colorado Half #57
Weather - Perfect

Last year, I missed the Polar Prowl because I was running Tinker Bell with Heather. So of course, it was on the schedule as one of the only January distance races in Colorado. We had some dicey weather the beginning of the month, but the initial forecasts were for highs in the low 50's!! Unfortunately, we had two snowstorms during the week and it never really got warm enough to melt all the way. We were expecting ICY conditions.

Up just before 7, out the door before 7:30 to drop off the kids with my parents. Arrived at Bear Creek park right before 8. Picked up our packets and ran into Heather and Dan on our way to the bathroom. It was still overcast, but L was trying to convince me that I would be a sissy if I wore arm sleeves. (She ended up being right, but she is so mean!)

Dropped off our bags at the car, got our bibs on, and headed to the start, stopping at the bathroom along the way. It was a beautiful morning, I was just hoping the clouds would burn away to warm up a bit.

We walked up to the start with about two minutes before the gun. Just enough time to hear about the super icy conditions on most of the course (as you can see in the photo above). I have run the course before and I knew it would be very hilly and challenging (not even counting the ice).

I wanted to run easy and hope for the best (especially after how bad the last race went). For the first half mile or so I did fine. Until the woman in front of me dropped her handheld right as I was stepping down and I landed on it, slightly rolling my ankle. It didn't hurt that bad, but it figures... not slipping on the ice, but on a woman's water bottle. Most of the first 2-3 miles were a sheet of ice. I was running cautiously, but it was nice to keep the pace down. I knew the hills were going to shred my calves.

I only walked up the very last section of Mt. Carbon - definitely an improvement over last time. The backside of the Mt. Carbon heading into Fox Hollow was not quite as icy, but I was afraid to bomb it on the downhill. I spotted Ross around mile 2 and it took me almost TWO MILES to catch him. For a 76 year old guy, he is pretty spry (did you catch my rhyme there?)

I spent about half of the race trapped between two super annoying people. The woman in front of me was wearing Yak Trax, but it wasn't icy or snowy enough for them so with every footfall she sounded like she was carrying a ton of change. The guy behind me was a mouth breather. Every minute or so he would snort on his breath in. I was really wishing I had worn two ear buds. Made me insane.

Turn around point was around mile 6. We had to head back up that giant hill just before the mile 8 marker. It lasts almost a full mile before we get to the top and run down the backside of Mt. Carbon, getting on the road halfway to go around the lake before ending on the last section of road by the boat ramp.

I felt pretty good until just before the last aid station around mile 11.8. It's flattish at this section with a gradual uphill, but it just seems to last forever. I had passed maybe a dozen people in the last few miles and I managed a decent last half mile or so (even with the hill at the end). I saw L, Heather and Dan at the finish line. We got some pictures while we waited for the raffle:

Heather got 2nd in her AG in the 10K

We looked AWESOME (and were pretty much only people with bare arms and legs

And Ross wanted me to get a picture of him to email him. Of course, with a 2:35, he was first in his age group. He is such a badass.

Official Time - 2:25:12

Overall Place - 128/186

Overall Gender - 59/103

Division Place - 25/43

Garmin Time - 2:25:12

Garmin Distance - 13.1 miles

Garmin Pace - 11:05

Mile 1 - 10:43

Mile 2 - 11:10

Mile 3 - 12:18

Mile 4 - 9:53

Mile 5 - 10:53

Mile 6 - 10:45

Mile 7 - 11:05

Mile 8 - 11:02

Mile 9 - 12:53

Mile 10 - 9:44

Mile 11 - 11:07

Mile 12 - 11:24

Mile 13 - 11:18

Mile 13.1 - 9:03

Long sleeve, not tech, too small (for some reason I got an XS)

Thoughts:

• Lots of aid stations. I think at least 2 or 3 of them had Clif gel. At least one also had shot blocks.
• The shirt is ok, I should stop ordering XS, they are just too small and the sleeves are too tight. Don't like white shirts.
• Medal is cute, and I like that they do medals for all three distances.
• The course is tough, but it is a pretty course and it is well marked, like all her races.
• They have really good burritos at the finish and she does great raffles.
• I will run her races again, if it is convenient and I don't have something else that weekend.
• Overall, a good event.

Week in Review (July 22 - July 28)

Tuesday - Now that A is back and I'm back on the treadmill, speed work had to commence (womp womp womp). Goal was 4 x 800 @ 8:52. (LOLOLOLOL). I did a mile warm up, then 3 x 800 (8:54, 8:46, 8:46). I didn't have it in me to do another 800, my legs were DEAD. Instead I did 4 x 400 (8:48, 8:28, 8:04, 7:28). You know what's baffling? Running fast. Ouchie.
Wednesday - BodyPump. I've determined my shoulders are the weakest part of my body.
Thursday - I decided to use a bit of PTO and run the trails before work instead of an afternoon tempo run (honestly, still boycotting that). I ran the counterclockwise loop of Table Mesa / Mesa Top trail in Golden. It has become one of my favorite close trail runs in the last month. The bad part about running in the morning is the crazy number of tumbleweeds that block the single track. I ran the loop quite a bit faster than last time. Yahoo!

Friday - Pizza.
Saturday - Up at 4:30 in the morning to volunteer at All-Out-Multisport's "Dog Days" 5k, 10k and half marathon. We first checked in runners and handed out packets. Then, we moved to the finish area where we handed out cold, wet towels. Even though it wasn't nearly as hot as forecasted, I think we were the most popular volunteers. We stuck around to the end and helped load all the stuff into trucks. I gotta say, All-Out is a well-oiled machine. Nothing was torn down until the last runners crossed the line, and it was only about 30 minutes later that everything was loaded up. Efficiency at its finest!

Sure is dark at 5 am

So I posted this on Instagram shortly after this was taken. Turns out, the volunteer I was working with follows me on Instagram. Small world.

A and I went to lunch at Sweet Tomatoes, and then we went to Angels With Paws Cat Shelter and adopted a kitty!! The shelter named him Blackie (even though he isn't) and A didn't want to change his name. As of adoption, he is 11 weeks old, Russian Blue Mix. WE LOVE HIM SO MUCH.

Sunday - Up not as early to run the Prairie Dog half marathon in Castle Rock.

After showering, I took H and A with me to the park to meet up with work friends for a BBQ/picnic. The weather was fantastic, not nearly as hot as the last few times we have met up. In bed SO EARLY, exhausted.

Attempting badminton

Monday - CHAOS. A very arm heavy workout again. And a weird conversation in the locker room with a woman who asked me if this was my "first time working out." Like ever? Was it my outfit? So weird.

Weekly Miles Run - 25.1 (13.1 race, 7 trail, 5 treadmill)
Minutes of Cross Training - 60
Minutes of Strength/Stretching - 60

Weekly Loss - 0.8 (120.6)

• Still lots of pizza. It's so delicious, I can't help myself!
• A bit more beer than in the past few weeks.
• Noosa has new flavors!!!! If you like coconut, THIS IS THE MOST DELICIOUS THING EVER EVER EVER.

Everything Else

• I actually got a cash bonus at work. That was exciting.
• Uh. That's it.

Spring Fever Half Marathon (Race Recap)

Saturday, March 22
Golden, CO
Half Marathon #101
Colorado Half #37
Weather - CHILLY, windy, flurries, overcast

I should have been racing in Moab this weekend, like have the last two years. However, the price got too high since I waited, AND my travel buddy bailed. Instead, I half-heartedly signed up for the Spring Fever half marathon (that Ariel and I volunteered at last year). L hated the course and didn't want to join me, so I was in it alone.

I got there with about 30 minutes until the start. Packet pick-up was easy, but people clearly don't read the emails that say "ID required." I agree, it's pretty dumb, but the volunteers are instructed to not hand out if you don't have it. I was FREEZING just in the few minutes I was outside and debating on wearing a jacket in addition to my long pants and long sleeves. I sat in the car until about 15 minutes before the start and then headed to the indoor bathrooms (where there was no line AND a volunteer with TP just in case a stall was out).

Headed out just as the National Anthem was playing and then walked up to the start, lining up in the back. I had no real goals, just hoping to come in under 2:30 and to not freeze (I had opted for no jacket, thinking I would get too hot).

The course is basically the Ralston Creek half marathon course, just in reverse, which meant all the hills would be at the end when I was already tired.

I felt ok the first mile (gradual downhill), but noticed that my legs felt very fatigued. Not necessarily the calf tightness that I normally have, just "tired." The first 5.5 or so miles were a slight downhill, and I held back a bit, trying not to overdo anything. The miles from about 1.5 to 5.5 were an out and back section, but it never got crowded. There were plenty of aid stations, and they all had Powerade and water. At least one of the stations (maybe two) had Clif gels in various flavors. At the second aid station, I grabbed one, but didn't take it until closer to mile 4.

I have run this section a few times, so there wasn't much to look at, just concentrating on running and trying to stay warm. I was really happy I had grabbed hand warmers, as I kept them the entire race. But, a few pictures I took anyway:

At the turnaround is where I really started to get tired. I made it until just before mile 7 when the walk breaks started. I was feeling very fatigued and the breaks helped. The gradual uphill continued until about mile 9 when the real steep uphills began. Remember in my Ralston Creek recap where I have all the super speedy downhill miles toward the end? That's what I was running up. And by "running," I mean I walked up most of that. A few people in front of me were jogging, and in all honesty, with the exception of one or two, I caught them all at the summit doing a run/walk. Mile 10.5 or so and the course finally flattens out.

That SUPER STEEP hill that lasts a 1/2 mile in the Ralston Creek half? FINALLY DOWNHILL... I was clocking 8:00-8:30 pace and blasting by people. Of course, it was short lived, and I run/walked a lot of the end of the course too.

The flurries started to pick up a bit more when I got to mile 12.5. Turned the corner and I could see the finish banner, AND, what looked to be A!!! I was running right by a lady but didn't have any kick to pass her. I was pleased when I saw the clock time, as I had expected to run much slower.

Official Time - 2:21:25
Overall Place - 174/234
Gender Place - 97/138
Division Place - 37/54
Garmin Time - 2:21:25
Garmin Distance - 13.09 miles
Garmin Pace - 10:48
Mile 1 - 9:28
Mile 2 - 10:02
Mile 3 - 10:42
Mile 4 - 10:29
Mile 5 - 10:08
Mile 6 - 11:03
Mile 7 - 11:27
Mile 8 - 10:58
Mile 9 - 11:15
Mile 10 - 13:00
Mile 11 - 11:22
Mile 12 - 9:47
Mile 13 - 10:55
Mile 13.09 - 9:47

I received a fancy water bottle at the end filled with water. I was too cold to drink anything, and just wanted to get out of there. A wanted my free burrito, so I grabbed that, said a quick hello to friend, and got out of there. It was probably in the low 30's when I got done, but I was shivering for at least an hour after I got done. Luckily, the really heavy snow held off until about an hour after I finished. THAT would have been miserable.

Thoughts

• This is a very challenging course. Know that going into it. I knew it was going to be no fun, and I'm not sure if that affected my performance, but those miles of hill toward the end were BRUTAL.
• Related: This was only about a minute slower than I did RnR Denver this year, where I really did NOT walk, so maybe SOMEHOW I am regaining some of my former speed?? MAYBE?
• The weather on this particular weekend, in general, seems to be not great. Last year, there was so much snow that the race had to be postponed a week. Prepare for WIND.
• The race is pretty inexpensive, I think I paid about $50. The shirt is a nice, woman's cut tech tee in a fun bright yellow color. I'll likely wear it again.
• There were plenty of bathrooms at the start, inside. Enough to handle three distances (the 1/2, 10k and a 5k).
• Not crowded, the race director does a staggered start for the distances.
• The course was very well marked with neon green electrical tape on the sidewalks and orange domes to mark where to NOT go. Last year there was a volunteer shortage because of the rescheduling, but there were plenty this year, and one was posted at any area that might be "confusing."
• There were port-o-potties in multiple places along the course.
• PLENTY of aid stations, all well-stocked, with the trash bags located far enough away to actually get used.
• Overall, very impressed with the organization of this. Other than the terrible and difficult course, I would give this an A+.