Fa La La Half Marathon (Race Recap)

Westminster, CO
Saturday, December 7
Half Marathon #97
Colorado Half #35
Weather - COLDEST COLD EVER

The Fa La La half marathon is the first half I have ever seen for Colorado in the metro area in December. And probably for a good reason! Last Wednesday we had a fairly decent snowfall. Now snow, obviously, is not the biggest deal here. It snows all the time. HOWEVER, in early December, it does NOT normally snow and then stay hovering around 0 for days and days. As the days ticked closer to the race, I was REALLY dreading it. I was sure they weren't going to cancel because of cold, but wow, I do NOT run outside in this freezing weather! L had picked up our packets in advance, so we planned on showing up only early enough to use the bathroom.

Running in the #coldpocalypse

We dropped off the kids with my parents at 8:15 and drove to the start, only about 15 minutes away. DID I MENTION IT WAS THE COLDEST COLD EVER? To have some perspective, L, who is part robot, actually wore long sleeves AND a jacket AND kept her gloves on the entire race. My dream of a miracle 15+ degrees at the start did NOT come true:

We used the bathroom inside at the rec center, where I got L to get this awesome shot of my last moments of being warm.

We headed to the start line and honestly, once I had my headphones and ear warmers on I could not hear a thing, but the race director was blabbing on and on.... LET'S GET GOING ALREADY.

I have run outside in Denver before in the winter. OK, maybe only a handful of times. But every time I have run outside, it has been on PAVED city trails. Did you know, that the city did NOT shovel/plow the path/trail??? I probably would have made a different shoe choice had I known.

L and I started in the very back, but I lost her in a matter of seconds. It was a bit congested in the beginning, which was fine. My calves were tight, I was cold, my legs were cold, IT was cold. The beginning section was one of the icier sections of the course:

I was wearing an INKnBURN tech tube over my  mouth, which was great. Well, until about 15 minutes in when I pulled it down to get water and then I tried to pull it back up and it was FROZEN in a slouchy mess around my neck. (FYI, messing with a frozen article of clothing will keep your mind occupied FOREVER) - I took an awkward selfie of how it looked frozen around my neck:

I could go on and on and on about the cold. I have never in real life seen snot icicles. Everyone had frozen facial hair and eyelashes. It was pretty terrifying!

I think I was running a decent pace, but I really didn't care. I caught up to Ross around mile 6 (the 76 year old man that beats me EVERY RACE). Spoiler: I actually ran faster than him for once!

Um. My GU was pretty much frozen solid (I took two during the course of the race) and the water at the aid stations was like a slushie.

It is REALLY REALLY REALLY difficult to run in snow/ice. The Big Dry Creek Trail is fairly flat, but it felt like I was running in quicksand. Everything felt like it was uphill and I was working really hard to not be making that much progress.

Time passed, I managed not to freeze and I was pretty surprised to see L at the finish area. I thought for SURE she would do the smart thing and go sit in the car! However, she got this shot of me that I LOVE heading into the last .2 or so:

Bib #839
Official Time - 2:26:44
Overall Place #212/288
Gender Place #129/185
Division Place #54/73
Garmin Time - 2:26:44
Mile 1 - 10:57
Mile 2 - 11:47
Mile 3 - 10:39
Mile 4 - 10:35
Mile 5 - 11:09
Mile 6 - 11:23
Mile 7 - 11:35
Mile 8 - 11:04
Mile 9 - 11:36
Mile 10 - 11:35
Mile 11 - 11:25
Mile 12 - 11:24
Mile 13 - 11:03
Mile 13.1 - 9:52
 

We stuck around long enough to get a picture together and to talk to Ross for a minute, then we went to the car. It had warmed up substantially while we were running:

For an idea of what the back of people's heads looked like while running - look how frosty L's head is!!!

Thoughts:

• I mean, it was cold, obviously. However, I was prepared for it. I wore a base layer (a Champion long sleeve shirt - the same one I wore for NYD last year) with my INKnBURN Lust jacket over it. I wore INKnBURN pirate capris and compression socks. I used hand warmers with gloves (best purchase EVER EVER EVER). I wore ear warmers and had my tech tube. Yeah, I was concerned about losing my nose or a toe to frostbite or hypothermia, but it was fiiiiiiiiiiine.
• The WORST part about the race was running on the ice. That made the downhill areas EXTRA scary since it WAS slick. I really wish the race director had sent out an email the night before advising of trail conditions. I probably would have worn different shoes.
• 2/3 of the runners were women, and yet the shirt is still a men's shirt. WHY WHY WHY????? I am so tired of all these race shirts that I cannot wear. At least give me the option to skip the shirt and save a few bucks if you are not going to give me one I can wear again.
• An annoyance with the registration of this race... they DO have a mail in option. I was thinking, YAY, I can save the almost $6 processing fee (10%) if I send in a check. NOPE. They still charge it. WHY NOT JUST INCLUDE THAT AS THE TOTAL RACE REGISTRATION FEE. I hate hate hate the sneaky fees. Annoying.
• They DO, however, have race day registration (obviously it costs more), but if you want to wait to see the forecast, this is a good option for a winter race.
• We got ear warmers in our swag bag. I wore mine, they kept me nice and warm and toasty.
• The course is good, but again, had it been plowed, probably would have been faster/easier.
• AND YET, this was still my 3rd fastest half of the year! Woot!
• I am SHOCKED that there was such a big turnout for this event. 288 for the half, 137 for the 10k and 120 for the 5k. SO OVER 500 PEOPLE BRAVED ARCTIC WEATHER JUST TO RUN. We are a crazy bunch, aren't we?
• All in all, I would recommend this event. Plenty of aid stations, gels at the mile 6 (and I guess it would have been mile 11ish on the away back) aid stations. Medal for all distances.
• AND.... I just have to say THANK YOU to all the volunteers who were out there for HOURS. That is even more nuts than those of us running. AND there were actually spectators!! One guy was offering people "warm water" lol!! Never seen that at a race.

Ralston Creek Half Marathon (Race Recap)

Sunday, February 10
Arvada, CO
Half Marathon #77
Colorado Half #17
Ralston Creek Half #2
Weather - COLD

When I ran the Ralston Creek half marathon last year, it was the coldest I have ever run in. I have always been saying it was 7 degrees, but looking at my recap from last year, it peaked at 18. It was not much warmer this year, I would guess upper 20's, low 30's? It was cold enough that I actually convinced L to wear long sleeves. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

A's Girl Scout troop was planning on having a cookie booth at the race start/finish area, so she rode with us. We arrive about 45 minutes before the race started. We fueled with donut holes (for real, this is officially now a Thing) and walked to the start area to pick up our bibs and goodie bags. We immediately headed back to the car. BRRR.

We stayed in the car until about 20 minutes before the 9:45 start. I dropped A off (in full snowsuit) to the cookie booth, then got in line for the restroom. We were approached while in line to try this "new caffeine powder" inhalant. Sure. I'll try it. Mine was raspberry-ish flavored. I did not die and it did not give me energy. Wish I could remember the name of it.

Freezing cold before the start

We headed over to the start with one minute until the gun. Wheee! I started my mapmyrun before crossing the mat. With gloves and a zip pocket, I didn't want to be messing with it while running. L reminded me that the first half of the course was uphill. Yeah. I remember.

The first mile is on road through a residential neighborhood. My toes were FREEZING. I made it to the trail, about 2/3-3/4 mile in before my calves started aching and throbbing. I started running slower and L stuck with me until the first aid station, maybe a mile in. I stopped to stretch and she kept going. First race we haven't run together in ages :( I can't really blame her, I'd be super annoyed running with me too.

I had to stop and walk a BUNCH the first few miles. I kept stretching but my calves would NOT loosen up. It was also VERY icy on the course. Before I knew it, I was in LAST place. No, seriously. There was an early start for walkers and slower runners (you would be disqualified if you ran faster than 2:15, but it was suggested for those who expected to finish slower than 2:30), so I was in the group with everyone who hoped to finish sub 2:30. I have NEVER actually been last in a race. This SUCKED. There was a detour a few miles in to the race (I'm assuming because of snow on the course? Construction by the golf course? Who knows) and I finally got close to the last runner, but couldn't seem to pass her. I took a vanilla orange Roctane GU just before mile 3. It expired 2/12 and tasted a bit "off," but I am writing this a day later and I'm still alive, so obviously it is not fatal to do this.

Mile 4 and my dumb legs finally started to loosen. However, by now, my fatigue from the last two weeks of being sick had caught up. At least by now I was doing a bit more running than walking. I think I finally passed the slowest runners heading up one of the "steeper/gradual" hills. I took this just after mile 5. Gloomy skies but the mountains look cool:

We use an underpass to cross the street and then we are heading north toward the infamous switchbacks just past mile 7. I had an ok mile heading up to that part. Passed the aid station at the base and power walked up probably 75% of the hill. I knew I'd be even more exhausted if I slow-jogged up so I didn't even bother. I took this picture at the peak:

The next section of the course is BLISSFULLY downhill. I passed 2-3 runners in this section and posted my fastest mile (since probably this same mile last year) between mile 8 and 9 of 9:11. Wheeee! I slow jogged most of the remainder of the course. The sun sort of came out and started melting some of the snow/ice on the path. Aid station at mile 9.5ish I grabbed a much-needed Hammer gel. I kept in pace with another lady for a few miles, I finally passed her around mile 12. Thank GOODNESS I missed the mile marker for 11, I thought the race was never going to end.

We came off the trail at about mile 12.5 and then I knew "all" I had to run was up the street. Imagine the longest chute of your LIFE, and that is pretty much what this section is like, especially when you can barely move your legs :-/

I saw L, H and my Dad hanging out just by the chute, I think my Dad got a picture, but he never sent it. I crossed the line and was greeted with high 5's from A and the other Girl Scouts.

Bib #605
Official Time - 2:32:45 (21+ minutes slower than last year)
Official Pace - 11:40
Overall Place - 464/527
Gender Place - 259/308
Division Place - 62/69
MMR Time - 2:38:30 (forgot to stop it after)
MMR Distance - 13.71
MMR Pace - 11:33
Mile 1 - 10:12
Mile 2 - 13:08
Mile 3 - 12:04
Mile 4 - 11:46
Mile 5 - 11:43
Mile 6 - 12:38
Mile 7 - 10:33
Mile 8 - 12:39
Mile 9 - 9:11 (Whee!)
Mile 10 - 10:51
Mile 11 - 10:27
Mile 12 - 10:25
Mile 13 - 11:19
Mile 13.ish - 14:58 (includes a few minutes of standing since I forgot to stop)

Apparently, I was also a random finish line winner!:

 

How exciting, I never win anything!! We grabbed food (Mountain Dew, Chocolate chip banana bread and a chorizo burrito). I didn't drink the soda or eat the burrito but the bread was delicious. Then we did some finisher pictures:

First and only attempt at a "jump" - I think we did great!

I was approached in the finisher area - "I don't know you, but I read your blog. I was looking for a course description of this race!" Hilarious. Thanks for reading, random guy!

Ruth and I made some last minute travel plans (she is running with me next weekend in Arizona) and then we headed to the car. FREEZING. Lunch was Smashburger. I swear we felt like we had hypothermia. I sat under the heated blanket at home until I had my deep tissue massage at 3:00. It didn't really seem to help. Thankfully, I have an appointment with a "real" doctor on Thursday. I am going to LOSE MY MIND if I don't get this calf issue taken care of. For a while I thought it might be improving, but it's gotten REALLY bad. ANY SUGGESTIONS AT ALL???

Race Musings:

• Two years I have run this. Both years it was VERY cold. I'll run it again.
• Very well supported and well-marked course. I can say that for sure this year since I was dead last and did not get lost. I was alone a LOT and never had any issues.
• There were a lot of aid stations, but I think the first one must have been out of gels. Glad I had my expired GU to tide me over.
• I had Mike & Ike candy to fuel again. Delicious. Hard to get to when you have frostbite/hypothermia.
• I love that there is soda and food other than bananas/bagels at the finish.