Magnificent Mile Women’s Half Marathon
Hey guys! Don’t forget about the giveaway that ends on Friday!
I swear, one of these days I will learn. As you know, I ran the Magnificent Mile Women’s Half Marathon on Sunday. I won my entry (thanks Luna Bar!!) and since I am apparently also a glutton for punishment, I decided to run it. I did get a little more running mojo than I did before the Rock ‘N’ Roll half in July, but by the time the race came around I had only run a max of 5 miles.
I was enjoying running again by listing to the running feature on Spotify, but then my shin started to bother me and I decided I would lay off running some and hope for the best (sounds familiar). I continued my workouts at Sweat, but struggled to get any dedicated running in.
The forecast was less than desirable and it was already in the 70s when it was time to head to the start line at 6:15 am.
I met up with Susie who was actually the reason I won my entry because without her drawing my attention to it, I never would have entered. So it’s kind of her fault, but she gave me a crown to wear so that made up for it.
The race started out by Buckingham Fountain. I should have known by this ominous sun picture that I was doomed.
I took a parting picture with Neil in case the race won and I never saw him again.
I have no pictures from the actual course because I had trouble getting my phone out of my belt. Here is the course:
(source)
I knew from the start that this was not going to be a good race. Even though I had a friend to talk to which always helps to pass the time, I felt off even 5 minutes into the run. Susie asked if I wanted to switch to the 5K instead which I actually considered but knew I wouldn’t do. The fact that I considered it though made me nervous.
We were only about 3-4 miles in when we (I) decided to try out the walk/run method. We ran for 4 minutes and then walked for 2. We kept pace with the 2:10 pace group, but after my two bathroom stops we ended up hovering around the 2:20 group. At this point, as long as I beat my time from July I was happy.
I was glad Susie took one for the team and hung out with me as I cursed myself for doing these crazy things. Towards the end of the race, they started handing out ice cold towels which were the most amazing things I have ever felt. They even smelled like hose water which sounds gross, but they were cold and smelled like my childhood. At one point I wanted ice water so badly that I told Susie I wanted to eat my towel. I may have been delirious.
We FINALLY finished after I spent some time defiantly walking up a hill at the end. Susie was great about wearing her marathon coaching hat as she talked me through the insanity, but I am also stubborn and was trying to avoid death.
I finished in 2:29:40 which was about 9 minutes faster than July. It was about 20 MINUTES slower than my time in May, but I think that’s to be expected. I may have assaulted people to grab an ice cold can of water and then chugged it down like it was the first time I had ever had water in my life. It was AMAZING. Then I snagged some Luna protein bars and another ice cold towel. I’m telling you, those towels were the most amazing things I have ever felt.
I hobbled home and followed Susie’s advice by putting my legs up against my bookcase for awhile. It was helpful, but I also just enjoyed lying on the floor.
If anything, I thought a lot about how I had plenty of great material to write about for training vs. not training for races. Unless I win another entry this year, I’m not going to voluntarily sign up for any more races, although that doesn’t mean I won’t ever do one again. I think for right now I need to pick up heavy weights and play around with sprints instead of distance.
Again, big thanks to Luna for the entry and for my legs for not collapsing on me!
Questions:
- Do you run outside in the summer? I think I may have exclusive temperature cut-offs from now on.
- How do you fuel yourself during longer races?
I will willingly accept blame and also thanks for pulling you through. I’m glad that we switched to walk run as well, even though I did fudge some of the intervals based on your breathing. And part of the reason that I knew you’d like the legs up the wall pose was because I knew you’d relish the opportunity to just lay there. It is definitely part of the glory of that pose.
When/if you want to train, you know where to find me. We’ll make it enjoyable, and we will make it WORK. Because you can obviously do it, you just, as you said yourself, need to train.
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Magnificent Mile Women’s Half Marathon and 5k Race Review #magmilehalf
I love seeing my favourite bloggers together running races, haha! Glad you survived!!
Bri recently posted…7 things you might not know about me
Me too!!
That is so nice that you two ran together. It is more enjoyable to run with someone and talk. Congratulations to the both of you. Have a great day
bakingrunner.blogspot.com
heather recently posted…Things I am currently into
It definitely is. I don’t even want to know how bad my time would have been if I didn’t have someone there.
I feel weird saying this in a somewhat big community or runners/bloggers, but I don’t enjoy running all that much. For a couple miles it’s awesome. But after that I can’t keep my mojo. Summer runs for me are usually before 9 am so it’s not too hot heheh.
So cool that you and Susie stuck it out together 🙂
Jess @hellotofit recently posted…Link Love #32 and the last bit of summer
Yeah, I think it’s waning on me, but I’m not throwing it away altogether!
Man, kudos to you for finishing–actually, kudos to you for STARTING, double kudos for finishing–that race on Sunday. It was so, so hot, and the LAST thing I would’ve wanted to do on Sunday morning would’ve been to run a half marathon! All of last week was absolutely brutal in the temperature department, so getting out there at all, in my opinion, is a really awesome accomplishment. After the horror that was Rock ‘n’ Roll this past July, and the equal horror that was the Mag Mile Half last summer (it was just as bad last year as it was this year), I think I’m going to try to avoid signing up for half marathons in Chicago between June and late September haha. It is just not at all enjoyable to run a half in those sorts of conditions!
Bethany @ Accidental Intentions recently posted…Chicago Marathon Training Week 13
I was just thinking this morning that I need to start a “no summer race” rule going forward.
Good for you for finishing! It was a hot race. I’m glad you & Susie had each other.
Me too. Otherwise I may have died.
It’s great to have friends willing to run with you and push you through the hard times.
Also noticed, you found green shorts, super cute!
Jen @ Pretty Little Grub recently posted…About me…A to Z!
Oh yeah, I’ve had those in my drawer but now I need pants!!
Congratulations on finishing! It was a hot one, for sure. I trained all summer for the race and still felt like I was dying by mile 9. The tough races/runs make you appreciate the easier ones that much more.
Rebecca @ I Think I Will Run Today recently posted…I Did It!
Yes for sure. I think I may have to set up a strict “no summer race” rule.
GREAT JOB! super awesome and so impressed how you went for it and pushed through. running outside in the summer heat and humidity of houston, tx is KILLER and i feel that everyone who does it deserves major props, and gelato 😀
congrats!!!!
danielle saucy smith recently posted…Goals: September
At the moment I couldn’t imagine running a marathon – I’m just getting back into 20-30 minute runs, hah! I’ve always liked running shorter distances more. A marathon would be nice for a change, though! Maybe one day 🙂