And now the #sturgisfallshalfmarathon race recap.
I knew we were in for the devil’s own day when I stepped outside to check conditions at about 5:15 am. The air felt soupy and the temperature was already in the mid-70’s. Lots of midwestern humidity in the air. The gun sounded just outside the #cedarfallsreccenter at 7:00 am sharp and we were off. We runners benefited from going into South Riverside Trail so early. Lots of shade. This helped immensely in the early stages, especially since there was virtually no wind at all to move anything around. Was fairly pleased with my progress as I hit the Ansborough Ave turnaround.
Trouble did not start for me until Grand Blvd. From there we had to run a straight- away distance to River Hills School for the turn around there. I arrived there just after 8:15 a.m. Grand doesn’t have a steep incline, but the incline goes on forever. Furthermore, unlike the trail, there was no real shade heading up at first. And I’ve written before of my difficulties with straight-aways.
I started walking for a couple of blocks. I figured I would have to do that at some point in the run. What surprised me was I saw a lot of other men and women who were of physical and athletic stature that I could only dream about doing the same thing. That’s how much of a heartbreaker Grand Blvd. Was. I gained some running form for the turnaround at River Hills but slowed to a walk when I felt myself overheating on the way back from the school. I ran into my running partner @mamapack48 on the way back. “The heat and the hills got me.” I told her. She handed me some cherry running jelly beans. They revived me a bit to the point I dont recall walking for the remainder of the race (but I could be wrong I cant remember). Terri and I ran together but lost each other near CFU.
I crossed the finish line completely exhausted but exhilarated. I chugged two Orange Mango flavored Body Armours and Lord knows how many waters. There is a difference in what the finish line clock showed and what I had on my #nikerunclubapp. The Sturgis Falls timer had me at 2:30:42. My app had me at 2:29:40. Either way, I finished 72nd of 105 and 10th in my division. Also as @fitnessmom said “This is a race you survive, not pr on.”
Training for the Des Moines Marathon will start with a 3 mile run on Tuesday morning.
319 Iowa Runner 