Dogtown Half Marathon

I was supper excited to run Dogtown Half Marathon. The weeks leading up to the race, I was feeling really well. I had be cleared to run by my Doc, been spinning and running well, and had even ran the race course and was feeling really good about the race. I even had thoughts that I just might set a PR on this course. About a week before the race, the course changed due to portions of the trail being washed out from the flood hadn't been repaired in time. I was able to get a run in on that course. A few days before the race, the weather predicted that it was going to be Cold, Rainy, and Wet.... The course was once again changed 2 days before the race, making what was an all downhill course into a much harder course, including the hill climb of Washington Dam Rd.

Before the race. Michelle Peterson, Kellie Whittekiend, and Scott Monson. It was SO cold. Even though the temp said 40, it felt more like 32. With the wind and light rain, it was a cold start. Even though we was soaking wet by the finish, it was still a pretty sweet race.

I really struggled to get it going for some reason. The first couple miles I felt really tight in my calf's. I just couldn't get them loose. I have had several runs where I have run without my compression soaks, and several with, I am finding that I feel not as tight without them. This sat I'm runnning lake to lake relay so I will find out exactly how I feel running a race without them. Here is a pic at the corner of Washington Fields rd and Washington Dam rd. I loved this pole that I had to have a pic.

I HATE THAT DAM ROAD..... with the course changing, instead of running down Dam rd, we got to climb it. It is a gradual but long uphill climb. I gotta tell ya, I was Dying. I battled myself this whole race. I really don't know why either. This area, besides dam road is where I like to do a lot of my Long run training. I have had several races where I felt that i had hurdles to climb but this run was by far the Most Challenging run I have ever done. Not only did I have to fight the elements, but I had to fight myself physically and well as mentally. I had to keep telling myself that I can DO IT!!!!!! I think the hardest part was that as a slower runner, this was a race that most was way ahead and I only really came across others as they passed me, being that it was an out and back course. It was a lot harder to stay focused when you don't have others by ya to keep ya going. I do have to say, that I have some of the COOLEST friends ever. Even though I wasn't running with the pack, All my friends would give me a high five, and give me words of support. What made things easier was that I could see how BAD they were all hurting as well. This race was for sure one that I learned a lot about myself and my will to not give up. I had to grind where I didn't think I could grind anymore. Then a car pulled over to the side of the road, and it was another one of my friends, who told me to find my balance to keep my elbows in and ride it to the finish. Thanks Renee, I really need that A LOT. A block from the finish, I was really struggling to keep my legs moving, I saw one of my friends running towards me, and gave the that last boost to get me across the line.

I didn't have My best time, I didn't set a PR, but I did FINISH my 7Th half marathon. I crossed at 2:54:45. I was super stoked to have been greeted by all my family, Michelle and Micah Peterson, Kellie Whittekiend, and most of the Washington Community rec staff, and to Colleen Rue for basically catching me and for the delicious chocolate milk. I have never been happier to have crossed a finish, well except for probably my first half of course. :) Next Week Lake to Lake relay. Oh yea....