Subtitle: Thelma and Louise’s Half Marathon Adventure
I got to Denver Friday, a smidge late thanks to the usual American Airlines shenanigans. When they announced the plane was undergoing ‘maintenance’ and they wouldn’t know if it would go until the time it was supposed to leave, my RnR heavy medal (for 2 RnR’s in 1 year) flashed before my eyes. If I didn’t get there in time to retrieve my race packet, I was cooked.
But the airline gods smiled and off we went. Jill, my gracious hostess for the weekend, picked me up and we beelined for the expo.
Hooray for meeting Kathy!
After considerable time plotting how we could heist the highly-coveted triple crown heavy medal for Jill (it had purple sparkles, nuff said), we were off to a cross country meet to watch Jill’s son Ryan.
Hooray for meeting Terzah and her adorable twins! Why is everyone taller than me?
Race Day: I was up before my 4:30am alarm. We got there in time to see the RnR bike race go off.
We got in the corral and I started my Garmin. It responded with “Multiple heart rate monitors detected” and refused to start. Dammit, no watch.
Goal A: Don’t break anything and have fun.
Goal B: Limit yourself to 6 cuss words and have fun.
Goal C: Have fun.
I felt like we were running easy the first mile but we picked it up a bit in the 2nd to appease my cranky hip that likes a faster pace. It worked: hip was very happy. However my lungs were not.
Of course I immediately needed to pee. I pulled off at the mile 2 potties, realized they were all full and decided to press on, bulging bladder and all.
Hills at mile 3 left me gasping. I was lamenting my inability to get air when Jill reminded me we were at 6,000 ft. Oh right.
We slowed to a geriatric pace I could manage (barely), bless Jill’s heart she stayed with me and we just had fun with it, gabbing and laughing all the way.
By mile 6 I could ignore my bladder no longer, plus the bathrooms with flushing toilets not far off the course in the park were too good to pass up. I peeled off and luxuriated there for too long.
At mile 8 we walked the entire water station looking for Terzah and Kathy, alas we failed to spot them. By mile 9 I finally settled in and started feeling stronger (I use that term lightly). The last of the hills were at mile 11 or so then it was a pleasant(ish) cruise home.
Jill and I blazed the final straightaway, a steep downhill and just when I thought my spleen had surely burst, we were done.
The weather could not have been more perfect: sunny, cool, clear, gentle breeze.
My time was pathetic but not my worst, and probably the most fun half ever, thanks to Jill’s company. It’s a pretty course, but net uphill + limited oxygen = no picnic.
Like all RnR shirts, this one is meh. The medal is good, I’m slowly making peace with the usual crapola ribbon, although I do love the orange. I bought the Kombucha glass at the expo to add to my collection.
Tara met us after the race and, although I far from earned any cupcakes, that’s exactly where we went:
Jill and I are no slouches when it comes to handling our cupcakes. But this girl put us to shame.
This post is already too long. Stay tuned for the rest of our weekend adventure.
Did you race this weekend?
Those are some serious cupcakes!
You’d think an enormous enterprise like RnR could come up with better shirts & ribbons. I mean, really! How hard/expensive it is?!
Congrats on what sounds like a tough race! So glad you girls had fun. Sounds awesome!!!
Great job! Sounds like a fun weekend!! The 2 complaints I always seem to have with RnR is exactly what you mentioned…the shirts and ribbons. Those cupcakes look amazing!
I had one of these half’s this month too, time no where near the best and the distance a bit challenging but had one heck of a time. Think it’s a great lesson in teaching us to not get so caught up in splits and finish times, just your fitness level on 1 day!
You sure know how to celebrate a race finish with those cupcakes. Yummy…thinking this may be a good idea post CM12!
Great job! Running a race with a friend is so much fun, especially when you aren’t running your best. Congratulations on a strong finish!
I love your goals – they seem to be just right, especially for going from flat land to mile-high. There is just not enough O2 in Denver.
Glad you had a good time!
as long as you had fun girl that’s all that matters! Great job finishing regardless! SPA <3
You finished a half marathon = you earned cupcakes. And doing it at altitude earns you more. Nice job!
Congrats on your finish. You deserve a cupcake after a race.
Yep, I think you’re allowed to hate your life if you’re running at 6000ft with a net gain race! Nice job finishing and having fun, that’s really the best anyway. You totally deserved a cupcake!
I didn’t race this weekend, but I am racing this coming weekend!
Yummm cupcakes!!!
I’m so glad you had fun and enjoyed some cupcakes with Tara! The perfect approach to this race, methinks…..And it was GREAT to meet you. I’m glad I didn’t rely on seeing you two at the tent because I didn’t make it anyway–I’m still nursing this cold and accompanying laryngitis (lost my voice about 3 hours after meeting you at the meet).
Can’t wait to hear about the rest of the weekend and Thelma and Louise’s adventures….
my friend had horrible flight issues too!! I hate being super stressed before a race. This one sounds like it was a toughie, but another experience in the books!
I’m still pissed you didn’t hijack that purple sparkly crown! RnR Los Angles is tugging at my heart (a pumpkin medal to boot!)…I must go win the lottery, stat!
So fun to do the race with you and commiserate our oldoutofshapeness together. Killed myself at BodyPump today. That’s what that half marathon made me do! Haha.
xo
I love your goals – though I don’t think I could manage the 6 cuss word limit with hills at altitude 🙂 And I totally hear you on the R&R pet peeves…mine too! Glad you had fun – it was a good weekend for racing!
So glad you met your goal and had fun! 🙂 I ran the full a few years back, and the altitude killed me – and I was coming from 3500 feet! It’s amazing how much it can affect the body. Love the cupcakes – now I’m craving some!
Oh my goodness, look at all those delicious cupcakes! Congrats on another half down… and I love that you met Terzah and Kathy. I met up with them for the Houston full/half and loved getting to know them. Blogger meet ups are so fun!
Congrats on your race! Denver would be such a challenging place to race when you’re not used to the elevation.
What a fun blogger weekend, too!
you are awesome 🙂 and I SO want one of those cupcakes! Now would be good…So glad you got to run this one with Jill…races with friends are ALWAYS a win!
Congrats on your race this weekend! We recently had a team member run a red rock relay with his friends and he said it was the best thing ever getting to run with people you know. If you’re looking for a fun race with friends look up some relays, awesome experience!
Fun races are definitely worth it and totally cup-cake worthy, regardless of pace! I can’t imagine running at that elevation. One of these years I want to run an RnR event but the closest is Savannah (4 hrs away) and already sold out :p
I can’t believe I have fallen from the blogging world lately because I’m so sad I didn’t know you and Jill would be there..otherwise I would have been stalking you two just for a meet and greet! Congrats on finishing. I coached my GF to a sub 3 hour half…she wanted to die at the mile 11 hill!
Did someone say cupcakes? You’re playing my song. They’re BIG ones.
Running at altitude is not fun. And running with a bulging bladder even less so. I’m glad Jill made it fun for you.
I’ll bet you guys had a fantastic time! What a great group. And I really give you credit for racing at altitude. This flatlander is afraid of that!
You totally earned those cupcakes, btw!
That sounds like a lot of fun! Yacking it up with friends always makes the miles go by quick!
You are a badass!! I can’t even walk in Denver (b/c of the altitude)…I literally had an asthma attack at the airport on a layover. I couldn’t imagine running there – and half at that? Nice work, lady, nice work indeed.
What fun! I think it is great to do races with our girlies and not worry about it being a PR. And really feels different than when you go balls to wall (is that how you say it?)… although it probably felt that way with the hills and less oxygen!!!
Congratulations on another half marathon! This one sounds tough but you did great!
Those cupcakes look DELICIOUS! Yum!
Looks like a good time to me. Well done!
Glad you ladies had a great time! Those cupcakes look really delicious!
Sounds like an awesome blogger meet up weekend with a race thrown in for fun! The altitude would make for a tough race. Great job!
I am glad everyone had fun!! Congrats on the race
mmm cupcakes. you totally deserved them, you don’t need a reason 🙂
congrats on the race and jealous that you got to hang out with such cool ladies!