I don’t really know where to begin-so I will start here. I was very nervous for this race but if I wasn’t nervous that wouldn’t be fun to write about.
The race itself was on Sunday, but we left on Saturday afternoon so we wouldn’t have to hustle around and drive 2 hours to the race in the am. That wouldn’t have been so fun to do in the am.
I got there 45 minutes before wearing my new favorite racing outfit. LOLZwhoisabumblebee?
The race itself was not in my favorite running conditions. Coming from the Shamrock half last month in warm and sunny weather to this:
35 degrees, snow on the ground and cold…well…I’m a southern girl at heart to say the least.
Honestly though, bitching about the weather wouldn’t have done anything. Was I just not going to run because it was cold and miserable. Uh no.
I checked my bags but was still wearing long sleeves and a sweats and couldn’t go recheck them, so I did what any sane person would do and hid them on some random persons porch about one minute before the race. (my friends still make fun of me because after the race I was like…uh got to go get my clothes from this random persons porch) If they weren’t there when I finished…well that was gods way of telling me to stop buying so much crap (but they were).
But I tell you-the national anthem was one of the coldest minutes of my life. With that, the race was off and I was too.
Mile 1 was downhill and with the wind and I hit it in 6:40-I was a bit worried because I knew that didn’t give me much playing room to break 1:30.
Mile 2 was the uphill and into the wind. It was a miserable mile and my second least favorite (Mile 12 was the same stretch only more windy). To be as sappy as possible, some little girl yelled high five bumblebee as I ran by (she was about 6) and I gave her a high five. Honestly, if you are to in your “running zone” to give a little girl a high five…well then…we aren’t the same type of person. My race was already made.
By mile 2, I had pretty much warmed up (because I didn’t before the race) and my legs fell into a trance only to be awoken by random people telling me I was currently the top female overall (but I knew number 2 wasn’t too far). Also being woken up by some college soccer boys hitting on me at water stops and asking why I didn’t put my phone number on the bib (because my name was…men are so creative…).
My fastest mile split was a flat one (mile 8) going with the wind and I hit that in 6:05. I hit 9 miles in 1:00.15 and trekked up the bridge hill on mile 10. I took about half my gel at this point…which I didn’t really need but I don’t have the balls to not have a gel. (mental>physical)
My least favorite mile is between 11-12 because you reenter the starting line and can see the finish but know that there is no way in hell that is 2 miles away and know you are going back to face the wind (and uphill) one last time. Right after mile 12 was the nice uphill against the wind climb. My eyes were watering, I was instacold again and yelling but I knew I was almost there.
So I continued along my journey to the finish and finished in 1:27.15 as the top female overall.
I can’t tell you how thrilled I am. Plus I got this stunner trophy to hold more things in. Or drink from at the bar…I can’t quite decide what. So I guess this can be my new favorite race.
Awesome job! You did fantastic and HUGE congrats on the trophy! I’m also diggin your neon laces 😉
Those are actually my brother (who no longer runs) shoes. I stole them when I first started running and they are my lucky shoes! HA!
That is amazing time, the snow would have totally gotten to me mentally. I give you credit. My goal to look absolutely glorious as I beast a race. Nice work!
THIS IS AWESOME! AND YOU ARE AWESOME!! CONGRATSSSS!
Congrats! Also, I have to point out the awesomeness of your progression of facial expressions throughout the race. Totally self-explanatory. 🙂
(and northern weather can kiss my butt.)
You are so amazing!! I can’t even fathom running a 6:08 after already running 7 miles. I want to be you. Congrats!!!
I LOVE YOUR SMILES IN ALL THESE PICS. Awesome job.
YOU. ARE. AMAZING. I also LOVE the bumblebee look!! your trophy is awesome and that finishing photo of you rocks!! seriously, i would give anything to look as good as you at the finish line! 😛
I will trade you for your hair!
Congrats!! So jealous of you new beer mug… Er, trophy lol. You’re so super speedy 🙂
YOU are amazing. You looked sexy and speedy running hehe:) woot woot!
CONGRATS HOLLIE! You are so amazing – seriously SUCH an inspiration!!!!!!!
That is crazy fast, congratulations!
That is crazy fast. congratulations!
You are a crazy awesome lady!! Congrats Hollie!
Aweee I love that the little girl wanted a hi five! And that smile is definitely a smile of victory!!!
Congrats on your trophy and your overall female win! You were smokin’ fast so I’m not too surprised. I think if I was wearing that little amount of clothes I would be too. It was like 50something at our practice tonight and I had on long sleeves and track pants because I’m a wuss and I really *am* a Southern girl.
So funny about leaving your clothes on a random person’s porch. Hopefully they understood though with a race being in their neighborhood!
congrats!!! you are amazingly fast!! and as a true southern girl, I give you major props…I am an absolute baby when it comes to the cold. I’m not sure I could’ve gutted it out like you!
HOllie you are absolutely awesome!!!!!! Congrats!!
You’rrrrrre a baller!
How’d you get your mile splits if you don’t run with a Garmin? (Just curious!)
They had the clocks set up. I still don’t (and probably won’t) have a Garmin. 😉
So happy for you! That time is amazing!! Also agree, high giving children is a MUST.
Whaaa? You ran the Plattsburgh half? I was there too! 😛 I enjoyed seeing my face next to yours as the first photo on this post. Once again great job!
Congrats Hollie. You are amazing-pants 🙂
Still amazed at you! Look at you go! 🙂
Congrats you little bumble bee!! Hollie… you are so fast!!! I totally lol’d at you leaving your clothes on random people’s porch hahaha. But seriously, GREAT JOB!
AWESOME! congratulations! the last pic of you running looks amazing.
Oh my gosh! You look so happy in the photos.
Great job, by the way. Seriously. First female and finishing at that time is amazing. Give me your running skills.
Bad-freaking-ass! I’m totally behind in my blog reading but holy hell woman! You are amazing! …. and somehow managed to look hot and HAPPY in the photos! WOO!