Ah yes, my last half marathon in oh my goodness who knows how long. I would have loved to be still under 1:30 but it was a pretty brutal (hilly) course so that wasn’t an option.
Before the race I needed to take a photo next to the muscle milk.
The race started at a lovely 7:00 in Annapolis, Md at Dad’s alma mater. (The Navel Academy). It was perfect race conditions as far as heat and temperature wise. Both the 10k and half marathon started together. Needless to say, the fastest 10kers and the fastest half marathoners were together for the first 3.1 miles. Something I didn’t realize (because god knows I have the attention span of a knat) until I saw the first few females turn around-I was instahappy to realize I was in 10th place.
I ran the first two miles in 13:10. By the first two miles, I mean the only flat miles. The rest were pretty hilly but certainly not flat. I’m not complaining, I’m just stating.
There were some serious-150 foot bridge climbs that over a short period were pretty brutal. For some reason when we drove over them the day before, it didn’t click with me how high we were going. We did the same bridge twice (around mile 3 and 9?).
The race went into a small park and then did a 180 at mile 7 (it wasn’t an exact out and back course-there were some weird loops) but around the turn a male runner blew by me like I was standing still. I didn’t even know he was running the race until when he turned around with a bib on.
*To clarify, I don’t have a problem with males running the Zooma Women’s Half, I just think it was funny. This was a pretty expensive race. There weren’t awards for men. This wasn’t a PRing course and there were other races around that could be run instead. In fact, I believe for the 1100 woman there were about 100 men that ran it. If you are a male and want to win a majority female based race…go for it.
After that we turned around and I saw the entire rest of the race including dad. I love races that you pass everyone going a different direction. Honestly it’s really hard for me not to say good job to everyone. I feel so bad when people say good job to me and I’m going into cardiac arrest unable to say good job to them! From mile 8-13, I was basically dead. I was never feeling terrible, I just never felt that great. I just pretended like the race was almost over. (Which is unrealistic at mile 8).
We then met back up with the 10kers at their turn but still had about 4 miles to go because the half marathon had bonus loops. Keep in mind, we were meeting with the 10kers now that were doing 1.5-2 hour 10ks and we were going up a bridge. A lot of people were walking (which I have no problem with obviously, it just made for a lot of weaving and extremely hard to get water at a water station…I decided not too at the one). I spent a lot of energy and time weaving around people. I didn’t really mind though and it never upset me.
The one part I found strange was the final .2 was in an uneven cross country course terrain back to the stadium. We were running in grass (LOLZ rolls her ankles and gets injured frequently). It was an interesting experience.
I finished 4th overall, 3rd female overall (out of 1099F). I honestly think this is my highest place finish in such a big pool of (female) runners.
I know my pace got significantly slower in the last few miles. I know this was a solid regressive run. My award for my placing was a hat…I don’t ever wear hats but it’s a nice decoration addition for my book shelf. I did get a lot of muscle milk which was my favorite.
In cliff notes: I’m happy with my placing, not as happy with my time. Hills are hard. Don’t be *that* racer. No more halves until possibly next year as it’s time to train for my final year of college cross country. I enjoyed this race and would probably do it again.
Question for you:
1. Have you ever done a female based race?
2. Are you a hill runner?
Your placing rocks!! Congrats on a tough course. I was married at Annapolis so In completely biased…love that town 🙂
good job!
Great job! Amazing speed, as usual. I signed up for an all-female race in November, but nope, so far none of my races have been all-female. I don’t like hills that come in in the middle of a race, but I love to power up them as workouts!
Wow congrats on your epic placing and time, you’re amazing! And I’m slightly jealous you got a pic next to the muscle milk car haha 😉
AWESOME placing! 2nd female is pretty epic, though its always weird when you place really high but it’s not your best time. though 1:30 is really good! especially with hills and having to navigate run-walkers haha. congrats on your last 1/2 for awhile!
That course is notoriously difficult so getting anywhere near 90 minutes is amazing. Nice.
You are amazing. you = my hero 🙂
wow! you are just a running MACHINE! I’ve never done an all women’s race, but it sounds fun
That is awesome!! How in the world do you look so good after running??? It’s beyond me. And I think that your time is amazing. I can’t run hills to save my life. Seriously, though. We used to run stairs for swimming. Worst thing ever.
Woo great job! That’s so weird that they kept you all on the same course so you had to go through the slower 10kers.. I feel like it wouldn’t be fun for either racers! I only train on hills basically, so I guess I’m a hill runner.. Even though I’d rather not be 🙂
hehe right. That is how I feel at school…hills are there…I didn’t ask them.
Congrats on a great race! It seems I actually do like hills. Well, not as I’m running them … but I seem to have better races on tough courses!
I’ve done a few women’s races. Lots of area 5Ks, Disney Princess Half Marathon and the Iron Girl Half Marathon (new this year in Columbia, MD). Oh yeah, Iron Girl was quite hilly, and is now my half PR.
The first race I ever ran (Race for Life 5K) was women only. In fact the first five races of mine were all women! I did three consecutive RFLs and then the Bupa Women’s 10K (which has since been amended to include men) – it was actually very good for me as I was very nervous of men at the time (personal history created some issues which still linger…) but really wanted to participate in a race.
That’s still a fantastic time, particularly with 10K runners walking in front of you for so long. Congrats on the 2nd place – it’s obvious that everyone was struggling with the conditions when you placed so highly even with your ‘bad’ time.
*3rd, not 2nd. Sorry, I got a bit carried away while I was admiring your time!
hehe thanks! Those all sound like fun races. 🙂
congrats on the race, sounds like a hilly one but you pulled through!
You did great!! 3rd female out of 1099!?! Amazing.
Thanks Michelle!
WOOOO! You did great!
Phewww what a course! I know you said it’s not your best time, but you still did quite awesome, and 2nd place for women? Well hell ya, keep kicking booty 😉
Yeah I just did the all women Friehofer’s race. And the more I run hills the more I don’t hate them*
* Don’t hate them,not like.
this race is crazy hills. I did the 10k last year and it was enough! congrats on a solid time!
3rd place???? Dang girlll!
What an amazing finish! I’m also debating doing this race, but it is the same day as a race in Virginia Wine Country. Involving wine.