Labor Day Half Marathon 9/5/11

Labor Day Half-Marathon

September 5, 2011

This is the song I listened to while I was in my running euphoria (thanks Scott Gaines for the suggestion):
Tell me this doesn't make you smile!

Formerly the Super Jock N Jill Half Marathon, the renamed Labor Day Half Marathon starts at the Redhook Brewery in Woodinville.  There is ample parking at the winery as well as other locations.  This event draws a huge amount of participants compared to many local races and with an 8:00 a.m. start, I needed to get on the road by 6:00 at the latest since it was a 90 minute drive.  

I arrived at the start by 7:15 a.m. and headed over to pick up my packet and get in line for the porta-potty.   Mary Hannah was also getting her packet and we waited together for our turn in the big blue box of horrors.  I had time to return to my vehicle to drop off my bag and take off my outer layers of clothing before heading back to the starting line.


I lined up with the masses and soon we were headed toward the Samammish River Trail after running on local roads.  Immediately  before the start, I realized I needed to go to the bathroom again but there was no time.  I had hoped there would be porta-potties in the early miles but I never found one and by mile 5, I must have sweat the urine right out of me because I didn't need to go anymore (haha).

I carried my Ipod and settled into a nice rhythm.  I felt surprisingly strong after Saturday's 10 miler and pushed my pace to see what was in me.  I wasn't going to risk an injury with my upcoming goal marathon so I  paid close attention to how my body was responding.  

The race is very flat and the Samammish River Trail is a beautiful place to run.  It had many walkers and runners, as well as bicyclist, most of whom were very polite but some gave no warning of their approach and nearly took me down.  Not. Cool.

Because of the large number of runners, I had no indication of how I was doing in the field but felt happy with my pace and was on target to be under 1:40.  I had noticed a couple of women ahead around mile 10 who seemed to be running my pace.  I made an effort to pick up my pace a little and see if they could get any closer.  I inched my way toward them and felt they were slowing just a little.  My music was awesome and in the last two miles, I felt that happy feeling, like the world was smiling at me and so I was smiling at the world.  Yes, I know it's goofy.  I can't help it!  There are just moments when I get this euphoria while running and I will not let it pass me by!

I passed the two women with a big grin because of how weird I am and not because I was being mean and let that happy feeling pull me to the finish line.  As I drew closer to the finish, the spectators multiplied and when they saw me, they gave huge smiles.  Sort of off-topic:  Did you know babies copy faces?  If you smile, they smile??  It was like that.  You're grumpy, they're grumpy.  You smile, they smile.  I dare you to try this out today.

I finished in 1:35:33, good enough for 2nd in my age group.  Beautiful weather, great friends, flat course.  What do you think?  Of course I'll be back!

Half-Fanatics Team Picture

Glass and Certificate for 2nd in age group

Tall beer glass award!!!  

bib number:	307
age:	41
gender:	F
location:	Port Orchard, WA
overall place:	103 out of 861
division place:	2 out of 79
gender place:	22
time:	1:35:28
pace:	7:17

Split	Time	Distance	Avg Pace
Summary	1:35:33.8	13.32	7:10.6
1	6:55.0	1.00	6:55.1
2	7:07.7	1.00	7:07.8
3	7:05.8	1.00	7:05.8
4	7:15.0	1.00	7:15.1
5	7:06.1	1.00	7:06.2
6	7:22.6	1.00	7:22.7
7	7:42.0	1.00	7:42.1
8	7:05.3	1.00	7:05.4
9	7:06.9	1.00	7:07.0
10	7:21.3	1.00	7:21.3
11	7:13.9	1.00	7:13.9
12	7:15.1	1.00	7:15.2
13	6:58.1	1.00	6:58.1
14	1:58.6	0.32	6:13.2