AppleFest Half Marathon

For my birthday on Saturday my running buddy, Allison and I ran the AppleFest Half Marathon on Hollis, New Hampshire.

I was really excited about it until Thursday. Why until Thursday? Because on Thursday I looked up the course route. And then on Friday I drove the course route. Since you won't be able to fully understand without a visual aid, below you will find the map (courtesy of my really awesome garmin watch) of the elevation of the course. If you'll look, there is a hill right before mile two that is a quarter mile long. not so bad. then there is a stretch of flat followed by a steep descent. honestly going down hill is just as tiring as going up because most people don't run on their toes like they should. then there's a few miles of "rolling" hills. now, look from about mile nine and a half until mile eleven. that is ONE HUGE HILL! then there was flat, then just after mile twelve was the same quarter mile hill that was just before mile two but seemed a whole lot steeper ten miles later.

Needless to say, i was seriously freaking out going into Saturday. This was my first half marathon to run "on my own" since Allison and I ran side by side at our last one and I train in relatively flat framingham.

But, my sister sent me a new neon shirt as inspiration. side story: she actually sent me a long jog bra but i was afraid of it being chilly in new england at the end of september so i traded for long sleeve. however, it turned out to be 85 degrees yesterday. And, my mom sent me some new race socks. so, even if i fell on my face at least i had new gear.

allison and i pre-race.

ready to run!

race story: just after mile eight the man who handed me some water told me i was the 13th woman. i saw a pack of three women in front of me and another girl up ahead and thought "if i can pass them i can be top ten". so, the hunt began (except i had to remember not to be too aggressive too soon because i still had one monster of a hill to go). the first girl i passed at the water stop when she actually stopped to drink her water. two more i took down on the super long mile and a half hill. that left the one girl up ahead. i decided my best chance to pass her would be on the flat before the final hill. so, i took the risk and went for it and was a little worried she would be able to draft off me going up the hill or i would burn out. but, at the last water station at mile twelve the kind kids doused me with water which was just the cool down i needed. going up the last hill there was a woman on the side of the road puking which relaxed me some because it meant even if the girl behind me passed me i would still be in the top ten. but, i survived and actually increased my lead. then, on the home stretched i found my legs again and passed a girl who had started off super fast and had no fuel left. sooo....

race results: out of 1200 people

Overall: 37th

Women's Division: 7th

Age Group: 1st

Time: 1:38:36

Average Pace: 7:27/ mile

the prize for first place was a basket full of apples (yes, the base is full too).

2nd and 3rd got pies. fatty amanda would've preferred pie :)


post race.

Allison ran 2:12 got 432nd

her mantra was: i didn't win and i didn't tie, but i didn't walk and i didn't die. hahahaha

I love my running buddy