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You are here: Home / 50 states / Center of the Nation Series Half Marathon Day #4 – Wyoming

Center of the Nation Series Half Marathon Day #4 – Wyoming

September 21, 2015 by MCM Mama 15 Comments

Today is Tuesdays on the Run, but due to crazy busy lives (or just plain lack of cell service for an entire week), April, Patty, and I decided to go with a “free topic” week.  Feel free to link up any running related post!

Center of the Nation Series Half Marathon – Wyoming
September 17, 2015
2:33:32

Temp: Low 40s and windy

Wyoming Start

What I wore: hat, short sleeve top, arm warmers, Brooks jacket, Skirt Sports Happy Girl Skirt(this is an affiliate link), compression socks, and Altra Running One 2.5 (affiliate link).

Wyoming start clint

This was my least favorite course of the race. I woke up feeling beaten down, the temps had dropped, it was windy, and much of the course was not very pretty. While I won’t say that I mentally defeated myself on this one, I will say that I wasn’t at my best. This course required a higher number of laps and each lap had three long shallow uphills into the wind. Yes, we did also have downhills with the wind at our backs because the race was two different out and backs, but I spent at least half of the race thinking “I hate this. Why do I even run?” Luckily, the people were awesome and I even got to run part of a lap with Beer Geek.

Wyoming course picture

But I never warmed up enough to take of my jacket or my arm warmers, I felt like I was working really hard for the pace I was running, and my cough had settled quite nicely into my chest by the end.  But I got it done.  (Also turns out that the elevation here was 4700+ feet versus the 3000 feet of the previous races and the near-sea level where I train. I’m guessing that had something to do with how I felt.)

Wyoming finish run

The good:

  • I finished upright and sort of smiling.
  • The rice krispy treats.
  • The smiling people who were having a better day than me who helped keep me moving along.

wyoming course

The bad:

  • My attitude. I was just grumpy.
  • The slight uphills into the wind. This is the closest to walking I came the entire series.
  • The temperature. I was too warm when the wind was at my back or when I was protected, I needed my jacket zipped all the way up when I headed into the wind. Very frustrating. My zipper got a lot of use.
  • I was really trying to finish every race in under 2:30, but I missed it by a few minutes on this one.

Wyoming mid-race

The ugly:

  • I apparently can’t run a tangent to save my life and with all the curves and multiple laps, I ran 14 miles. Oops.

Wyoming Medal

After the race, we headed to a brewpub for lunch. I totally deserved a beer at that point!

Firehouse brewing

Then we went and saw some wildlife, including bison.

bison

Finally, we headed to the Mammoth Site which is this location that used to be a sinkhole. Mammoths would fall in and get stuck and eventually it filled up and became a hill. Construction workers found the bones and now it’s an active dig site – in the middle of nowhere South Dakota. It was really awesome!

Mammoth site

Then it was off to Nebraska for race #5

Four down, two to go! Read about the first three races: Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

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Filed Under: 50 states, half marathons, Mainly Marathons

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Comments

  1. Lisa @ Running Out Of Wine says

    September 22, 2015 at 5:01 am

    Nice job! I think it would be weird to run in 40 degree temps and wind right now…the cooler weather might feel good but wind can be very frustrating! Glad you got to enjoy a beer at the end! Looks like a fun race series.
    Lisa @ Running Out Of Wine recently posted…The Things I Won’t Run WithoutMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Lesley says

    September 22, 2015 at 9:33 am

    I hate when it’s cold and windy. I can take either but not both. You absolutely deserved a beer after that race.
    Lesley recently posted…Strength Training for RunnersMy Profile

    Reply
  3. lacey@fairytalesandfitness.com says

    September 22, 2015 at 10:59 am

    Congratulations on finishing your race. Sometimes the harder ones are make you the most proud. Sorry to hear the weather didn’t cooperate. Doesn’t sound like ideal race conditions but your pushed thru and completed it. Way to go!
    lacey@fairytalesandfitness.com recently posted…This my friends is one thing I can’t run without, can you?My Profile

    Reply
  4. Kristen Grimes says

    September 22, 2015 at 11:48 am

    Your adventure has been so much fun to follow – you are absolutely amazing!!!!!
    Kristen Grimes recently posted…ToTR: I Never Run Without…My Profile

    Reply
  5. Rachel says

    September 22, 2015 at 1:35 pm

    I’m sorry you had a grumpy race. But at least you got it done and you got to see all the cool stuff after!

    Reply
  6. Michelle @ Running with Attitude says

    September 22, 2015 at 2:08 pm

    Ugh sounds like a tough one – but you got through it! You definitely earned those beers!
    Michelle @ Running with Attitude recently posted…Running Must HavesMy Profile

    Reply
  7. Char says

    September 22, 2015 at 2:13 pm

    Tough race. Congratulations on getting it done. Shows exactly what a strong-minded runner you are.
    Char recently posted…Sydney Half Marathon – Remembering Why I Love To RaceMy Profile

    Reply
  8. Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy says

    September 22, 2015 at 2:59 pm

    Hey, I think just the fact that you finished them all definitely means you deserve those medals!

    I think I’d be way more than grumpy after 4 half in 4 days. You are a rock star!
    Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…5 Things That Help Me Get My Run OnMy Profile

    Reply
  9. Montana @ Pretty Lil Mudder says

    September 22, 2015 at 3:52 pm

    Ok first off, congrats on completing 4 races and going for two more! That’s so great and so much more than I think I’d be capable of! Your stamina amazes me.

    Secondly, those bison are super cute! I want to pet one haha.

    And the mammoth dig site would be totally cool.
    Montana @ Pretty Lil Mudder recently posted…My Next Big Challenge…or ThreeMy Profile

    Reply
  10. Amanda says

    September 22, 2015 at 3:58 pm

    Great job getting it done even when you weren’t feeling it! Four races so close together is tough. I admire you.
    Amanda recently posted…Staying Balanced with BOSU & Marathon Training Monday {week 5}My Profile

    Reply
  11. Jessica S says

    September 22, 2015 at 4:21 pm

    That sounds like a miserable loop to run! You definitely earned those beers. 🙂
    Jessica S recently posted…Tuesdays on the Run: Looking to a back-to-back raceMy Profile

    Reply
  12. Smitha RunningwithSDMom says

    September 22, 2015 at 5:07 pm

    Can I say I am SUPER jealous about your starting temps?
    Smitha RunningwithSDMom recently posted…Guest Post: @RunRevel #BigCottonwood Recap #TOTRMy Profile

    Reply
  13. Annette @ Sweating Through Life says

    September 22, 2015 at 5:45 pm

    That mammoth site is really cool!! Sometimes we all have those races where our attitude gets the best of us. The positive, you did the race, you survived and now you can move on to the next one. Good luck at the next race!!

    Reply
  14. Deborah Brooks @ Confessions of a Mother Runner says

    September 22, 2015 at 8:47 pm

    I would be grumpy too if I had the week you had!! LOl congrats really impressive
    Deborah Brooks @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Freekeh Black Bean Burgers-Meatless MondayMy Profile

    Reply
  15. Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes says

    September 25, 2015 at 9:31 pm

    OH wow, that dig hole is pretty impressive! Very cool. Great job on the race despite not feeling well and the other rough conditions. Running at a higher elevation is no joke!

    Reply
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Who is MCM Mama?
A slightly obnoxious mom and wife who loves good beer and running, who struggles a bit with depression especially in the winter and when running isn’t allowed, who’d rather go on a fun vacation than upgrade the kitchen or add a master bath, and has a minor addiction to the Marine Corps Marathon.

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