Center of the Nation Series Half Marathon – Montana
September 14, 2015
2:27:30
Temp: 57+ at the start, not much warmer, super windy, and cloudy at the end
What I wore: hat, tank top, Skirt Sports Happy Girl skirt(this is an affiliate link),
PROCompression socks, and Altra Running One^2 (affiliate link).
I was really excited to get to this race. I’ve sung my praises for Mainly Marathons for a long time and was so happy to see everyone again. It’s really like one big family out on the course. We were in the small town of Baker, Montana on their lake front. The course was an out and back on a mix of concrete, pavement, and gravel, with half marathoners doing 7 loops. I started the race with long sleeves, but ditched it after the first lap as I was plenty warm, despite the wind that continued to pick up throughout. Overall, I took it easy and stayed at a steady pace. The last loop was a little rough as the concrete had started to wear on my body, but I was only aiming to be sub 2:30 and met that goal with a couple of minutes to spare.
The good:
- I love these races and it was awesome to see some of my old friends and begin to make new.
- The temperature was a great racing temp for me after a summer of running in Virginia.
- Real bathrooms with flushing toilets, right on the course.
- The clouds that kept the race from getting too hot.
The bad:
- The concrete was really hard on my body and my usual issues were all talking to me by the end, plus a few extras popped up.
- The wind was awful. At one point we were running straight into it and I felt like I was almost moving backwards.
- 7 laps really messed with my head. I don’t know why (I’ve done more, I’ve done less. I guess it was just because the halfway point was not at the start/finish line).
The ugly:
- My body’s response to the hard boiled egg I ate with two laps to go. I hadn’t eaten at all during the race until then and was hungry, but I felt like I had a bomb sitting in my belly for the next two laps. (Before you tell me I was crazy to eat it, I ate a bunch of them during my back to back marathons with no issues at all.)
Overall, it was a fun race and I felt like I ran pretty strong until the last lap. We made a quick stop back at the hotel where I took an epsom salt bath and then we headed to the North Dakota Badlands. I spent the next few hours site seeing – alternating riding in the car with short hikes to viewing points. Fun, but I was ready for bed by 8:30 that night LOL.
One down, five to go.
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Wow, great job Erika!! Reading this, and after running that tough half on Sunday, I keep thinking, how do you motivate yourself to get out there and do the next one? That will be a great post….
Awesome medal!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Cautious
What an awesome medal! You’re making me want to do this but my husband & my body would rebel, like I said. And since I don’t like to drive I wouldn’t want to tackle it on my own. But that would definitely boost my states!
7 loops? I can’t even imagine. I don’t like to loop at all for a half. Part of the fun is seeing new stuff!
You’re doing awesome and your outfits are so cute!
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…Do injuries make you a cautious runner?
Sometimes foods we eat often just don’t go well. Eggs would not be my choice either. still smiling so that’s a plus!
Deborah Brooks @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Are you too cautious?…Wednesday Word
Laps!! Ugh, that would be really tough for me mentally. Sounds like you had a great race overall though, and you beat the time you aimed for!!! Nice job on this race. And flushing toilets on course….best thing ever.
I’ve been eye-balling these series and would love to do one someday! Thanks for sharing!
Sweat Pink love,
Megan
Megan recently posted…Review + Giveaway: Tiux Compression Socks
7 laps would have messed with my head too. Great job despite the egg 😉
Michelle @ Running with Attitude recently posted…Thursday Thoughts – the non-run edition
just looking at the concrete makes my legs ache!
courtney @ eat pray run dc recently posted…5 Songs to Power You Through Your Workout
I don’t know how you do these races as loops! That would be a serious mental challenge for me. Awesome job!
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…Stay Connected on your Run with the Timex Ironman One GPS +