Charlottesville Half Marathon
April 5, 2014
2:20:55
Temp: 49 degrees and windy
What I wore: hat, Champion short sleeve shirt, Sugoi arm sleeves, Happy Girl skirt,
PROCompression socks, and (of course) my trusty AltraRunning Intuitions
I’m not going to lie: this was one of the hardest races I’ve ever run. I had nothing left at the end. Nothing. Why? Well, here’s how I described it on Facebook:
The first 6 miles were just relentless. I’d barely get my heart rate down and we’d be going up another one {hill}. Then there was a huge hill at mile 7. 7-11 wasn’t bad. 12 nearly killed me and 13 stole my soul…
The good:
- I love visiting Charlottesville. I lived there for 6 years (4 as a student, 2 as a “townie”), so it was fun to run through areas I spent many happy years *walking*.
- I got to see some college friends the night before the race and crashed at their house (saving me from having to get a hotel room.)
- Race logistics were a piece of cake.
- Clean, warm, REAL bathrooms at the start.
- The Gu right before the huge hill at mile 7. Somehow I lost the one I brought and I was starving! (I need to eat breakfast closer to start time.)
The bad:
- The hills. Intellectually, I knew it was going to be a hilly race – after all I used to live there + I looked at the route. But, OMG! One after another. Just…constant. By mile 6, my legs hurt so much I didn’t even enjoy the downhills.
The ugly:
- The hill at the end of mile 11 (I think). I think it was almost a half mile long. I had nothing left at that point.
- The hill at 12.5. I just wanted to be done. I didn’t care that I only had a half mile to go. I walked that sucker. And wasn’t sure I could start running again.
- The hill at 12.9. I mentioned the hills were relentless, right? I made myself run it, but I really wanted to walk.
As I said on Instagram, this half marathon handed me my a$$. But I kind of want to do it again. There’s something about running through a place where you have so many good memories that makes the pain worthwhile. I want to go back and run it well and actually stop to take the pictures of my favorite places that I didn’t take because I was afraid I wouldn’t start running again. Beer Geek thinks I’m crazy.
And in other BIG news – last night I had the opportunity to register for Nike Women Half Marathon (check out their facebook page, there may still be bibs)! I now have all 13 races paid for and on the calendar!
3 races down, 10 to go to get to Venus!
To celebrate #3, I’m giving away a $35 gift certificate to RoadID!! Enter here!
4 words to describe Charlottesville Marathon – humbled by the hills!
Twins RUN recently posted…Charlottesville Marathon PR
I love to read your race recaps. Even when you know there is a hill sometimes it just wipes you out more than you expected. Glad you got into Nike-loved that race last year. Have fun!
Deborah Brooks recently posted…Rent The Runway-If only Cinderella had known about this…
I hate hills! You are a better woman than I. I would have cried. LOL Congrats on #3! Can’t believe you have 10 to go, but I know you’re going to rock them all!!
Diana recently posted…Bloomin’ Terrific – Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Miler Race Report
I ran a half like that a couple years ago and vowed never again. You are a braver/crazier 😉 soul than I to want to do it again! Congrats on #3!!
Michelle @ Running with Attitude recently posted…Training Check-in Week 5
Congrats on finishing this tough half! And yay for registering for the Nike Half. I’m vounteering for that one at the post race water station so hopefully I’ll see you there 🙂
Chaitali recently posted…Baked potato bar
I hate hills too! I like where I live, it is the flat-est of the flat-est, but if I go into the city to do races, the hills kill me every time.
Jade recently posted…OTPYWG #2
Congrats on finishing this race! We ran in Charlottesville back in October – my husband ran the Fall Classic Half and I ran the 10k. Boy oh boy do I remember how hilly that race was!
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run Expo…and a Pre Race Meltdown
Hills are what scares me most about this weekend’s run. When you haven’t run in a place before they’re an unknown. And it seems that even if you’ve run in a place before they can be an unknown. Well done on your half. It sounds like it was a tough one.
Char recently posted…Four Days Till Canberra
LOL. Isn’t this course famous around here for it’s hills? Or maybe that’s all Charlottesville races. I worried about the hills on the GWPC this weekend because this winter I didn’t run on that part of the Mt. Vernon trail as much as usual.
Coco recently posted…Resetting Healthy Life Priorities
Well done! Super run while getting really tested. This will just make you tougher for the remaining ten.
Johann recently posted…A Lovely Trail Run
Yay for having all 13 confirmed and paid for!
Tiina recently posted…Monday Musings
Indeed! I’m much more relaxed now!
Did you go to UVA? That’s where I went! Sorry the race was tough, but Charlottesville is one of the hilliest places you can run!
Elizabeth C. recently posted…Saving Time, Gas, and Money with a 20-miler
Yep, but I’m guessing I was there a few years before you. ;o)
I was just looking into running this race (marathon) i like small races, plus it is not too far from me. But the hills you mentioned scare me. What to do?
christine recently posted…Baby carrier review: Moby Wrap vs ERGObaby