Race Report - Wisconsin Half Marathon 5-03-14

The Wisconsin Marathon and Half Marathon is billed as the Cheesiest Marathon.  I love cheese.  I had to run it.

Three of us from my running club had signed up, me, Anne and Lisa.  Unfortunately, Lisa had gotten a stress fracture in her foot and was unable to do the marathon but she is a sweetheart and a trooper so she offered to drive me and Anne to Wisconsin and cheered us on.  Anne and I had originally registered for the full marathon but after a horrible winter and not enough training we both opted for the half marathon.  I wasn’t even trained all that well for the half, but had done a ten mile run two weeks earlier so figured I could gut it out. 

The night before I stayed at Anne’s house and she made a perfect spaghetti dinner sharing the last of her homemade tomato sauce from last season.  By 8:30 we were on our way to bed for Lisa’s 4:15 AM pickup.  I slept quite well considering it was a different bed at an unfamiliar house but still woke up about 3:15, rather than my desired 3:45 AM (OK, I didn’t really desire 3:45 AM but that’s what I set the alarm for.)  Anne got up early too and made us a pot of coffee and pulled out the travel mugs.   Right on time, a text came in that Lisa was waiting for us in the driveway. 

I had brought my own granola bar and banana as I didn’t want to risk trying anything new and I ate them in the car.  The ride from Yorkville, IL to Kenosha , WI is easy and quick so early on a Saturday morning,  about an hour and a half.  Yet, I was still pretty amazed how many cars were on the road.  Maybe they were ALL going to the Wisconsin Marathon!  They certainly were when we hit Route 50 in Kenosha.   Having eaten my normal breakfast and pasta the night before, I was sure I would be able to poop at the Lake Forest Oasis but no such luck.  No problem, there would still be time before the race.

When we got to Kenosha, we found a nearby parking garage.  What a nice change from Chicago.  Parking for 16 hours was $3!!!!  In Chicago, it would have been more like $30!  We parked the car and walked down to the start of the race.  This was around 6:20 and the race was scheduled to start at 7:00 AM.   In the information that was sent out, we were told to be in our starting spots by 6:40 but really no one lined up until

Chilly Waiting at the Start

about 6:50.  The wind was really gusting, the sky was overcast and it was lightly misting.  I don’t mind that weather but I was thinking how glad I was to have worn my long sleeve shirt and glad I had a garbage bag to share with Anne who was quite cold.  Since we still had time, I went to the port-a-potty but still did not poop.  This worried me a little bit as I have never done such a long run without having taken care of that first.  But, it was what it was. 

The Wisconsin Marathon offers an all cheese corral for those wearing cheesy products. You start right up there with the 5 and 6 minute milers.  I had brought my cheese earrings but after discussing it with Anne decided not to take advantage of it.  We were both imagining that we would be trampled by the fast runners as they zipped past us.  No, we would just start in the back.  I’m thinking that was a good decision.   After a lovely Star Spangled Banner, we were off.  Seriously, whoever sang the national anthem did a fabulous job.   Although I did the half marathon using short run/walk intervals, I ran the first five minutes to stick with the crowd and not cause and problems when stopping to walk.  Shortly after we took the first turn and headed south, I started using my 50 second run/ 40 second walk intervals and I was making good time.   I tuck my Gymboss timer inside my bra strap and set it on vibrate, it works like a charm and I don’t have to bother others with all that beeping.

The start of the run goes through downtown Kenosha and starts with a lot of spectators.   It’s always fun to start off a long run with cheers, smiles and signs.  The first mileage sign I saw said mile 12.  I was pretty sure I had not run 12 miles in about 12 minutes.  It finally occurred to me that after the marathon and half split off, the marathoners would see this section of the course again.  Right around mile 1 the course ran past beautiful lakeshore houses.  I honestly didn’t take them all in as the sun had started to shine, the sky had turned blue and the morning just started to feel good! 

Mile 2 and 3 turned away from the lake and then ran parallel to, but not next to the shore, through a Kenosha neighborhood.  There were not a lot of spectators but some people were out in their driveways ringing bells and or cheering us on.  As well as a few people, who for whatever reason needed to get into or out of their driveways and were having a difficult time with all the runners.   Mile 4 was back in downtown

Kenosha and as  I ran through I saw Lisa cheering me on.  It is always such a boost to see someone you know!

Lisa Cheering Us on

At about mile 4.5 there was a really good band playing.  I would love to have stopped and listened but at least for these first 5 miles, I was on a good pace.  Shortly after the band, the course turned onto the lakefront and headed north through a park and then on the road.   This is where I have my only complaints.  First, the asphalt through the park was really pitted.  In some places there were big open holes, in others just chopped up pavement and even where it was patched it was really uneven.  It wasn’t impossible to run on but it was tricky, particularly if you were passing or being passed.  My second complaint was that miles 6, 7, 8 and 9 (an out and back section) were all on cement pavement which is very hard on the body.  Some of the south section of the course was also on pavement and my hips and feet took a beating.  I train on asphalt and the pavement is so much harder.   But in the scheme of things, these both were relatively minor

complaints.  This section of the course was beautiful as the lake was in view all the way.  Oh, one more complaint that couldn’t be controlled.  It was VERY windy and this section was exposed and the wind was really tough at points.  Finishing this one would be an accomplishment.

One of the really nice things about this race was the myTEAM TRIUMPH groups.   From their website “myTEAM TRIUMPH is 501(c)(3) non-profit athletic ride-along program created for children, teens, adults and veterans with disabilities who would normally not be able to experience endurance events such as triathlons or road races. Through each event, we strive toward bringing the community together with the equipment necessary to allow them to experience the energy of packet pick-up and the thrill of crossing the finish line.”  I saw both Team Seth and Team Adam many times and other runners were calling to them and the people being pushed looked like they were having a great time.  Way to go myTEAM TRIUMPH.

A little while after the turn around at mile 7.5, I finally saw Anne.  She was so focused and determined that although I was jumping up and down and calling out her name she never noticed me. 

Right before mile 11, I saw Lisa again sitting somewhat near the band.  Double bonus, I got to see Lisa and the band before the hardest section of the course – the last couple miles.  As we passed through Kenosha again and the finish line was in sight, we still had a couple miles to go.  It was soooooooooo hard to slog on knowing that the finish line was right there!!  But the course turned south again for about a mile and then doubled back.  At mile 11.5 the marathoners split off, boy was I glad that I had decided to do the half.  Of course, I had not completed training for a marathon and if I had, I might have felt differently but I was glad to be getting this over.  The last two miles are always interesting.  This is where the training pays off and where people who didn’t train, or aren’t taking in proper nutrition really struggle.   I saw people limping, staggering and one woman’s legs just buckled out from underneath her.  Got to love runners though as two people ran over and caught her and helped her to the side of the road.  I had my own struggles starting about mile 12.  My calves started to cramp up and I had to be very careful how I walked or ran.  My 12 was my slowest mile overall.

Finally, the finish line was less than two tenths of a mile away and I started to feel the excitement of all the folks at the finish line.  As I passed 2:38, I knew I wasn’t going to PR but I wasn’t doing too bad.  I crossed the finish line at 2:40:30.   My pace per mile can be seen below.  No negative splits for me, no not at all.

SPLITS

MILE	TIME	CHANGE	AVG PACE
1 *Fastest	11:08	--	11'08"/mi
2	22:56	+ 0:40 (-6%)	11'48"/mi
3	34:32	- 0:12 (1%)	11'36"/mi
4	46:15	+ 0:07 (-2%)	11'43"/mi
5	57:56	- 0:02 (0%)	11'41"/mi
6	1:10:01	+ 0:24 (-4%)	12'05"/mi
7	1:22:13	+ 0:07 (-1%)	12'12"/mi
8	1:34:19	- 0:06 (0%)	12'06"/mi
9	1:46:23	- 0:02 (0%)	12'04"/mi
10	1:58:57	+ 0:30 (-5%)	12'34"/mi
11	2:11:29	- 0:02 (0%)	12'32"/mi
12	2:23:40	- 0:21 (2%)	12'11"/mi
13	2:36:40	+ 0:49 (-7%)	13'00"/mi

Lisa was taking pictures at the finish line and got a good one of me crossing.  We then waited for Anne to come in.  Anne accomplished the time she set out to get.   Yeah Anne!

My Finish

The after party looked like a lot of fun with a good band, beer and brats.  But after running 13.1 miles, we weren’t interested in the food or beer and although it was sunny, it was still very windy.   So we hobbled back to the car and drove back to Illinois.   As we were driving back, I rubbed my hand across my forehead and wondered about why I was so gritty.  Anne pointed out that it was salt.  Guess that would explain my leg cramps.  Next time, I plan to eat something salty half way in.

I had a great time.   I didn’t poop on the course, it was a great race.