Since we're already in half marathon shape, we figured we might as well take advantage of local races to get the experience. My Uncle Andrew, Aunt Bonnie, and cousin Lane, come to Phoenix every year to visit. They live in Staten Island, NY. My uncle has run the IMS half marathon for the past few years during their visit. My dad signed up to do it this year. We thought Cory was going to do it too, but he's still nursing some injuries from the PF Chang's half. So Chris and I decided we should do this race too - since everyone else was!
The expo has moved from a high school gym to the
Randall McDaniel Sports Complex. Ryleigh enjoyed doing the gymnastics obstacle course set up by a local gym. And the swag bag was much better than the runDisney one. I mean we at least got free samples, coupons, and chapstick!
This race starts at the
Surprise Recreation complex, which is where Surprise Stadium is located. This is where the Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals have Spring Training. Then you race through Surprise, El Mirage, Youngtown, and Glendale before finishing at
Westgate right by the Bellagio-style fountains, across the street from Cardinal Stadium.
Since it's a one way route, you had to park at the finish line and be shuttled to the start... or have someone drop you off. My mom was going to drop us off, so we got to my parents house around 6:15am on Sunday. And to start off the day at their house, they had some plumbing difficulties involving water shooting all over a bathroom. Great way to get the day started with a shot of adrenaline pre-race. After finally getting the plumbing fixed, we piled in the car and headed to Surprise. Ryleigh, Cory and my brother Chris went to the finish line later. Bonnie and Lane dropped off Andrew.
We got there and there were no corrals, everyone was just standing around talking and there was music to pump us up. It was cold just standing around. I figured I'd be okay in my smart wool arm warmers - NOT! It was chilly! Glad my mom and Bonnie stayed around for the start so I could keep my jacket on until the last minute! Here we are waiting for the race to start. Pretty sunrise in the background.
If you can't tell due to the poor lighting (this is the best of the pictures taken that morning, the other ones were a lot darker) - That's Chris in green, me in the pink hat, my dad in the neon yellow/green hat, and my uncle Andrew in the red shirt and white hat.
It was a completely different experience from the TinkerBell. We walked toward the start and expected a quarter to half mile walk and were shocked when we just found the start. I mean we could actually see the small sign that said "START". I don't know if I ever saw the official TinkerBell start sign. There were probably only 3000 people at this race, so it was easy to let people go first and allow enough room in front of us for things to space out. Chris and Andrew ran ahead, and my dad and I stuck together for most of the race.
Not sure what mile markers these were taken at. But that's Andrew, who's obviously lost Chris by that point.
Here comes Chris! Green shirt under the signal.
Here comes my dad and I. I believe this is mile 4.
Still mile 4.
Andrew speeding by.
Andrew in the chute racing toward the finish.
That photo of Andrew racing toward the finish was taken by Lane. My mom and Ryleigh were on the other side of the street. Andrew was so focused on the finish line he didn't see them. So Ryleigh inches toward the street to give him a high five and scares the crap out of Andrew. He thought it was some big pink squirrel running out into the street. So disappointed no one got that on camera!!
Here's Chris racing toward the finish.
Andrew at the finish. Right about this time I checked my watch and told my dad "Yup, 1:45, Andrew should be finishing now! And we have over 45 minutes to go!" Kinda depressing when you put it that way. And we were only at mile 8, just over halfway done!
My dad and I split up after mile 11. My IT band was getting really tight and my knees were hurting. I was running a new interval (on race day - so maybe that wasn't a good idea) and wasn't used to it as well as running in new shoes. I only did 2 long runs to break them in before the race. So I lengthened my intervals for the last few miles. And the killer - at mile 12.5 you have to go over the freeway on a very large bridge. So NOT NICE to put a hill at mile 12.5!! At least there was the downhill right into the turn before the chute to the finish, but still!! I really got my second wind to run the final mile, but halfway up that hill I realized I'd just save my energy for the downhill portion :)
And you see Chris is done with his Medal. They're all searching for us. "Where are they?!"
Here's Mark!!
There's the high five Andrew missed. But Grandpa knew the routine.
And here I come!
All the finishers!!
Andrew's time was 1:44:28
Chris's time was 2:09:53
Mark's time was 2:40:48
Julie's time was 2:41:26
My dad says the timing is off because he finished more than 30 seconds before me - but hey, I'm not complaining!! Shaved 6 minutes off my TinkerBell time!
And the shoes that got us there. 2 Vibram Bikilas, a New Balance Minimus Road, and a pair of Altra Intuitions.
Post race pains - tight calves, and likely the biggest blister I've ever had, really shocked it didn't pop during my run. Chris has tight calves. Mark's hip and ankles are stiff. And not sure what Andrew's pain report is, but he started out the race nursing a pulled hamstring.
Overall, great experience. Nice to run in a race that spread out and let me run my own race. Course was kinda boring, but I pretty much expected that running through the west side of town. You just had to keep your eye on the stadium to motivate you. I'd do it again. Seems to be gaining popularity and had a bunch of sponsors. Even the post race was decent - cookies, pop chips, gatorade. 2nd half marathon under our belts!!
Next up - Pat's Run, April 21- 4.2 mile run to benefit the Pat Tillman Foundation.
