Belk Bowl 5K

College Football:  NC Tarheels vs Cincinnati Bearcats

This was an inaugural 5K in Charlotte, timing by Run For Your Life with an easy out and back course, very moderate (if any) hills and lots of college enthusiasm.

The START line was at the Wells Fargo Atrium, downtown Charlotte and runners were entertained by a 'battle of the bands' prior to the gun.  Both team bands lined opposing sides of the street and played their hearts out. The Cincinnati Bearcats mascot and cheer squad were present and full of enthusiasm both pre and post race.  Lots of folks stayed for the awards ceremony (inside the Atrium) to enjoy laughs as the Bearcat danced and took pictures with fans. Belkie Bear and Sir Purr were there.  Loads of fun!

This was simply a year end race for me to keep me on track with my current goals.  Lots of friendly, familiar faces at the event and a live DJ indoors followed by a Fanfest before the game start.  Excellent run and event overall.

T-shirts were long sleeve cotton and door prizes were drawn as the results were being tallied.  Lots of amenities - water, Powerade, bagels, coffee, trail mix, and bananas, as well as vendor support.  

Definitely a repeat race in 2014!

MRT Fall Series 5K Race #9 **

21° at the START line this morning....

Tuesday nights belong to  the Iredell County Fall Race Series hosted by McLelland Racing Team (MRT). The Series began October 1st and will end on November 28th with a Thanksgiving Day 10K and each race is only $10 with an option to buy a series shirt if interested.  Short sleeved shirts are $15 (from previous race series) and long sleeved are $25.

All races support a community cause, each unique to the race itself.  MRT supports local charities and resources so it's money well spent. Each race takes place in beautiful Iredell County at various community sites.  

Locations are listed on the Fall Flyer (Facebook) or in the race listing (RacesOnline).

This race was the only morning run in the series and the location was the Youth Soccer Complex in Iredell County - the final race of the series.  I personally have completed 7 of the 9 events which puts my name on the list of Series Participants eligible for awards but at present I have no idea if I will actually place.  The MRT Running Club will host a group dinner on December 3rd and I'm sure finalists will be awarded then.  Congratulations to all who won!

This race was also a 5K / 10K event meaning runners had a choice of distances.  I ran with two friends and all three of us won awards for our age groups making it a really great day not to mention a wonderful beginning for Thanksgiving Day!  

Official Time:  47:25

2nd Place for Age Group 45-49

St Pete Women's Half Marathon

 

This was my 4th year attending the St Pete Women's Half Marathon and will most likely be my last.  I would recommend the series to any female simply because it is well managed and the 'bling' is definitely unique.  I may defer to a different WHM location for 2014 but somewhere en route this year I made the decision not to return to St Pete (at least under the present conditions).

Let me explain.

There is loads of enthusiasm for this event and a wonderful turnout.  There are also changes... major changes that took place this year.  

• GU is no longer a sponsor.  A less reliable gel was provided at Mile 8 of the course.
• The course has been altered which, sadly, includes the removal of both 'The Pier' near Vinoy Park and 'Tropicana Field' (the indoor run of the baseball stadium). 
• The course was 13.37 miles due to the remapping.

This transition makes the race an 'all asphalt' event, very little waterfront, no scenic attractions other than to pass by the two locations that were previously part of the course. 

It remains a flat course, it simply is no longer a scenic course thus I don't consider it a 'destination' race which was a major part of the attraction for me.

To anyone who knows the energy behind the Women's Half Marathon Series, I, again, would not deter you.  It is a FLAT course (with one small bridge) and it is all women with the remarkable designer goodie bags and customized medals with charms. A women's fitted tech t-shirt as well (this year's color was Florida blue and gorgeous!).  It just isn't a scenic route any more.

(Medal included a charm shaped like Flip Flops)

The new route was tedious but other than that, it was a perfect day.  Overcast, 60°, no rain, plenty of breeze and lots of support.  All turns and course markings were very clear and lots of police presence to ensure safety. Parking is also very accessible and fees are not outrageous (as Gasparilla).  I parked at the Mahaffey Theater for $5 and it is right at the Start Line.  I will repeat, this is a well organized event.  It is the actual course that I find disappointing.

In prior years, WHM awarded participants with a 3-peat medal (charm) for any runner / walker that ran three consecutive events - either three in one year or three years consecutively.  I completed the three years and for those in 2012 that accomplished this level of commitment, not all received the 3-peat designation, myself included.  Again, more changes.

On a more personal note, my running shorts split a few seams around Mile 4.5 during a 'pit stop' which cost me 4 mins.  This event does not provide body glide or Vaseline at the water stops so I completed the remaining miles at a lesser pace and earned my 5 nasty chafe burns as a result.  Lesson learned.  Body Glide is mandatory.

As for the St Pete race, I hope the organizers listen to the feedback and my fingers are crossed that the event returns to it's 'destination race' status.  Best of luck to WHM!

UPDATE 01/23/2014:

Today I received in the mail my "3-peat" medal from WRS (as it is now referred to).  It is one year late and has a new name (compared to the three original races I ran under the WHM logo).  It is cute. Sort of. It has studs between each digit of the year earned making it a bit hard to discern, but hey, they did send it and more importantly, I did earn it.  This race had a major sponsorship change in 2012 so those of us that earned the award that year had to wait until all the dust settled.  Glad to see the dedication to fans and, again, I hope they take the comments on the route changes under consideration.

Search Results Here:

MRT Fall Series 5K Race #8 **

For those that actually read the headers... I skipped Race #7.  Charlotte and the surrounding cities had snow that evening, beginning north in Statesville at the race location then traveling southward through Charlotte on into SC.  I chose to forgo driving in it because the city of Charlotte is not known for superb driving in inclement weather and my route would have taken me straight into it both pre and post race. 

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Tuesday nights belong to  the Iredell County Fall Race Series hosted by McLelland Racing Team (MRT). The Series began October 1st and will end on November 28th with a Thanksgiving Day 10K and each race is only $10 with an option to buy a series shirt if interested.  Short sleeved shirts are $15 (from previous race series) and long sleeved are $25.

All races support a community cause, each unique to the race itself.  MRT supports local charities and resources so it's money well spent. Each race takes place in beautiful Iredell County at various community sites.  

Locations are listed on the Fall Flyer (Facebook) or in the race listing (RacesOnline).

This location was the War Memorial Recreation Center in Mooresville, NC, 220 N Maple Street.  The course was over residential streets (all asphalt) and including LOTS of hills.  The final quarter mile stretch was downhill but you worked hard to get there.

This course was altered slightly from previous runs in order to make it more challenging.  The elevation chart proves it is NOT a flat course.

Much to my personal delight (and humor) I won first place for my age group last night.  I was also the final finisher.  When the Race Director called my name ... I simply burst out laughing.  Excited to win but acknowledging I was the ONLY one in my Age Group and the last to cross the finish line.  But as so many have told me... a win is a win!  So I'll take it.  This marks my 2nd official placing in a public race (both were 5Ks).

Today was a good day!

Official Time:  43:58

MRT Fall Series 5K Race #6

Tuesday nights belong to  the Iredell County Fall Race Series hosted by McLelland Racing Team (MRT). The Series began October 1st and will end on November 28th with a Thanksgiving Day 10K and each race is only $10 with an option to buy a series shirt if interested.  Short sleeved shirts are $15 (from previous race series) and long sleeved are $25.

All races support a community cause, each unique to the race itself.  MRT supports local charities and resources so it's money well spent. Each race takes place in beautiful Iredell County at various community sites.  

Locations are listed on the Fall Flyer (Facebook) or in the race listing (RacesOnline).

This location was the Youth Soccer Complex in Iredell County.  Lots of bright lighting in the START area and the course was a standard asphalt greenway.  It was already dark when the race began so most runners wore headlamps and reflective gear.  MRT had placed glow sticks on the route to keep runners on the path and volunteers were at the turnaround with ample water supplies.  

It was a flat out and back but for some reason the final mile (flattest portion) slowed many runners down, including the very enthusiastic youth soccer players who participated in tonight's run. My splits reflect the exact same concept... which I'd be happy to show you BUT... the GPS signal went nuts on this course!  I wound up with accurate time but inaccurate distance.  I used my iPhone's RunKeeper app which ordinarily works wonders... but not tonight.  I collected a 5.34 mile distance with an 8:14 pace.... NOT!!!  LOL

This was the largest crowd yet (134) for a MRT race and I was very glad to see it.  The series is growing in participation and I find myself very disappointed when I have to miss an event for any reason. Three races are left in the series, must run 7 to be eligible for overall series awards.  The final race is early on Thanksgiving morning and at this point promises to be quite fun and CHILLY!

Run Happy!

OFFICIAL TIME:  43:49

RESULTS HERE:

Harvest Half Marathon

This race was part of my Bucket List.  I have decided to race all 50 states.  This was State #6 and was truly a pleasant surprise for me.  Apparently, the Fall season was late this year so we were all blessed to enjoy the gorgeous fall colors in full bloom this Saturday as we ran a public trail through Brentwood TN.

I could not have been more happy with my choice for this state and the seasonal timing.  I blew my race results in the first 4 miles with cramping and decided to enjoy the scenery for the remainder of the course.  My iPhone and I had a wonderful time!

The race was hosted by the Brentwood YMCA and coincided with a annual Festival that followed the race. As you can see by the course map, this location is in a very upscale area of TN, well maintained throughout the entire area. 

 

The course is an out and back and predominantly flat except near the turnaround.  Lots of friendly volunteers en route to make sure no one misses a turn and the asphalt had chalk markings to ensure the same. The greenway remained open to the public so many runners would be maneuvering families, children, skateboarders, bikers and roller bladers - typical for a Saturday morning.

Because it is a public greenway, runners started in waves of about 20-25 each with the fastest runners going first to keep from overcrowding at any given point.  

A word of caution to seasoned runners - there was only one public toilet on the course and it was at the 2.25 Mile Mark.  It was part of the greenway not a Port-A-John.  No other facilities were utilized on the course although ample restrooms were available in the START area.

It was a chip-timed event so all runners got an accurate START and FINISH time.  Those with a pace above 10 minutes started at 8:17 AM with a 4 hr window to finish.  Some came in after 12 PM but organizers remained until the final runner crossed the Finish Line.  Kudos to the YMCA for showing support to ALL runners / walkers.

CHIP TIME:  3:33:50

MRT Fall Series 5K Race #5

Tuesday nights belong to  the Iredell County Fall Race Series hosted by McLelland Racing Team (MRT). The Series began October 1st and will end on November 28th with a Thanksgiving Day 10K and each race is only $10 with an option to buy a series shirt if interested.  Short sleeved shirts are $15 (from previous race series) and long sleeved are $25.

All races support a community cause, each unique to the race itself.  MRT supports local charities and resources so it's money well spent. Each race takes place in beautiful Iredell County at various community sites.  

Locations are listed on the Fall Flyer (Facebook) or in the race listing (RacesOnline).

This race location was at the Vanhoy Campground in Harmony NC.  The course was an out and back beginning on the gravel entrance to the campground then entering the local roads.  Police protection was present at the major intersection and they remained until the final runner (myself) returned to the Finish Line.

This was not my best race... not my worst but definitely not my best.  I had gotten a stomach virus over the weekend and did not realize until the race that I had remained dehydrated.  Both lower legs cramped up so I walked the entire course and am quite grateful for the volunteer that returned to finish with me.  Again, MRT is truly a supportive club.

OFFICIAL TIME:  44:26

MRT Fall Series 5K Race #4

Tuesday nights belong to  the Iredell County Fall Race Series hosted by McLelland Racing Team (MRT). The Series began October 1st and will end on November 28th with a Thanksgiving Day 10K and each race is only $10 with an option to buy a series shirt if interested.  Short sleeved shirts are $15 (from previous race series) and long sleeved are $25.

All races support a community cause, each unique to the race itself.  MRT supports local charities and resources so it's money well spent. Each race takes place in beautiful Iredell County at various community sites.  

Locations are listed on the Fall Flyer (Facebook) or in the race listing (RacesOnline).

This race location was Lakewood Park, 800 Lakewood Drive, Statesville, NC and proved to be the setting for quite a few new PRs tonight (myself included!). 

 The route was a continual series of inclines and declines making it a full challenge to PR here.  The Finish Line was at the far end of the park as you can see on the map leaving the last .15 mile completely in the dark this time of year.  A headlamp is next on my running gear list.

The water stop for this race was at the Finish Line.  The course was well marked and the Club leader continually rode through on his bicycle to ensure safety and course directions.  I suspect a few more volunteers were needed tonight but nothing lacked in spite of their absence.

I now have 5 shirts: Spring Series (gray tech SS unisex) Summer Series (neon yellow tech SS, men's and women's), Breast Cancer Awareness (neon pink tech LS) and my newest purchase, Fall Series (neon green tech LS).  

Hi.  My name is Tracy.  I am a shirtaholic.

See ya at the races!

OFFICIAL TIME:  39:22  

Hopebuilders 5K **

Final race in the RFYL GPX Series. 

820 runners and walkers with a final finisher crossing the line at 1:15:07.  Lots of enthusiasm for this cause!

The course was a straight out and back with only a 187 ft total climb. It looked much worse in person but the hills were all gradual rather than steep.

 

Vendor turnout was strong for this event - something I've noticed as more sporadic in this year's GPX.  I realize the new Signature Series is being promoted but part of the motivation for entering a series is/are the perks.  

My fingers are crossed for a more enticing GPX series in 2014, realizing this series is more for beginners, trainers, re-trainers and those whose only goal (or preference) is to remain physically active and injury free with the shorter distances.

I am a fan of the GPX Series because I prefer the shorter distances, the larger crowds, the runner friendly atmosphere and the continual challenge of a 5 min mile.  Giving up 8 Saturday mornings and 1 Friday night is no small thing, thus I would hope the incentives make the effort worthwhile.

This morning, once again, I was glad to see RFYL staff at the Finish Line monitoring bib numbers and timing results against the computerized results.  If I'm not mistaken, Tim Rhodes (Founder, Owner of Dilworth location) was out there personally checking bibs and timing efficiency.  

That's the Run For Your Life we know and love - stepping up to keep things as they should be and restoring consumer confidence after a temporary lapse. Another great reason to support small business.

I'm awaiting the overall results for the GPX series. As of their last update, I was 3rd place for my age group, not because of spectacular timing but for consistency. 

Only a handful of women in my age group completed enough races in this series to compete for a place.  I was one of them.  There are bonus points for running all nine races (which I did) and for doing both the Friday night/Saturday morning events back-to-back so I am just a tad excited about the completion of this Series. 

♫ Anticipation... it's making me wait ♫ 

CHIP TIME:  41:50

Click for Results:

UPDATE 11/26/2013:
The GPX Banquet hosted by RFYL was held tonight at a cost of $12 per person.  I was unable to attend but picked up my award later the following week.  I won 3rd place for my age group and received a medal for my efforts. 

UPDATE 12/27/2013:

On Friday I went to pick up my bib & t-shirt for a Saturday race and got a most pleasant surprise. I had picked up the award (a runner's medal) a few weeks ago and unbeknownst to myself or the person who handed out the medal - a prize should have been included. An employee recognized me Friday and made sure I received the box - they had held it over a month for me. I got a set of 4 RFYL glasses (16 oz) and anyone that knows me knows my first addiction is t-shirts followed closely by glasses/coffee mugs. Very happy runner this weekend! 

 

MRT Fall Series 5K Race #3

Tuesday nights belong to  the Iredell County Fall Race Series hosted by McLelland Racing Team (MRT). The Series began October 1st and will end on November 28th with a Thanksgiving Day 10K and each race is only $10 with an option to buy a series shirt for $15 (SS), $25 (LS), if interested.  

All races support a community cause, each unique to the race itself.  MRT supports local charities and resources so it's money well spent. Each race takes place in beautiful Iredell County at various community sites.  

Locations are listed on the Fall Flyer (Facebook) or in the race listing (RacesOnline). 

This race location was the Allison Woods Reenactment Site at 244 Church Lake Rd, Statesville NC.  It was a combo trail run / dog run and the terrain was completely grass, gravel and dirt.

Ready, Run, Race!

The course began and ended on a tiny airstrip which is part of the Allison Woods site.  It ventured into the wooded area passing two historic buildings, a pond, and a most lovely evening view.

The Tuesday night runs are part of my goal towards a sub 30:00 5K (no walking) and personal overall fitness. I didn't set a PR last night as admittedly I'm not a big fan of trail races and wore my ill fitting shoes as proof (you know, the ones you're willing to get really dirty and not cry about). Trail running is better for agility, reverberation and focus but it's not for amateurs.  A wrong step can be serious.

I have learned with MRT there is no such thing as a flat race, LOL, this was no exception.  The inclines were slow and low, as can be seen by the overall footage climbed but they were inclines nonetheless.  A volunteer greeted us at the halfway point with water bottles just before heading back up that final hill.

The MRT Tuesday night runs meet the basic needs for a 5K and are inexpensive.  Age group awards are included, results are posted online.

At present I belong to two other running clubs (NC, FL) and am considering joining this one as it is by far my favorite for support and a strong running commitment.  MRT rallies for all participants regardless of speed, performance or expertise, which is really what it's all about for most of us.

Run Happy! 

Official Time:  42:46


Results Click Here:

Kahne 5K

Drizzly, quiet Sunday in Charlotte.  Nice turnout for Kasey Kahne's NASCAR Hall of Fame 5K today.  This is the only Sunday race in the Run For Your Life GPX Series and as such, the crowd was enthusiastic and slightly varied in that lots of participants weren't necessarily runners as much as they were NASCAR fans.

The first place runner finished in 14:20 and the last runner crossed the finish line at 55:59.  526 participants, most in running gear, most sober but some in jeans and casual clothing and some slightly inebriated, albeit harmless.  One enthusiastic walker belched every half mile.. not the polite-pardon-me type but the mega-fog-horn blast.  Hard to miss, entertaining himself while he finished.

The course finished on an incline.  Splits for this race will be erratic, just as the hills and declines are random. I overheard many say the course was the same as the previous year.  Kasey introduced himself just before the start gun went off and thanked the runners for supporting a good cause, making mention of enjoying the increased turnout this year.

Only one race left in the GPX series and I am pleased to say that RFYL was taking extra measures today to ensure that chips were working, times were accurate and that EVERYONE got proper credit for their Finish Time.  The Event Management Group was actually standing at the Finish Line, reading bib numbers and watching the computer screen simultaneously to make sure that the chip registered properly.  If a bib, as in my case, was not visible they immediately notified you "BIB! BIB!" so that it could be checked before you left the Finish Line area.

This action is very much appreciated.  After several consistent timing errors (since early July) I'm hoping this is a permanent fix for the situation.  I also learned, at a different event last weekend, that many of the former GPX supporters (runners) have switched over to the Signature Series and are enjoying the more challenging, longer distance races.  Hope to see newer runners embrace GPX next year and very glad the two series are separated by skill / challenge levels.

See ya at the races! 

Results:  Click Here

MRT Fall Series 5K Race #2

Tuesday nights belong to  the Iredell County Fall Race Series hosted by McLelland Racing Team (MRT). The Series began October 1st and will end on November 28th with a Thanksgiving Day 10K and each race is only $10 with an option to buy a series shirt for $15 if interested.  

At present I have 4 shirts: Spring Series (gray tech SS), Summer Series (neon yellow tech SS, men's & women's), Breast Cancer Awareness (neon pink tech LS).  I'm working on a fifth shirt for fall. All races support a community cause, each unique to the race itself.  MRT supports local charities and resources so it's money well spent.

Each race takes place in beautiful Iredell County at various community sites.  Locations are listed on the Fall Flyer (Facebook) or in the race listing (RacesOnline). This race location was the LKN High School (Lake Norman) in Mooresville, just outside the Charlotte city limits.

The course began and ended on the school track, all terrain was paved and results were manually timed. I managed to be back at the High School before it was fully dark and stayed for the awards ceremony. I purchased a reflective vest on my way home (Home Depot, $9.97) to keep it safe going forward.

This was my best time yet on an MRT course.  The Tuesday night runs are doing me good in working towards my goal of a sub 30:00 5K (no walking) and personal overall fitness. My running buddy placed 2nd in her age group, being ousted only by a few seconds.  She will be back and hopes to set a new PR (sub 25:00) in the very near future.  She'll have to if she wants to pass her age group winner.  

Small races. Serious competition.

At present I belong to two other running clubs (NC, FL) and am considering joining this one as it is by far my favorite for support and a strong running commitment.  MRT rallies for all participants regardless of speed, performance or expertise. The group is also very family oriented, lots of regular runners under 18 as well as seniors.  This is a critical component for new runners or for runners whose pace is not "Olympic status" or "elite".  

All clubs operate with general strengths and focus.  My FL group is very social; running complements it's activity calendar and thus members tend to be close knit and very active in group events.  My NC group is highly competitive and the majority are within a specific age range and demographic.  All members are welcome but events and recognition lean towards results and age group preferences.  

The MRT Tuesday night runs meet the basic needs for a 5K and are inexpensive.  Door prizes and age group awards are included.  Looking forward to next week!

Official Time:  41:27

CRC Uptown Throwdown 12 Hr Relay

Saturday's weather was perfect for a 12 hour relay!  Lots of sunshine and an energetic group of Charlotte Running Club members made for a wonderful day in the Queen City.

Each runner did a 4 mile lap that began at Midtown Park on S Kings Drive, Charlotte NC.  The route was a loop that reversed around the pond at Freedom Park.  Very flat course on the Sugar Creek Greenway and an easy run thru Freedom Park.  The club supplied more than enough food, drinks and snack items, pop up canopies and chairs for the crowd.

I ran with team HAPPY FEET and our group placed 4th overall.  Admittedly, the run was more about getting in miles on a Saturday but it was nice to know we put forth a strong effort.  Congrats to Jaime, Iztok, Lino, Tinh and myself (Team Happy Feet) for logging lots of fun miles on a warm Saturday.

This was an un-timed event.  Laps were recorded on a board as runners returned from their laps.  Timing was up to the individuals... I timed both my laps and was happy to have done my first lap with an average pace of 13:54 per mile. I also did a 5K prior to showing up for the relay so for the day, I had a total of 13 miles (parking for the 5K added miles).  All in all a really good day for running.

Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure 5K

The crowd for Saturday's race, according to the Charlotte Observer, was over 24,000.  The Komen website listed less than 14,000 registered to run, the remainder were there to support and cheer for others or to volunteer their time to promote the event.

I have participated in this race in previous years (2008-2011) and opted out for 2012 due to the controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood and the executives' of Komen's resignation over the same issues.  I am still uncertain of the organizations overall integrity but I do know, from personal acquaintance, the organization offers substantial help to women diagnosed with breast cancer - at any stage or any diagnosis (terminal or non-terminal).  I ran in honor of a survivor (now deceased, lived 30 years after recovery) and a current warrior (her diagnosis is terminal at present).  

I mention this because it became very apparent that I was not alone in this mindset.  Many major vendors were NOT present this year that had been present in prior years (Yoplait, Edy's Ice Cream, Starbucks, UPS, etc).  Their absence was noticed and as such, other than a large crowd, the event was not as fun as in year's past.  The vendors that did support were overwhelmed by the crowd and ran out of many promotions long before the race ended.

My running buddy and I were both part of a team - Williams Warriors (in honor of Carolina Panther DiAngelo Williams and his mother / aunts who have been diagnosed with breast cancer) - and again, I was sorely disappointed as compared to years past.  Fundraisers are promised a "jersey" if they reach a certain $ goal.  I have two jerseys from previous years.  This year's (and apparently last year's as well) shirt was just a t-shirt with DiAngelo's number and autograph on the back.  

Yes, I vented to race organizers about the wording... "don't promise a jersery and deliver a t-shirt" and pointed out that it simply added to the stigma now attached to Komen regarding use of funds and the profitability that seems to overtake the cause nowadays.  The organization had a tremendous amount of "for sale" items on the field of Marshall Park and a rather small designated area for survivors (as compared to previous years).  

This organization is still reeling from their choices regarding Planned Parenthood and other issues within the corporation.  Kudos to the executives that took a stand and held their ground.  Komen has had to cancel events in some cities due to 'not enough funding to support the event' which again proves that many still question Komen, even in silence.  I don't know a resolution for this - restoring public faith is not easy. I do hope at some point, the organization returns to its foundation.

Back to racing... I ran with a friend - she signed up for the non-competitive, myself for the competitive so we wound up walking the non-compete race at 8 AM at a pace approximately 20 min per mile.  No way around it.  Crowd was just too large for anything else. We were glad we came, we trust our support is put to good use and we pray for those who suffer, those who love them and the battle that lies before them.

Charlotte Observer article: Click Here

Race Results:  Click Here

NOT!!  My official time is listed as 1:45:20.41 which means the timing chips we paid for were useless... this time is based on a 7:15 AM start time (for EVERYONE) and is gun time only.  Ptttthhhhh... again, it lessens the overall confidence in Komen and their ability to deliver on commitments to the public.  

My .02.

GUN TIME:  1:45:20.41 

Loch Ness Marathon

26.2

I can officially post the bumper sticker, wear the t-shirt, and bore my friends to death with details.  Hip, hip, hooray!

This was one cool race!  I traveled to Edinburgh Scotland with a friend (her dream trip, my first trip outside the U.S.A) and then on to Drumnadrochit  for the race in Inverness.  The Northern Highlands are beyond words.  Breathtaking to say the least.  The starting point was the middle of nowhere, officially listed as 'between Fort Augustus and Foyers'.  Google it.

View of Highlands and Loch Ness

We were running along the Loch Ness River (No, we didn't see Nessie but we heard someone say someone did at some point during the race).  It's a one direction course meaning the START and FINISH are 26.2 miles apart.  THERE IS NO TURNING BACK. Go strong or Go home.  

Several wound up on the bus before we hit the halfway point.  A charter bus rides the entire route in a more or less 'vulture mode' waiting to pick up the fallen.  I know it's a necessary thing but it's a BUS for crying out loud!  Some ruined their IT bands, others tore muscles on the initial 9 miles of sharp downhills mingled with mild uphills.  I feel sorry for the injured solely because of the injury but they did not miss a thing as far as the views go.  They rode in a very luxurious charter bus for over 6 hrs and got the very best of the scenery.

Just under 2700 runners finished the Marathon.  There were no finishers at or near the 8 hour cutoff including myself. The last runners in were at 7:32:05 with 36 persons listed as DNF (did not finish).  

Results:  Click here

Our goal (my friend paced me) was to finish under 6.5 hours.  MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.  With an average pace of 14:51 I finished my very first marathon...

CHIP TIME:  06:29:21

Post Race Photo

The course is listed as flat and downhill.  On a graph, it looks extremely downhill.  As far as actual altitude goes I'm sure it is.  Your glutes will sing a different song though.  

The elevation climb for this route is over 1800 feet and you will know it.  The first 9 miles give you your best splits.  The last 4 miles are relatively flat.  What happens in between is a real workout.  I learned a lot about running on this course.  A WHOLE LOT.  The DNF numbers prove this isn't for amateurs.

 Downhill my eye!!

• Always check temps for START location (not finish).  We were not prepared for the colder temperature on the mountain top
•  Always bring your own hydration and fuel.  This course ran out of fuel bars / gel after Mile 6.  It would be Mile 20 before we encountered another supply station that hadn't emptied out.  I hit "the wall" at Mile 9 and begged a gel pack off a DNF runner on the bus.  God bless his generous heart!
• Hydration is only one part of preparedness in a marathon.  At no point during my run was I ever under or over hydrated.  It was fuel that was doing a number on me. KNOW what fuels (electrolytes, etc) work for you and take them along.  Better to have them than not.
•  Always charge your Garmin fully the night before.  Lost battery at mile 21.  I have no accurate splits after that.  This race only puts out mile marker signs, no extra timing mats for splits and no photographers except at the Finish
•  If you're a run/walker and are trying to avoid the 8 hour cutoff, remember that the cutoff is based on GUN TIME not CHIP TIME, meaning if you finish at 7:57:42 you will get a DNF with no official time.  It took us exactly 6 minutes once the gun went off to reach the START line and we were in the 4 Hr group, others were still behind us.
• Know your running shoes.  They will all feel uncomfortable after 3 or 4 hours no matter how much gel or cushion.  If they are undersized, you will know it on the downhills and hate yourself for it.  I wear a Women's size 10 in regular shoes but wear an 11 for running. A local running shop calculated my gait and running style and moved me into a Men's size 10.  I disliked the longer length but loved the width.  Around Mile 10 while running downward and feeling my feet move forward with the decline and NOT hitting the end of the shoe... I just LOVED the little girl that sold me these shoes!  Get fit for your shoes... don't guess.
• Dress for the run.  Wear something that absolutely will not chafe you.  Although my sweat was limited due to the constant breeze, I was moving longer and farther than normal.  Loving my Brooks waffle technical weave shirt (Gasparilla race in Tampa) and well fitting compression shorts, not too tight, not too loose.

The race organizers of this event do an incredible job.  There is an Expo, located at Bught Park in Inverness - same location as the Finish Line and it's all in tents on a grass field.  Ample free parking.  Charter buses to shuttle runners to the Start Line and buses that will drop runners off post race. They offer a free post race meal (keep your tickets) and sell a wonderful carb loading meal pre-race. 

ALL SWAGGER MUST BE EARNED.  These Scots are serious about their races.  The winners, male and female, of this event receive National Titles thus all shirts, medals, goodie bags, etc are given out AFTER you cross the Finish Line. NO EXCEPTIONS.  You must earn it.  Volunteers meet you along the Finish Coral with shirts, bags, bananas and water.  Again, a great setup. Gear Check is handled by truck pre-race at the Start Line, post-race on the park field.  Works quite well, lots of friendly volunteers.

 

 Finish Line Coral during Expo

Speaking of pre-race... I'm going to digress and go "All American" here and talk about the different culture I was in.  I have never ever seen as much public... errrrr... relieving of oneself (both male and female) as I did at the start of this race.  Mind you, there were ample 'Portaloos' and the line moved very quickly but no one thinks much of taking a 'public piss' or walking behind a bush.  Men simply stepped 10 or 15 feet off the roadway, turned their backs to you and rained on the scenery. No one laughed, called out obscenities or took pictures.

We watched hundreds of runners (solely a personal choice) walk behind the nearest tree and 'take care of business'.  There was no 'gents to the right, ladies to the left'.  It was a 'find your own tree' deal and no one minded who passed by whom. The entrance and exit areas were all the same so you know they were passing others as they sought their own 'spot'.  Even the charter bus had a toilet, center of bus, with no enclosure.  Just how it was.  At the Expo, one young man was being measured (and by young I mean 30'ish) for winter leggings and he simply dropped his pants, stood there in his gray boxer style underpants.  No one stared. No one cared.  Just wasn't a big deal to them.  There are public toilets just like in the U.S. everywhere.  Mens. Ladies. With doors and privacy.  This was just in a remote area but it was not by any means 'unusual' to anyone.

Understand, those from the United Kingdom, they are a very civil people, a real joy to meet and their country is truly a pleasure to visit.  This incident just makes me realize how oversexualized America is as a nation. Not that I'm desiring to convert but that I appreciated the general acceptance of human need without anyone thinking to make fun or take too much notice of it.  They have a similar view about cars and driving.  Driving is a privilege.  Cars are a means of transportation not an expression of personal interest or narcissism, thus all cars are functional, conservatively colored and only decorated with license tags and brand names. Period.  We saw no traffic accidents while there and only one car pulled over by police and honestly, we weren't sure if the motorist had violated a traffic law or was simply stranded.  They are very mature about driving, public behavior and physical needs.  It was interesting to see.

Loch Ness

Back to the race.  The shirt and medal were great.  The shirt was a Brooks solid black technical tee made out of the waffle weave material (top notch) and short sleeved.  The expo sold a hoodie version with the same race logo and date.  Limited sponsor info on the back.  The expo sold out of the hoodies and the event organizers hope to restock quickly as many still wanted the hoodies.  The medal is a goldish brass color and has an area on the back for engraving your name and time.  Again, top notch.

Highlands along Course

The course was just amazing.  Even if I had finished at 7:59:59 I would have enjoyed it.  The scenery along what was predominately single tracks (one lane roads) was worth every sore muscle and aching foot!  The Loch Ness, centered amongst the Highlands makes this a destination race, meaning an International event.  The male winner was from Kenya and the female winner was from Edinburgh Scotland.  Lots of top competitors!  

Techie Stuff:  Timing results were text-ed to runners that supplied mobile numbers.  Race Results were available same day via the website.  Finish Line Photos were available same day as well as video Finish clips.  Prices were very reasonable and the photographers took multiple shots hoping to get the best shots for everyone. 

Next year's race is September 28, 2014 - Mark your calendars!