Berry College Half-Marathon Race Recap

Saturday I had the opportunity to go to my sweet, beloved, Berry College and run my third half-marathon.  I initially signed up for the race because it was cheap, local-ish, and I had friends who were interested in running in either the 5k, 10k, and 1/2.  What never really entered my mind is how amazing it would be to run the gorgeous landscape of a campus I have been in love with since I first stepped foot on it in 1995.

The forecast 10 days out called for rain.  How unthrilling.  I kept willing it to change, but the only thing that changed was the amount of rain Rome would get that day (at one point 2 inches were forecast) and how bad any associated storms might be.

So, race day dawned with a drizzle.  I decided to try a technique I had toyed with last year in Nashville, when the race had a similar forecast.  I wrapped my shoes, up to my ankles, with Glad Press-N-Seal.  My nurse mother-in-law had suggested it, as they apparently use it in the rehab center where she worked, to stick to their skin when cleaning up messes (or for some similar use). In Nashville, the rain stopped by start time, so I had never run before with it, but my thought was... even if it only lasts a couple of miles before I shed it, that's a couple of miles more of dry shoes.  So here's what I looked like from the calf down:







The Race, Miles 1-4
For race course pictures, click here.
The start was near the Ford complex, an incredibly gorgeous set of buildings that also served as the site of my wedding reception.  The first mile took us through the main campus, where I saw the Comm building where I spent a majority of my Berry time, as well as Evans Hall, which has the words "Whether At Work or Play, Always Do Your Best."  I must admit, I kicked it up a bit when I saw that.

I started the race in a skirt, a sleeveless tank, a long-sleeve technical shirt and a warm headband.  The headband went in the jacket pocket at the 1/2 mile mark. Not long after, we crossed back near where the 5k was about to start and I saw a couple of my Berry friends there.  It was nice to get a little cheer from them.

Miles 2-4 were along what is called Stretch Road--just a long stretch of road from main campus to mountain campus.  The rain was still coming down.  Because of the weather, I had switched from my usual IPhone configuration of music and RunKeeper app to my old Ipod Shuffle and Garmin watch.  I haven't used the Garmin in so long that I'd forgotten where things were on the display.  I kept looking down and thinking I was doing 8:10-8:30 miles, not unheard of for a good day with lots of adrenaline.  Sweet!  I was pretty excited until around mile 3, when I realized I was looking at the time and not the pace.  Yar!  But that stupid mistake actually made me run harder in those first few miles, thinking I was a real hotshot. Heh. 




Here's a great thing about Berry:  It is truly a magical wonderland where good things happen.  Not that it's perfect, but it's a place of generally fine people and so, when the race info said we could drop clothing along the course and they'd get it back to Lost & Found, I knew it was a pretty good gamble to take.  At the 4 mile mark, off came my very nice Gap technical, water-repelling jacket.

Miles 5-9

At this point we arrived at Mountain Campus, and that's where it got hilly (thought it's called mountain campus, it's actually a foothill, but comes with it's own steep elevation gains). I quickly came upon Swan Lake (complete with swans), Frost Chapel, and the Elementary School (where my friend Tucker teaches, and the beneficiary for this race).  Tucker and his Ukelele Band were on the porch playing for the runners, and the students were cheering us through the race and handing out water.  I love Berry.

This part of the race took us on a muddy out-and-back past the old Mill (Georgia's most photographed place, I hear).  I actually like a good out-and-back, as long as it's not too long.  Seeing the other runners energizes the extrovert in me.  It's like, "What's up, faster people?" and then "Why hello, people who may soon pass me!"

Mile 7 brought us to my highlight of the race--running through the Winshape Retreat.  In my day, it was known as the dairy-'cause it was a dairy, complete with cows.  The cows are gone, but on Saturday the rain had stopped and I got a view of the Appalachian foothills that was much like this one, only more sweeping. It was breathtaking. Have I mentioned I love Berry?

Then a steeeeeeep, knee-killing descent around another pond and another very very rocky out-and-back to Possum Trot. I didn't actually see Possum Trot, and never have (I didn't spend much time on Mountain Campus as a student), but I just looked at the picture in that link and I'll have to go back.

Miles 9-13
This part of the race was a real yawn, to be honest.  A really hard yawn. It goes back down stretch road a bit and then runs parallel on a paved trail through a flat field.  Yawwwwn.  But it's easy running.  I ditched my long-sleeve t-shirt at Mile 9 and that little change was good for a pick-me-up (at this point it was about 52 and overcast--really perfect running weather). Also a good pick-me-up was the random dude in the truck blasting Taio Cruz around Mile 10.  This was around the time my back started hurting me (did I mention I was in a minor wreck two days pre-race?  No?  That's because I'd rather forget it).  I stopped a couple of times to bend over and stretch, but didn't feel like getting asked by another runner if I was going to puke, as I'm sure that's what it looked like.  So I pressed on.  I was also starting to realize that I was in danger of not making my time goal, so I kicked it up a bit when I could, as I'd lost time to stretch.

Mile 12 was difficult for me.  I was really done, but running harder than I had the whole race. I thought about my friend Cris, who was marathoning for the first time that day in a different race.  I thought about going through 28 hours of drug-free labor.  I thought about the sign I saw that said "You can either throw in the towel, or use it to wipe the sweat off your face."  And most importantly, I just kept running.  I think I did manage to make a not-pained face for the last photographer on the route.  My number was on my last layer, so any pics of me before mile 9 I'll never get to see.  So I tried to make this one count.  We'll see when they post pics later.

The last quarter-mile-- uphill to the finish.  Yeesh.  As I made the final turn I saw my dear friend, running mate, and main motivator Kristiana with her phone out for a picture of me.  I whipped off my fuel belt and threw it at her because I just needed to do SOMETHING to get through those last yards.  And it did.  I was so wiped at the finish that I almost didn't grab my medal, and then I nearly puked.  I still haven't decided if that would make me awesome (I ran till I puked!  Just like the stories I used to hear of the UK players after a session with Pitino!) or not, but I'm glad I didn't.

Bottom line: this was an awesome race, with a beautiful course and a great atmosphere that I'd recommend to anyone.  I'm sure the 5k and 10k were lovely, but you really get the Berry beauty and experience doing the half.  The Press-N-Seal stayed on the entire race, and my shoes were dry and fine the whole time.  I definitely recommend trying it next time you've got rain in your running forecast.
Official time: 2:13:05.  I took another 7 minutes off my personal record (that's down 25 minutes from my first half-marathon 10 months ago).  To be honest, I'd hoped to cut another two minutes off, but I've been told by some wise people to shove it and be happy.  So, there's that.

And, those two minutes better watch out: Nashville is 8 weeks away.

-- Lindsay