Cheese-a-rific: The Wisconsin Marathon Half

Back in December, when I was planning my race calendar for the year, I was very torn when I saw the dates of the Country Music Half Marathon and the Wisconsin Marathon.  Both fit my two main criteria: not a Sunday race, and near people who can watch my kiddos while I run.  But, so close together... I wasn't sure if it was wise to do back-to-back races. But, because I like a challenge, and because Nashville is 1/3 of the way to Chicago (so it would make a certain amount of sense to go straight from there to see my parents), I decided to go for it anyway. I figured it was a great opportunity to spend the week between with my family and friends in the Upper Midwest.

And then the best-laid plans, well, you know.

About two months before Wisconsin--and about two months AFTER I registered for the race--my dad (who, along with my mom, would be watching the kids for me) told me that he had to speak in California in the week I was supposed to be there.  So my beautiful plan crumbled.  I wasn't sure what to do.  Forget about Wisconsin and just eat the race fee? Take the kids up and see my friends but not my parents? Buy a plane ticket and have a little run-cation?

In the end, run-cation won out.  I left Atlanta Friday afternoon, happily carb-loading at the Hartsfield-Jackson Smoothie King, and flew into Milwaukee. The plan: stay with friends in Racine, run the race Saturday in Kenosha, and still have enough energy to play afterward.

 Who wouldn't want to run for a medal shaped like cheese? Who, I say?

First, I'll talk about my recovery from Nashville.  I slept a lot the week in between. I did go to my Body Pump and core classes on Monday, as per usual.  But I was already a little freaked out over my right knee, which was not only achy from the hills, but making a strange noise when I went up stairs.  Weird. So I went easy on squats and lunges, and talked to my wonderful instructor Lisa (who is a runner and triathlete and trainer). Here's what she said: "Don't have any expecations in Wisconsin." That was sobering for me to hear. I have expectations for EVERYTHING. But she was serious. She reiterated to me the importance of doing NOTHING that week.  And I listened. I do not do rest well, but I also didn't want to fly to Wisconsin for nothing but disappointment. I basically spent the week shopping (luckily, not buying much other than a throwaway jacket and gloves for the race, at Goodwill).

The only other thing I did that week was a three-mile shakeout run on Thursday.  And really the main point of that was to test out the new hydration belt I got last week.  I didn't want to run a race with untried equipment, but I wanted the kind of belt that has more, smaller bottles on it, so that the strain from one larger bottle was not entirely on one spot.  When you have the kind of whacked-out, scoliosis-twisted spine I have, little things like that can make a big difference. I felt like it was a go, so into the suitcase it went.

Speaking of suitcases: Flying to races is stressful. I really did not want to check a bag, but had all the usual toiletries to take, plus GU and little peanut butter packets (which I think are technically supposed to go in the pint-sized bag, but which I got through in my purse). After a smooth flight into Milwaukee, it was off to Kenosha to pick up the race packet.  I am really, really impressed with the Wisconsin Marathon--super organized, and incredible participant communication through email and their Facebook page. We went to get coffee at a place FREQUENTED BY MARK RUFFALO. I has a little crush on him, but alas, he did not show up to have a latte with me. But I did get a chance to see the downtown area as well as the start and finish line areas.

On the way back to Racine and my friend Judi's house, we drove most of the north side of the course. It was right by the lake and I could tell it was going to be gorgeous. There were also a couple of really adorable, baby hills.  One of the reasons I wanted this race was because the flatness seemed like a nice way to reward myself after training in Atlanta and running races on MOUNT Berry and all-hills Nashville.  I was thrilled it was proving to be as-advertised.

Dinner that night: roasted chicken, baked potato, and salad. Oh, and cheese curds.  'Cause hey, it's Wisconsin.

RACE DAY:

For some ridiculous reason I was up at 3:30 AM, when my alarm wasn't set until 4:20. I got out of bed around 4:15 and got ready.  Judi was up and she prayed with me for the race, and I was truly touched.  Hey, how can any day be bad when it starts out like that? The wonderful Angie Herzog picked me up at 4:45.  She's a friend of my WI friends, and graciously came to get me and take me back to her house, where a group of nearly 10 women were meeting to go to the race.  The ride to the race was dominated by weather talk. The forecast was for rain, but without a specific time attached to it. There was a band to the west, but it was moving so slowly and toward the south, that I started to feel confident we might not get wet.  When we got to Kenosha, there was absolutely no wind, and I felt even better. Temp was right at 50 degrees, so it was nearly perfect. Race day attire: capris, tee shirt, DIY arm warmers, gloves. Jacket pitched at start line.

Pre-race activities: portapotty line, find a place to meet, portapotty line again.  I was determined not to let happen what had happened in Nashville, so I self-seeded with the 11 min/mile folks.

And off we went. The first two miles we headed south, the lake to the left, houses on the right side. Truly beautiful. I tried to take in the moment, the expanse of the lake, while also managing to look at the road and the other runners enough so as not to log my first running fall. The houses are large and have huge lawns, and every little bit there would be kids and parents out cheering us on.  It felt like running through a movie set, actually.  A really flat movie set.

Miles 3-4 go back north through downtown, and there was lots of crowd support here. I ditched the arm warmers with a huge throw-like-a-girl action that sent them sailing onto the sidewalk way over the trash can. Sorry for the litter, Kenosha. I saw a sign cheering on the Daily Mile-ers, which was nice to see.  I was keeping my pace (9:55) easily, and not rushing, despite the flat course. Mind control. Good mind.

Miles 5-7 found us on the north side of Kenosha, lakeside. Parks on the left, lake on the right.  Gloves got pitched neatly into a trash can--while running. Guess my aim had improved. This is where the sweet baby hills were, and on one of these I caught sight of the leaders zooming by us as they headed home. I was struck by how different the body types were of the first five or so male leaders.  Some were very lean, but a couple of them were really not. Interesting.  Then along come the female leaders, and they are just all these lean sinewy things.  Shortly after the leaders, along came Angie, and we waved at each other. She looked great--very strong.

By  mile 8 we had made way onto the campus of Carthage College. Not my favorite part of the race, but it was still flat, and I got to see my Twitter buddy and Daily Mile-er Laura Scholz. Laura and I comprised 2/3 of the Georgia contingency in this race. ;)

It was around mile 9 that I realized I was pretty cold. I wanted my arm warmers back. But I still felt good, not overdoing it, and was on pace to beat my Nashville time.  Back we went into downtown, across hill number 3 (a short bridge, a mere speed bump really) and back to a lot of crowd support.  Nice. Miles 11-13 were along the initial southbound route, with a turnaround to head back to the finish.  The run to that turnaround felt really long, finally but there it was, and then it was off to the finish.  Rounding the last turn and booking it straight toward the lake, I had a bit of kick left and managed to finish strong.

Final time: 2:10:01
Pace: 9:55
That's 30 minutes faster than my first half-marathon, 53 weeks prior. I WILL TAKE IT.  Bonus points for me having enough energy to walk several miles around Milwaukee later that night.

Polka Band The Polkaholics, me, and my cheese medal.

Angie post-race--6th in our age group and a huge PR for her. Thank you Angie for everything, and thank you Becky for getting me in touch with her!

Next up: The Peachtree Road Race, July 4. Not sure what my goals here are, as it is summer in Atlanta. I'm also feeling a twinge of what I think is tendinitis, so getting rid of that is priority 1. Fall race possibilities include Chicago's Monster Dash 1/2, Atlanta's Thanksgiving Day 1/2, and the Rock-N-Roll series' nighttime 1/2 down the Vegas strip in December.  We will see.

Oh, and coming soon: My answer to the question, "When will you run a full marathon?"

Me on race night, with The Bronze Fonz, in Milwaukee.  Wish I'd brought my cheese medal. It would've looked good on him.

--Lindsay