Race Report: Lawrence Half Marathon

Hooray! Even with blustery north winds and a challenging hilly course, it's always a good race when you run a new personal best! I finished the Lynn Electric Kansas Half Marathon in just under 2:25 by my watch--2:25:12 official gun time.

Although it threatened rain the entire race, it only drizzled off and on for the first few miles. It was 50-55 degrees with 20 mph winds from the north, but at least we didn't need to worry about sunburn!

This course was more challenging (read that as much more hilly) than the Kansas City half marathon in October or the Hospital Hill run in Kansas City will be in June. It was point-to-point with three major (longer than a mile) uphill sections around miles 2, 7, and 12.

I didn't carry my camera with me on the course, but sections of the race were beautiful. Spring is just starting to show in Lawrence, so there were trees in bloom and green, green grass. Here are some generic shots from the race:

Near the start on Massachusetts Street

On KU's fraternity row

The finish line

This race isn't for everyone. Pros: varied terrain (hilly!), friendly volunteers, not too crowded, and a beautiful time of year. Cons: some support issues (no toilets along the race course, several aid stations were out of sports drink), little crowd support (with some deserted stretches), unpredictable weather, and a brutal up-hill finish.

There could have been more post-race food and drink options (where was the sports drink?), but I loved the chocolate milk. And the band did a great job, especially considering the cold and windy conditions!

Here were my splits (my Garmin recorded a short race of only 12.85 miles):
Mile 1 - 10:49
Mile 2 - 12:01
Mile 3 - 11:05
Mile 4 - 10:10
Mile 5 - 11:02
Mile 6 - 11:19
Mile 7 - 11:09
Mile 8 - 11:58
Mile 9 - 11:32
Mile 10 - 10:37
Mile 11 - 11:15
Mile 12 - 11:53
Mile 13.1 - 10:05

Race Report: Disney Marathon

I'm thrilled to report that I finished my very first marathon in Disney World on January 11, 2009!

The expo was huge--in two separate buildings in the Wild World of Sports complex. We arrived around 7 p.m. on Friday night and did not have to wait in any lines.

Ben and I stayed at the Polynesian Resort on Disney property (hence the lei in the picture above). Upon check-in, they upgraded us to concierge level--we had a lounge just outside our room with drinks and snacks available from 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. each day and our own concierge staff on the first floor for easy access to park tickets and dinner reservations. I appreciated the banana and bottle of Evian from the lounge--it was perfect for race morning nutrition and hydration!


We had a good time spotting "hidden Mickeys" around the resort and in the parks. This particular Mickey wasn't so hidden, but it (and the bed!) were a welcome sight upon check-in.

On race morning, I woke up at 2:30 a.m. to eat, dress, and board the first of two monorails. The Polynesian monorail conductor proudly announced that I was the resort's first monorail passenger of the day (at 3:15 a.m.). You can see for yourself how crowded my monorail car was. The race started at 5:50 a.m., but we had to board the monorail for transportation to the start line before 4 a.m.

An official countdown by Mickey, Minnie, and the gang plus fireworks started the race. (Fireworks, I suppose, are the one advantage to the pre-dawn start time!)

Sarah and Ben were fantastic cheerleaders along the course. They cheered for me at miles 9, 13, and 26.2. I gave them big, sweaty hugs and kisses--Eww!

Running through the Magic Kingdom, specifically up Main Street and through Cinderella's Castle, was the highlight of the run. Even though the park wasn't yet open to the public, there were lots of supporters all along main street cheering us on. At around mile 10, it was a great motivational lift.


Splash Mountain was closed for renovations the week of the marathon, but it was still great fun to run by my favorite Magic Kingdom ride. This photo also gives you a good view of a typical mile marker sign.


A petting zoo just outside Animal Kingdom. Really, you could stop, pet a goat, and get your picture taken. Talk about distractions on the race course...


Expedition Everest! My favorite Disney World ride! Even though I rode it three times the day before, I was still happy to see that snow-capped peak at around mile 16. Only 10 miles to go.


One of the things that made me choose the Disney World marathon for my first marathon was the fun, laid-back attitude of most racers. This is not the race to make your "PR" or try to qualify for Boston. People stopped running to get their pictures taken with characters all along the course. Here I am, around mile 23, in Hollywood Studios.

Crossing the finish line was an amazing experience. About a half mile before the finish, there was a gospel choir singing and clapping, and then I saw Sarah and Ben cheering for me just before I took off for the finish. The crowds were great, and the post-race volunteers were all efficient and supportive--perhaps even too efficient. Mylar blanket, shoe chip removal, medal, finisher photo, drinks and snacks, then thrust out into the meeting area for friends and family. It was such a blur that I didn't think to take any pictures after the finish (until I had showered, swam, and ordered a glow-in-the-dark celebratory drink at dinner, that is).


Ben and I went to Magic Kingdom the day after the race. I was proud to show off my race shirt and Mickey medal!


Ben said he might run the half marathon with me next year. Here we are, posing with Donald, dreaming about Donald medals in 2010.

Race Report: RunLawrence Thanksgiving Day 5K

Thanksgiving morning, Ben and I ran a 5K sponsored by the local running club, RunLawrence. It was Ben's first ever 5K or timed road race, and he was great! The temperature hovered around freezing, so here we are warming up inside before the race.


It surprised me how many people came out for the race. Here's a shot of the starting line, and this was before everyone had lined up:


The course was mostly residential, with the last mile along the river levee. Here's an action shot of Ben, somewhere between the first and second mile markers, before we got to the levee:

The levee stretch at the end was a nice way to finish the race. The dirt and gravel is softer on your feet, and the mostly straight path lets you see the finish line early.

When we got near the end, Ben took off for the finish line. I was able to keep up, and even grab his hand for the finish line photo.

The best part? Ben said he might join me for another 5K or a 10K in the spring! Hooray!

Fuzzy Purple Scarf for Girls

I wanted to make an extra special scarf for my six-year-old niece, Lindsay. It had to be fun, hip, and soft. I found the perfect yarn at Yarn Barn in Lawrence, KS--Blossom Trendsetter Yarn in Purple.

With size 10.5 bamboo needles, cast on 15 stitches. Knit in garter stitch (knit all rows). There is no need for fancy stitchwork with this yarn--the fuzziness of the yarn would obscure any cabling or complex patterns. One skein made the scarf approximately 44 inches long. A tip: use wooden needles because they help ensure you won't drop a stitch with this slippery yarn.

As always, knitting is a big hit with the poofs!

Movie Review: Racing Against the Clock

As my mileage has been increasing in preparation for the Disney marathon in January, I've been searching for running motivation wherever I can find it. Before my frigid 14-miler in Chicago, I saw Spirit of the Marathon, which is getting quite a bit of press. It was exciting to watch, and a great way to share the training experience with Ben. But it did leave me feeling as if I was undertaking something more akin to a tortuous root canal than a fun challenge.

Then, I saw Racing Against the Clock, and I found myself truly inspired and cheering for the women at the master track and field events (specifically, the 2003 National Senior Olympics in Norfolk, Virginia, and World Championships in Puerto Rico). The film follows Jacqueline Board, Margaret Hinton, Leonore McDaniels, Pat Peterson, and Philippa Raschker as they train and compete in a wide variety of track and field events. (To give you an idea of how tough, tenacious, and talented these women are, Raschker was named a finalist for the Sullivan Award, the "Oscar" of the sporting world, along with a little known, and much younger, athlete by the name of Michael Phelps.)

After my grueling 18-miler last weekend, it was the perfect way to remind myself that I can do this. If a woman in her 70s can pole vault, I can run a measly 26.2 miles. Bring on my 20-miler next weekend!


The summary on the official website says:
Racing Against the Clock tells the stories of five incredible women between the ages of 50 and 82 who compete against each other, and ultimately themselves, in their quest to reach the World Masters Athletics Championships in Puerto Rico in June 2003. These women include a three-time cancer survivor, a sharecropper's daughter, a political refugee, a former cowgirl and the oldest athlete to ever be honored as a finalist for the Sullivan Award which celebrates the top amateur athletes in America. Pre-Title IX, these athletes grew up in an era when women did not participate in sports. With some not entering the realm of competition until well after retirement, there is no telling what they may have accomplished had things been different. Vibrant, inspiring and courageous, these women shatter preconceptions about aging and about the human spirit. (Runtime: 80 Minutes)