This pattern is fun to knit, although it can be tricky to cable--don't cable too tightly, especially the double cable on row 11! Slip stitches purlwise with yarn in front. The yarn over will cross over the slipped stitch--don't worry because you will knit the slipped stitch and the yarn over together in the next row.
For the green scarf, I used size 7 needles and four skeins (a little less than 400 yards) of Knit Picks Andean Silk in Lettuce, a soft worsted weight yarn.
Brioche stitch is thick, warm, and soft. If you've never knitted brioche stitch, there is a great explanation on Cloudy Crochet.
Once you get the hang of it, brioche stitch has a nice rhythm to it: bring yarn under the right needle to the front and slip one stitch purl-wise, then bring yarn over the right needle to back (this is the yarn over) to knit 2 together. After you knit 2 together, you bring the yarn in front, slip a stitch, bring the yarn in back (or "yarn over") and knit 2 together. You are essentially winding the yarn around the right needle as you alternately slip 1 and then knit 2 together.
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!
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.
Here were my splits (my Garmin recorded a short race of only 12.85 miles):
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!
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.
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).
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!
Here we all are, shivering and huddled in the morning chill. I fretted over the weather all week, as I watched the weather predictions get colder and colder. It was 40 degrees at the starting line and for the first two hours of the race. It didn't get into the 50s until after I finished the race. I ended up in long sleeves, a light-weight running jacket, capri-length tights, gloves, and a visor. I worried that I would be shedding layers throughout the race, but I kept it all on until mile 12, when I decided to shed the jacket so my race bib would be visible at the finish line.
I ran the first mile with the 2:40 pace group (a 12+ minute mile), and then decided I felt good enough to run faster than that. I also knew I would do a combination of running and walking, and this group was only running.
The first mile was flat, crowded with runners, and not scenic (which was fine since the sun had not fully risen yet).
Miles 1-3 included a steep curving uphill, so that you couldn't see the top of the hill. The picture above is just a little hill after the really big curving hill. There was also a lame switchback before the 3 mile marker that had a high school track feel, so that you could see the runners ahead and behind you, almost like being on parade. The band playing on the switchback was truly incredible. I'm not sure, but it may have been the Heather Thornton Trio.
Miles 3-8 were largely flat, with a few downhills thrown in. We traveled along a neat row of pubs and theaters, and through some nice, tree-lined neighborhoods.
Miles 8-10 were the toughest, in my opinion. It was a gentle uphill, with a virtually cheerless straight stretch through a park.
Miles 10-13 rocked. I think all races should end with a downhill stretch. I was able to pick up my pace, even when my legs were most tired. The scenery was also great, with a sweeping view of downtown Kansas City.
Here were my splits, according to my new, fancy Garmin Forerunner 405:
The first half of the course was unremarkable. Two lanes of Lake Shore Drive were reserved for runners, which was a little tight given the number of participants. You could be in any city going south along the street. But the course was flat and the water stations were big and well supported. Our pace leader got us to the turnaround at exactly 1:15.
It's the second half of the course that is stunning. Traveling north along the bike path, with the beach and city laid out before you, waves crashing, and cooling breeze. I heard quite a few runners wish aloud that the race were longer or that they could freeze time to enjoy the view and the feel of the race.
Around mile 8, the race got tougher. I noticed that the pace group was falling behind pace, and I could start to feel small aches in my inner thighs and the back of my right knee. A group of five from the original pace group started running ahead, and we switched our run/walk ratio from 8/2 to 8.5/1.5. I did not see or hear from the original pace group until about mile 12.5, when the pace leader flew by at around an 8-minute mile pace. If I had stayed behind with the original group, I know my time would have been much slower. I think most, if not all, of the runners who stayed with the pace leader finished behind me. You run with a pace group to keep pace, not to keep pace, slow down considerably, and then speed up for a final mile sprint!
At around mile 10, the other four members of our splinter pace group sped up to make the 2:30 finish. I let them go ahead, because my goal was to finish strong and not to finish with a certain time. It was the right choice for me. I had a fantastic finish! During the last 0.2 mile, I passed about a dozen people, and sprinted across the finish with my arms in the air. Finishing strong was such a rush--and a better feeling than I ever could get from a number on a clock.
There are additional online race photos that show me pumping my fists in the air as I cross the finish. (My bib number was 1635.) A PR on a flat course was great. Next up is a slow, hilly race at the Waddell & Reed Half Marathon in Kansas City this October.
I'm not in this finish-line photo. I took that shot before the race started. When I crossed the finish line, the scene was much different. All of the supporters and runners who finished before me were cheering and screaming. I slapped fives with several boys as I entered the finisher's coral. Girls on the Run is about knowing you can finish the race, not about finishing first. For a short weekend run, look for a Girls on the Run 5K race in your area! 
