Windermere Half Marathon

{photo credit Natalie Sidles}

My training plan had a 2 hour run on Saturday and since that coincided with the Windermere half marathon which I have run before I had planned to do the race as my long run. The week before the race I had another visit from the dark cloud of bad juju that has been hanging around lately and I injured my knee.  It was just muscular so I went to Helga the torture masseuse and she beat my knee into submission enough for me to think that I could still do the race.

The first time I did this race it was my first half marathon. I remember being so nervous and not being able to sleep the night before. Not this time.  A full nights sleep and I rolled straight out of bed and into my spandex without opening my eyes.
My friend Michelle and her family picked me up and delivered my to the start line.  It was Michelle's first half marathon so it was nice to be able to be there and share her excitement with her.  Her husband and kids turned out to be the uber race sherpas and best cheer squad ever.  They were all over the course that day taking photos of everyone. I think they were as exhausted as the runners by the time it was all over.


{photo credit Natalie Sidles}

Without boring you with all the race details, the weather was perfect, the race wasn't too crowded and there were plenty of my team mates out there running too.  It was just about as good as it gets.


{photo credit Natalie Sidles}

The first couple of miles I sped up to get out of the congestion and then I eased up and just ran by feel  - keeping my heart rate nice and low and comfortable.Coach Scott had written on my plan not to "race" this one so my legs wouldn't be trashed for the rest of the workouts over the weekend. So I just settled into an easy rhythm and kept turning my legs over.


{photo credit Natalie Sidles}

The race itself went by super fast. We were running along the river for the most part so the scenery was beautiful and a good distraction.  It was nice to have lots of friendly faces out their showing their support too.  The Sidles kept popping up everywhere, my neighbors and friends, the Riels made a surprise appearance a couple of miles from the finish, and then my tutu clad family were waiting for me at the finish line along with a lot of other teamblazers who had already finished and were cheering the rest of us in.


{photo credit Natalie Sidles}


{photo credit Ciara Melville}

The good news is that my knee held up the whole way with no problems. And with about a mile left to go I realized that this might be a PR day after all. I have been trying to crack 2 hours in a half marathon and as I crossed the finish line I realized I may have actually done it.  Of course then I forgot to stop my watch so I wasn't really sure until the official times were posted.   1:59:22 for 13.2 miles ( the course was a little long).

And of course congratulations to my awesome friend Michelle who trained hard for this race and completed it the same way she does everything.  With joy and a smile.

{photo credit Natalie Sidles}

Now back to Boise training...only a little over 2 weeks.  The tapering has begun!