Rock CF Rivers Half Marathon

Rock CF Rivers Half Marathon
March 30, 2014 8:15 am, Grosse Ile, MI
Temperature: 29 degrees, windchill 19
Race #10 in 2014, #1 Half in 2014
Race #20 all time, #2 Half all time
Distance: Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
Time: 2:24:38, PR
Finish: 44/66 in my age group, 648/855 overall

When I first heard about this race, via one of my running groups, I knew I HAD to do it.  I absolutely love races in which the main point OF the race is to get as much money as possible for a particular charity, in this case, Cystic Fibrosis.  Secondly, this race was very local to me.  This race offered a 5k and a Half Marathon.

I entered this race online a while ago, the entry fee being $55 plus a $2.95 processing fee.  There were no problems with registration.  It is typically my policy not to enter races that do not have a website or a facebook page...so that was the first thing I checked out before I even signed up for this race.  I have to admit, being so local to me, I had never heard of this race prior to someone mentioning it in the SEMR group.  Yes, I just started this running thing last summer, but still, I found it odd I didn't even know this race existed.  Anywho, the website Rock CF  has a lot of information on it.  Their facebook page also did not disappoint (Rock CF).  

This race offered 3 options for packet pick up.  You could go to Run Detroit during the week to get your packet, to the expo on Saturday (which was held at the school that the race would be starting from), or get your packet the morning of the race.  I opted to pick up at the expo.  I took my kids with me to the expo.  When we first entered the school, there were signs pointing to where the bib numbers were, an information desk, and a Rock CF merchandise table.  In addition to everything being clearly labeled, we were immediately greeted by a volunteer at the door who told me to get my bib number off the wall, then to proceed to the gym to get my packet.  There were plenty of volunteers to handle everyone that was there.  

I was expecting to see a few vendors at the expo.  However, there was really just one, a nice lady who was selling headbands.  Anderson Windows was there, and being I desperately need new windows for my home, I filled out one of their cards for a contest to win $10,000 in new windows. I also checked the box to have someone call me for a quote on my home.  Had I known that they would call me three times a day since then, I wouldn't have entered.  But I digress.  Rock CF had a Plinko board set up, and as you can see, both my boys played the game, and won a Rock CF coffee mug.  I thought that was a nice touch to give a little something away as a "prize".  My kids thought it was a big deal!

Made me feel good about
where my money was going!

Signs welcoming you to the Rock!

Everything was clearly
labeled for race day

Headband Booth

Information Desk

Half Marathon Check In

Rock CF Plinko

 

They both won Rock CF coffee cups!

THE CYMBAL
Bib Numbers
On Site Registration
5k Check In

One of the best things about this race (there were MANY), are the awesome Leslie Jordan tech shirts. Those running the 5k received a short sleeve tech shirt, and those running the Half received a long sleeve shirt.  But the shirts were identical other than that.  Can I point out how cool the colors are in this shirt!! Everyone in my running is still bragging about the shirt! 

Front of shirt

Back of shirt

After the expo, I went home, carbed up with a good homemade spaghetti dinner, and then I was off to dreamworld very early for this race.  I had time earlier in the week to make my specialized playlist, get my outfit ready, and prepare everything I would need for a 5 am wake up call!

The race started at 8:15 am.  I wanted to assure myself a parking spot nearest the start line (at the school) as possible.  Although I live pretty close to the island this race was on, I have to cross numerous railroad tracks and a bridge to get there.  So I left at 6 am.  I was able to drop my kids off with their father and I still made it to the parking lot by 6:45 am.  I sat in my car as it was to cold to walk around just yet.  At 7:30 I headed in the school to use the restroom, there was a short line, but worth waiting for because we were inside!  There were many port-a-potties outside as well.

I then headed to the start line area for a picture with my SEMR peeps.  There were about 90 of us running this race, yet only 6 of us made it for the picture.  I suspect the others were staying inside nice and warm until the last possible minute!  It was pretty windy at race time, and considering we were right on the Detroit River, it was COLD!

SouthEast Michigan Runners group

After the speeches and the National Anthem, the race started late.  That was a little disappointing.  I guess I expect the gun to go off at the designated race start time, and that the pomp and circumstance will start earlier, but for this race, everything started at 8:15, and therefore we didn't cross the line till about 8:25.

  

I cannot say enough how absolutely beautiful this course is.  The course goes completely around the island of Grosse Ile.  With the exception of the area in front of the airport, you were always running on the riverfront. It. Was. Awesome.  With the awesomeness, however, came pretty strong headwinds for the first 3 miles and the last 3 miles :(  36 hours later, and my face is still pretty wind-burned!  I really tried to concentrate on the scenery for this entire race, to get my mind off the fact that this was just my second half marathon I've ever done.  Loved looking over to Canada, watching the sun sparkle over the river, the melting ice patches under the boats pulled above their docks, and the really spectacular homes that lined the streets.  

The course itself....again...this race just did everything right.  Water stations at all the even mile markers, restrooms at 4 of the mile markers, Cliff Gel at mile 4, and Nunn at most of the stations as well.  I do not like Nunn, so I paid special attention NOT to get it, but I really didn't need to.  The volunteers were very clear about announcing/telling you what they were giving out.  Something else I thought was a nice touch, were the garbage cans after the stations to put your cups in....It always bugs me to see cups in the street.  I know they are cleaned up after the race, but that's just more work for volunteers who are already out there long enough freezing as it is.  Another BIG kudos to Rock for throwing salt down at the water stations!!!  With the temps below freezing at the start, that could have been a big problem, but they just thought of everything! I was pretty fortunate that my ex-husband brought my kids to the race so they could watch me run.  They met me at mile markers 3, 5, 8, and 12.  I loved having the support, and it was nice for me to take a layer of clothes off at mile marker 5 and give them to my son to put in his father's car.  

High-Fiving my son Colby at the 3 mile mark, while
my other son Ian is video taping

My new thing is to be a goof when I see a camera
Mile 8 - right in front of my 3 boats!  HA!

The most unique feature about this race, running THRU the Naval Station Air Hanger!  What other race does that?  At the ten mile mark, the course went onto airport property so we could run thru the hanger.  Off to the right were airplanes actually parked in the hanger, and a band was set up to play on the left side.  I have heard from my running group that the band was great, but unfortunately they were on break when I ran thru so I didn't get to hear them.  The hanger was also the starting point for the 5k, which started before the half....so we got to run thru their starting point, and from there we knew we had 3.1 miles left.  It was at this time that my lack of good training kicked in.  My knees, my hips, and my back, all just gave out at once.  I struggled to keep my pace of 10:30 per mile.  I slowed to 11:30, but I still couldn't do it.  I ended up walking a tenth of a mile, then running a tenth, walking/running, until I reached the finish line.

Colby running in with me the last mile, I couldn't keep up :(

Mile 12.8, I was spent

My only other half marathon was 2:41:44, that's a 12:20 pace.  My goal for Rock CF was to shave 1 minute per mile off my time.  That would have put me at 2:28:37.  What I did do was 2:24:38 crushing my old PR by 17 minutes and 6 seconds!!!  My only complaint about this race has to do with myself, my lack of training (again), and I'm so bummed my legs gave out the last 3 miles.  I had tears in my eyes when I crossed the finish line and could barely walk to the car.  I got my medal, managed to find the cymbal, CRASH it for setting my PR, and walk into the school for some wonderfully delicious homemade cookies!  I also grabbed a bag of chips, a banana, a water, (but passed on the Panera Bread bagel)....ok, I took TWO cookies!!

I absolutely would recommend this race to anyone and everyone.  It was a flat course, perfect for a PR, and perfect for anyone looking for a first-time half marathon!  The communication from the race organization was great (I received a few emails in the months/weeks/days before the race).  More water stations/port-a-potties then a lot of bigger well-known races.  Gorgeous course.  And I think for the entry fee, we got a lot.  Colorful long sleeve tech shirt, pretty cool bling, and a record amount of money raised for CF!  In addition, what made this race Over-The-Top good, were all the volunteers.  They were nice, they were all hooting and hollering cheering EVERY single runner on, very clear and specific with directions, including what you were grabbing to drink.  And then there were those homemade cookies.  Yummy in my tummy!  

With my son Ian crashing the cymbal for my new PR!

The BLING!

Next race, this Tuesday, for the Twinkie Run....where many Twinkies will be consumed...and both my boys are racing the 5k WITH me!!

Race on runners :)

AP Running Mom

What's Your Song?

Everyone has a song. You instantly know it when you hear it for the first time. My song changes every few months. Just this morning I found this little gem. I admit this one may be around longer then the average. The video is equally inspiring. What's YOUR song?

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HQUjviIH9PU

Paczki Run 5k

Paczki Run 5k
March 1, 2014 10:00 am, Hamtramck, MI
Temperature: 24 degrees, windchill 24
Race #6 in 2014
Race #16 all time
Distance: 5k (3.1 miles)
Time: 31:14, (PR is 30:31)
Finish: 42/183 in my age group, 506/1436 overall

LOVED this race!  Let me just cut to the good stuff....I RAN THE ENTIRE DISTANCE!!!  This is a first for me.  I thought for sure I had my Personal Record, but no such luck.  I will say, my PR is from a race in which I ran/walked, and when I finished that race I didn't believe my time even then.  That was one of my first races, so I didn't use any mapping apps at the time.  Either the course was not truly 3.1, or when I was running I was RUNNING.  It was a trail race too, which makes me think my time would be even slower than previous races...but I digress...Unofficially, I will say I PR'd this race!  THIS will be the number to beat every week!

Now the nitty gritty.  The boys had a hockey game at the exact same time as the race, so they were unable to run today. I signed up for this race on February 21, just making the 2nd early bird price of $25 plus a processing fee of $3.25.  I did the registration online via their website.  I had no problems with this process at all.  I thought it was AWESOME that the race offered runners their choice in color for the shirts we were to receive.  In keeping with the Paczki theme, the colors were named after Paczki. Raspberry, plum, lemon, or custard.  Because I was rather late in registering, the only color left in my size was lemon (I wanted raspberry).

The race organization had a facebook page dedicated to the run, which they updated regularly.  I was concerned about the streets being filled with residents parking their cars on race day, so I posted on their facebook page my concerns, and they immediately responded to tell me the entire route would be a no parking zone during the race.  

This race offered 2 days for early packet pick up (LOVE this).  I went the first day, Thursday, right at 4 when they opened.  Email communications, the race website, and their fb page were very clear with packet pick up instructions.  I was concerned with parking in Detroit, but I was able to find a spot right in front of the building!  I took my kids with me to explain this process, as they will officially be doing 5k's this year.  Bib numbers were on the walls when you went in to the room.  After I gave the volunteer my number, she retrieved my bib and shirt.  She verified with me that everything on the bib was correct. I kind of jokingly told the volunteer that yes, my info was correct, but I really wanted a raspberry shirt. She said "but you indicated during sign up lemon".  I told her how that was the only choice because I did it late.  She said, "I will be happy to switch it for you, we actually now are out of lemon, and people want lemon, and we ended up with extra raspberry."  YAY for me!!  So I ended up with raspberry after all!  
    

After picking up the packet we drove to Hamtramck to check out the course.  I was a little upset with the amount of potholes on the streets, the parking of so many cars on such narrow streets, and the ice mounds on some of the roads.  As stated, I posted about the parking and was relieved to hear about the no parking zone.  

On race day, I arrived to the area pretty early, at 8:55 am.  I was able to nab a great parking spot, right next to the polish music tent!  I stayed in the car for a while listening to the music.  Then I got out, warmed up, and met the runners from one of my running groups for a group picture. We then proceeded to the start line.  The only negative thing I can say about this race is that it did not start on time.  According to my phone it started 11 minutes late.  I know that's not a big deal, but when you are standing still waiting for a race to start, it gets very cold!  They did the national anthem, and one of the race organizers then explained that they had the potholes filled in as best they could!  I was so happy to hear this!!  

The race went thru residential areas of Hamtramck, a very big Polish community in SouthEast Michigan.  While there were cars on the route, there were not nearly as many as when I drove it on Thursday.  Most of the ice was cleared, and the potholes WERE filled!  There was some congestion with runners, especially for the first half mile.  Then on top of that, a runner who had her big dog with her had to stop in front of everyone while her dog did his business (BIG business if you know what I'm saying).  This is the first time I have seen this in a race.  Personally I am not a fan of dogs or strollers in races, and this is why.  Especially when it's so crowded.  There were many runners actually yelling at this lady, because it caused the inconvenience of the crowd parting ways.  

The race itself was pretty uneventful for me...I just kept running and running and never stopped to walk.  VERY proud of myself for this accomplishment.  After crossing the finish line, we were handed a bottled water and a paczek (for you non Polish readers, that's singular of paczki).  We were also given free beer, however I chose not to get one.  I stayed and listened to some Polish music for a while and cheered on the other SEMR runners still coming in.  

Conclusion:  LOVED LOVED LOVED this race.  I really enjoyed the theme of it (as you can see by my shirt I AM Polish)!  The race organization was really on top of things with communication and also responding to those potholes.  The only negative was starting late.  For $25, I thought it was an excellent chip timed race, and I really enjoy having a shirt that's a different color then most races offer.  And the best part of all, was enjoying my paczek after :)

Race on runners :)
AP Running Mom