Cincinnati Flying Pig 3 Way Challenge: Race Recap part 1

Sorry this has taken so long to post.  I've been dealing with the end of the school year stuff and too much soccer for Cub.  I've been busy to say the least. 

History:  I've run the Flying Pig 10k two years ago, 1/2 marathon last year, and this year:  Flying Pig 3 way challenge, which means you run a 10k, then a 5k on Saturday AM then the 1/2 marathon on Sunday AM.  I'd planned since October to do this and was completely bummed when I messed up my ankle in Jan and didn't think I'd run it.    I think it is so cool that you can run this!  Where else can you do that all in a weekend?  

Expo:  This expo is pretty darn extensive.  Packet pick up was pretty straight forward, they had the 3 way and 4 way challenge bibs set apart so no need to get in 3 separate lines.  I still did since I was getting my running partner (I guess I can still call her that) and my kids and dh's bibs for the 5k.

 The Flying Pig Marathon is sponsored by Procter and Gamble which means: tons of free samples!!! woot! woot!  They have a very well organized line that went fast and I now have a nice supply of Olay Regenerist lotion, Secret, Gain, Tampax, and a ton of other stuff which my dh squirreled away before I take a picture of the loot pile.  (We had 4 participant bags so we took handfuls of stuff). 

The normal venders were there and I did score a new sweaty band for my birthday and some blister powder (since I got a hot spot on foot on my last run before the races-I was paranoid). I also bought a new pair of running/athletic sunglasses since I hate squinting while running in the summer.  We checked out I have to say it's nice having your birthday always around the same time as the Pig-I just drag my dh with me to the expo and birthday shop! ;-)

My favorite Flying Pig and all my loot!

2013 Race Shirts

 At the end of the expo center (it took us a good 1.5hrs to get through) we got to the shirts and the premiums for the half/full runners.  This year they gave us a nice soft cooler with the flying pig logo, nice cotton tees for the 5k, 10k and  an Asics tech shirt for the half.  Then they give out these cool posters with the artwork from the shirt. 

I love this expo!  It's totally worth the extra trip down to Cinci! 

PS If you love my t-shirt "I run this body" check out http://www.mile-posts.com/

Tomorrow:  Flying Pig 3 way challenge 5k and 10k race recaps

Race Recap: Cincinnati Flying Pig Half Marathon

Saturday:  The Expo 

 Last year when I did the Pig 10k I didn't go to the expo.  A friend of mine when down and got our packets.  I'd heard it was pretty good expo, plus lots of swag in the race packet...so saddled up the boys and dh and headed off on Saturday afternoon.  I wish I'd had more time, and frankly, the boys hadn't come.  They were being typical 5 & 8 year olds (not the ideal shoppers- or good in crowds in general).  I did manage to swing by the Proctor & Gamble swag table and pick up some nice toothbrushes, loads of Dawn dishsoap, and Olay lotions.  

Sweaty Bands- RunCincinnati

Stopped by the Sweaty Bands booth as well.  I've eyed them for a while, but since I have a small head, I needed to try them on. They are awesome, definitely see why people like them.  Picked up 3 cute ones and hinted to dh (my birthday was coming up) on some other ones. 

So after wondering through the expo and talking to the Air Force Marathon people (more about that later) and Canton Marathon people (just maybe...) finally got to the shirts, bags and posters.  The PIG is known for giving out good swag.  The Asics athletic bag is awesome, definitely worth having around.

Sunday:  Race Day 

Race time: 6:30 am

Temp at start:  not too bad, but the humidity looked bad

Time to get up: 3:00 am

Time to leave the house: 3:45

Time to pick up Running partner:  4:15

Time to get to Cincinnati: 45 mins

That left us 1.5 hrs to park, potty and stretch/warm up (get nervous)

Our drive down was one I don't think I'll ever forget.  We came across a police car on I-75 that was in the left lane and a car that had run into the median and was blocking the road.  Between the car and the police cruiser was 20ish looking man, laying on the road.  No one was helping him, and it looked like he was dead (RIP). I think the policeman had just gotten there, since he wasn't covered up.  The ambulance was coming down the other side of the highway after we passed. Needless to say, it was a somber moment.

So, on a happier note...the race.

Carrie and I were in different corrals.  I was in B she was in D so we decided to place ourselves in C.  It was a pedestrian cut through as well, so no one was checking bibs there, so that was pretty easy!  

Miles 1-6 were uneventful.  I went out at the pace I'd thought I could do, little slow the first mile but I was weaving around everyone, trying to find my spot/pace.  I did run into the 1:50 pace group but there were so many people surrounding the pacers it was a traffic jam.  Generally I don't get claustrophobic in races but I had to get around them or to the side.Too many people and too close for my liking.  7th street was a long stretch looking into the sun.  There were tons of people cheering us on.  Refilled my water bottle along the way.

Miles 7-10  Holy Hills!  This was worse than I expected.  I had seen the elevation chart but I never really grasped how many and how big those suckers were!  First hill, I was thinking " this is like a standing hill  w/ resistance about 16" on my spin bike, but then you'd turn a corner and there was another hill, etc. The crowd support was great thank goodness.  When we got near the top, there was a spectacular view of the Ohio River and Kentucky.  

Mile 11- all downhill- just let the legs go! Note the time difference for mile 10 and 11.

Mile 12-13.1- sunny, hot, and I'm tired.  The finish line could not get there soon enough. I thought for sure I was shuffling along.  I realize I really should have had another Cliff Blok on at mile 9.  

Love the instant gratification of race results right after you finish!

Overall, it was a great race.  I didn't PR but I'm pretty darn proud of my time. It was a tough course. Even better, no foot problems what so ever!   Will I do it again?  We'll see. Now, time to tackle 26.2 in the fall. 

Race Recap: Columbus 1/2 Marathon part 1

Saturday my running buddy Carrie and I headed off to Columbus OH for the Nationwide Columbus Marathon and Half-marathon.  Not that it was too far of a drive, only an hour.  Managed to get in around 5 and go swing by the expo to pick up our packets.

They had little stalls for the bib numbers, which you just had to get in line for your bib, and then swing over and get your shirt.  For some reason, for the Half numbers 10,000-11,999 had a line that was about 300 people that winded its way through the expo.  All the other stalls were mostly empty...and guess what my number was?  10,840.  Crap, so we waited in line for awhile, people were getting out of line when they realized it was for the bibs not the shirts or they realized that their bib number was something else.  Eventually we got our bibs, then off to check out the expo.
  Maybe I got spoiled with the Air Force Marathon's expo, but I figured the Columbus marathon would be way better considering how many people run in it, but it was disappointing.  Not a lot there which was good on my wallet, at least.   We did like the One More Mile display.  I bought a shirt for my dh last month from them.  We had fun reading the shirts.   

Dinner of champions!

So after the expo, we decided that we'd stay in for dinner.  The idea of walking around Columbus with my heel reminding me that it hurt every (other) step (thank god for aleve) was not sounding appealing so Carrie brought spaghetti with her.  THE BEST IDEA EVER.  We warmed it up in the hotel restaurant and ate out in the lobby and people watched.   Some guy stopped to talk to us and told us the hotel restaurant had sold out of all pasta.  Score!

  Then we just chilled out in our room. One of my coworkers was running the full and is beast of a triathlete, came down and we just talked for a good hour.  She'd run Columbus a few times so I asked a zillion questions.  She gave me great pep talk helped me during the race.  Thanks Jenny!

Finally decided we should go to bed around 10:00.  Had the worst night of sleep possible...woken up by drunk, laughing people in the hall, dry heat in the room, potty breaks, finally it was 5:15 am.

Breakfast of banana and cliff bar and 1/2 cup of coffee, got out of the hotel around 6:30 and walked with the masses of runners the 3 blocks to the state capital.  I about threw up on the way.  I have a super sensitive nose when I'm nervous and we kept walking by Ginkgo trees- whose leaves smell like throw up when they've been step on. Anyways, coughing and gagging I finally got away from those damn trees.  So the first "mile" long portapotty line...decided to skip it and look for others.  We turned the corner and in a dark alley there was a whole bunch that no one had really discovered yet.  So, clean and no smelly porta potties are a good thing (especially if your nervous like me-see Gingko trees above)

We stretched (sort of) and listened to the band and waited before getting into our corrals.  My heel was feeling great.  Finally, we entered our corral, and waited to get started on the race.  Which I will post later...