“Greenwood Half Marathon” — race recap

I mentioned on dailymile Thursday that the Greenwood Half Marathon had been cancelled 4 days before the event. (I’m planning a full post on my experience which will hopefully serve as a PSA warning against the Reinke Sports Group.)

To say that I was disappointed would be an understatement. I’d already made plans such as booking a hotel (nonrefundable) and was really looking forward to the weekend.

Instead of giving up and losing the money on the hotel (the race registration is another story) I decided to go out anyway with Dad and make my own half marathon with race bib, water stops and medal.

As soon as I decided that I took an old bib (the bib from my first race actually) and did a little cosmetic work.

From:

To:

Last night Dad got resourceful and came up with some items that we could use to craft our own medal.

Ingredients: green ribbon, green poster board, green tape, ties, and an Easter cookie tin

Here’s Dad adding some “decorations”

This morning we headed out to a local 2.7 mile trail. The plan was to run the entire length twice and then head back out for an additional shorter out and back to get the whole distance in.

Ready to start! I used both my Garmin and the mapmyrun app just in case the Garmin had issues again. It didn’t. I think somehow it accidentally got left on and the batteries wore down.

The trail was really nice with some gorgeous views along the way. I settled into a nice rhythm fairly quickly. The one thing I didn’t appreciate? 96% humidity. I really should have brought my camelbak along with me. I’d planned to but realized halfway to Greenwood that I’d forgotten. Oops. I knew when I started to get thirsty coming back on the second out and back (around miles 8-10) that I was probably dehydrated.

Each time I got back to the trail head, Dad was there to hand me a cup of Gatorade (blueberry pomegranate…my favorite!)

This was the second time. After I finished those I actually walked over to the van and drank the rest of the bottle. While I needed the liquid I probably shouldn’t have drunk that much, that quickly. It sloshed around uncomfortably for a little under half a mile.

At each out and back Dad also got a few pictures of me in action.

(I’m not posing. I promise.)

Finally, I finished soaked in sweat. (I really want to live somewhere without this awful humidity.) I don’t have a picture of the actual finish. I have a video. I’m not going to post it. 😀 (It’s my dad at nearly the height of his cheesiness. :D)

Apparently he wanted to document everything about the finish so here I am saving the run on mapmyrun.

sweaty and done

and with my “race bling”

(I should have written “real” like I just typed it. :D)

After heading back to the hotel to clean up and pack up, Dad and I got back on the road with one last stop for one last “reward”.

(I know it’s not vegan but I really needed something.)

All in all the “race” was a success and I’m very glad that I was abe to make lemonade out of lemons. 😀 I’m also glad that I signed up for the GHS Centennial Half. Otherwise I wouldn’t have had an “official” half marathon this month.

Next up? Clemson Easter Bunny Half in two weeks. I’m looking forward to a “real” race. 😀