Boise FitOne Half Marathon

Our First Race in Boise

And our first race since moving to Idaho. I haven’t crossed a start line since the National Women’s 8k back in April.  We moved in June, I took about a month to get back into the groove and adjust to the elevation and terrain here, then I immediately started marathon training. I actually signed up for this half marathon because it fit nicely into the training plan—on the same day as a 12 mile tempo run.

When I signed us up I planned to race it as a fitness check, partially because it had been so long since racing and partially to see what I could do a little over halfway through my NYC training plan. When the surgery happened a little over three weeks ago, I decided to back off and forgo racing it. Instead I would do the tempo run as prescribed, plus an extra warm up mile. That was my plan even as I stepped to the start line. I had a mantra “Runner, not a racer, today.”

Runner, not a Racer

The race began with a motivating speech from Olympian and former world record holder Anne Audain. Maybe it was her pep talk or the 54 degree temps with low humidity and no wind…but we started and I realized I was settling into a 7:20-7:25 pace comfortably and able to speak in sentences to those around me. I was supposed to be running 8:00-8:15 but…well…how freaking easily I caved! This, by the way, is why I don’t typically use races as training runs haha.

Thing were smooth the first two miles until an utter cluster f**k where the route had suddenly been changed and what should have been a jaunt past the Old Penitentiary and Botanical Gardens became an out and back where people were running down the wrong side of the road and criss-crossing. Suddenly the route was .3 miles short as mile marker 3 was placed too early. (Aside from that mishap, and later a death-defying shuttle bus ride, I have nothing negative to say about this race!)

We continued to run down Warm Springs Avenue with the foothills to our left and the Boise River to our right. A beautiful sight always, but especially in the early morning light. As we approached 4 miles and the tempo pace was coming, I was a little nervous I had been stupid to run 7:20ish, but it was too late for that.

Tempo Miles

I continued to enjoy the scenery until mile 6 as we turned back onto the Greenbelt. The tempo miles were flying by and I was hitting my goal pace, feeling stronger as I went. Around mile 7, I passed one woman ahead of me and a volunteer told me I was in second place. As I passed, she said “great job”, and I said “you too!” thinking ‘people here are mighty nice’. I also reminded myself that I was running not racing, second place means nothing, and to just stay steady at my tempo pace. Even made sure to finally get the smiley waving photo that has forever eluded me.

I hit mile 10, completing my final tempo mile, and slowed down a smidge to a 7:00 or so pace. I should have slowed back down to a cool down pace, but I was feeling really good! I thought I was kind of by myself out there running past Boise State when suddenly a woman passed me, flying by. I could tell she was going to catch the leading lady a short distance ahead. We turned off the Greenbelt close to mile 11, heading toward the Boise Depot and the one true hill on the course and, indeed, she smoothly and effortlessly took the lead.

A Strong Finish

While maintaining my pace, I approached the woman now in second, who had been leading for 11 miles.  I ended up being a little stronger up the hill and passed her while maintaining my pace. The hill was pretty motivating with plenty of spectators, music playing, and even a local cheer leading team.

After the depot the next mile was along Crescent Rim Drive with a gorgeous view from the bench. The same spot we went to see the Spirit of Boise hot air balloon launch. It was also where we met up with the bulk of the 10k walkers so there was much zigzagging. We came downhill from the bench into Anne Morrison Park and I quickly realized the course markers weren’t just placed wrong, the course was going to be well short. About .4 miles to be exact. I crossed the line in 1:29:09 and my pace says I would have finished in 1:32:08. I crossed as the second overall woman. Suddenly Dorothy was IN Kansas as I doubt I could have earned second place in any half marathon in DC at a 7:02 pace.

As my friend Samia told me “Good race for tempo runs, bad if you want a PR” — if you are person of integrity of course! To their credit, the website made it clear the course was NOT USATF certified!

Splits

“Warm Up” – 7:22, 7:26, 7:12 (that mess with the course change), 7:22

Tempo Miles – 6:53, 6:50, 6:52, 6:48, 6:55, 6:52

“Cool Down” – 7:01, 7:01, 4:31 (.7 miles)

Reflecting

The remarkable thing about this race was how good I felt aerobically after struggling a bit through my surgery recovery (well it was probably a normal recovery time but it made running a struggle) and how good I felt physically! The entire run was pain free aside from some stomach issues from my Gu gel. I’m hoping I’ve got a solution for that after soliciting advice from a bunch of friends—Gen UCAN and Honey Stinger Organic gels. I have never run a race that distance and felt so good during and after, including the next day. I attribute much of that to some bad ass sports massage from Jasmine at Epic Sports Massage—finally getting built up scar tissue and other gunk off of my ankles and doing some serious work on my peroneal tendon and glutes.

I am in very high spirits to finish out my training plan healthy. Just under six weeks until NYC!