Mesa Falls Half Marathon Race Update

I loved this race and completly enjoyed myself and feel great about the results and my performance. I'll start from packet pick-up last night. 
We had Karlee my new running buddy and her hubby Will over for a pasta dinner around 5:30pm.  I'm so glad that we are making new couple friends.  Running is such a great way of connecting people.  Then we all headed to the small town of Ashton, Idaho about 40 minutes away to pick up our packets.  It was at an elemntary school and you just go in the doors and there in the hallway were the boxes with the race packets in alphabetical order.  It's such a small race you just pick out your own packet and... that's about it.  But guess what the packet bags were?! Potato sacks! It cracked us up.

Karlee and I with our "race packets"

 The shirts are pretty "unique"  they are collared with a fish on them. I told Thomas he could have it and wear it to work but he declined.  Although he did try it on.

 Our race swag included some runner's lube, blister pads, nutri grain bar, quench your thirst chewing gum, and a $500 dollar gift card to some sunglass company.  The $500 gift card is totally a scam.  What the company does is distribute these gift cards and then charge you ten percent of the $500 for shipping and handling and then send you a cheap pair of sunglasses from China.  I googled it cause it sounded too good to be true.

 After picking up our gear we drove the car around the course.  This was my first and only marathon so it brought back some great memories.  I didn't remember it being so hilly! But it was even prettier than I remembered.
We then headed back to our house for some banana cream pie Karlee had brought.  Got to bed around 10pm and the alarm went off at 6am.
I at some toast (butter on a whole wheat sandwhich thin) at around 6:30am and then later had three Clif Shot Bloks at 7:30am.  Used the bathroom seven times.  We got to the elementary school around 7:20am and waited to load the buses which took the runners to the start at about 7:45am.  The race started at 8:30am.  It was pretty chilly in the morning so originally I was going to wear a dri-fit jacket but a minute or two before the race started I decided to take it off.  Good choice.  The first four miles or so was on a dirt bike path.  Loved that! Plus it was a slight downhill and we were running along a river.  At mile four our hubbies were there taking pictures.

The first aid station and our hubbies first siting of us.

Mile four to six was a big ol' hill that went on forever! I felt strong going up it but lost Karlee at mile 5.25. Luckily our hubbies were there to bike alongside us.  I stopped to eat 3 shot bloks and drink some water at mile 6. 
We had some good flats and downhills for a mile or so and then pretty much the rest of the race was rolling hills.  I had trained a lot on rolling hills and so I actually really enjoyed them.  The downhills sometimes give me a sideache so I'm actually relieved to start going uphill for a little bit. 

Part of the hill

My face tells all on how I felt about that long beast.

Finally some rolling hills and not an straight up incline.

 I felt really strong through the rolling hills and Thomas was pointing out people for me to catch. Finally, there was a mile left and I was dead. Usually when it gets this close I can kick it up a gear and finish a bit faster but at this point I was just putting one foot in front of the other and that was enough. Thomas kept telling me I was hunched and needed to straighten up. I just told him to "Go!" I justed needed to focus and get er done at the point, hunched back and all.

Yay! I can walk now!

We did it and had fun doing so.

I loved having Karlee to run a big chunk of the race with and Thomas to bike alongside me.  He kept telling me I was doing awesome and he really encouraged me.  My official time was 2:03:13, not a PR but I am happy about that time. And it's the toughest course I've done and my second best time.  It was a tough hilly course and I felt strong mentally and physically and had fun.  That was my biggest goal for this race was to enjoy myself.
4th out of 20 in my age division (Karlee got 3rd!)

The Medal

Continuing the fish theme of the collared sheet.

 After the race we stopped to get a free huckleberry milkshake for the hubbies and then headed home. I took a nice warm sea salt bath and then we headed to Dairy Queen.  I can't eat for a few hours after a race but when the hunger comes, it comes with a vengeance! Once we replenished our carbs we were ready for an hour and a half night, to get us ready for a fun night of bowling.
We went with my sister Bea and her hubby Ivan, and our friends Natalie and her hubby Jacob.  These two little cuties came too:

Preston and Alex loved the bright balls.

Love this guy.  And he's an amazing bowler.

Ivan and Bea.

Ivan had trouble keeping his eyes open in the pics.

Natalie, Preston, and Jacob.  Aren't they the cutest little family!?