State #26 West Virginia
State #26 West Virginia
The getting over the halfway mark hump.
Harper’s Ferry Half Marathon and 5k, Harper’s Ferry West Virginia
May 13,2017
Time: 2:18:29
Place 164/367
Pace: 10:34
Division Place: 13th age 40-44
The hills, the hills, the hills. Uphill and steep. This was the HARDEST race to date. It was a race that was painfully beautiful race.
1. I was so surprised and beyond words excited to See Marky there. I met Marky a year ago, to the day for State #15, which was on Mother’s day. I randomly see her a year later at this race during registration pick up. She had decided to run this race last minute and I happen to be there too. Soo wonderful.
2. This was the first time I ran a course that I needed running shoes that were also cleats and boots. There were so many steep up hills, gravel, dirt, mud, and pavement.
3. A cheerer had said “ Get in there girl, get in there”- I have no clue as to what any of that means.
4. This was a small with a little over 500 people.
5. The light rain and coolness helped with all the uphills.
6. First time I was told to make sure to walk over the bridges because it's very slippery and you can fall in the water.
7. The change of terrain, I was afraid I was going to bust a knee cap.
8. I saw three African women and a couple of black men running the race.
9. I kept running up those damn hills, it might have been a slow jog but I didn’t want to stop because I knew if I did I might run again. Several people mention my push and how I was their pacer.
10. The first 3 miles we ran in a field through grass. Considering the history of Harper’s Ferry I wondered if this is what some of the slaves who might have escaped had to go through. It was just crazy with the grass.
11. Mile 8 was my sweet spot. I knew that is where the Guide Shake Café would be and that would be my point.
12. For two miles I didn’t listen to my radio but just listen to the sound of the Shenandoah River.
13. I’m so glad I checked out the running route before the race so I knew what to expect or at least I knew where the markers would be. I was not prepared for this.
14. Before the race I saw a family of deer and I saw mile 13 was up a grassy hill. Then running it, I pretty much crawled up the hill as I was trying to get up it. This was after running 2 miles up a steep hill, then running through the hills and the grassy hill.
At the end of the race a couple of people said hey good job pink. I made sure to have on my mother’s day flower and my fight like a girl cancer shirt to honor my mother.
