On the Run: Detroit Women's 1/2 Marathon 2013

Last Sunday I ran my first women's-only event.  It was the first time Detroit has hosted the Women's Half Marathon and 5k.  Before that I never felt an overwhelming urge to go out of my way to run a women's-only event anywhere else.

When I heard about this event on Belle Isle, I signed up right away.  I love being part of new races!  Also I was curious to see how this type of race might be different from a race with both men and women.  I wasn't sure what to expect.  (To be honest, I was a little disappointed there wouldn't be any dudes to chick.  Ah well.  Although as it turned out, there was one dude running.  And yep, I chicked him!  haha)

I don't know how to compare this race to a traditional mixed gender race, other than by stating the obvious.  It was all women.  And most of the spectators were men.

 
I loved the race!  It was small, with fewer than 700 finishers in the half.  I was able to start right at the front so there wasn't anyone to get around.  The only parts where it got crowded was on the second loop when I caught up to 5k walkers and again on the third loop when I caught up to half marathoners on their second loop.  But even that wasn't bad.  Everyone involved was friendly and supportive.  The course looped around Belle Isle, offering beautiful views of the city.  It was windy by the water, which slowed me down at times, but the sun was shining and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.

After the first mile of running solo, another woman fell into stride next to me.  I felt myself pick up the pace just a bit.  We ran together for a while before she told me was going to try to keep up with me for the rest of the race.  I laughed and said I'd try to keep up with her, too.  We introduced ourselves to each other (she is Juliette) and stuck together until mile 6.  I got a little burst of speed and went ahead for the rest of the race, finishing just about 30 seconds ahead of her.  We were 5th and 6th place.  Each of us were first in our age groups.  Wahoo!

After the race, Juliette and I hung out while waiting for the awards ceremony and became instant friends.  Usually I just leave after a race, especially when I'm there by myself.  Maybe this is one of the differences between a women's-only race.  The camaraderie?  The support?  It was pretty cool.  And the award was actually useful - wine!!  Now we're talking.

 

Time 

1:33:23

Pace 

7:08/mile

Fuel 

Vanilla Chia Pudding, banana

Tunes

Rehab / Amy Winehouse

Let's Get Out of This Country / Camera Obscura

Hell / Tegan & Sara

I Love It / Icona Pop

Keep Your Head / The Ting Tings

Lots to Say / Otto Vector

We Found Love / Rihanna

I Knew You Were Trouble / Taylor Swift

LDN / Lilly Allen

Bad Romance / Lady Gaga

Dance Apocalyptic / Janelle Monae

Actor Out of Work / St. Vincent

You've Got Time / Regina Spektor

Celebrity Skin / Hole

Mercy / Duffy

Blood For Poppies / Garbage

Crushcrushcrush / Paramore

The Magnifying Glass / The Joy Formidable

The Edge of Glory / Lady Gaga

Bulletproof / La Roux

A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got) /Fergie (Ft. Q-Tip and Goonrock)

Paris (Ooh La La) / Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

Shut Up and Drive / Rihanna

Kiss With a Fist / Florence & The Machine

Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) / Kelly Clarkson

The Antidote / St. Vincent

New Day / Alicia Keys

E.T. / Katy Perry

Next race: Brooksie Way 1/2 Marathon, September 29th 

How do you feel about women's-only races vs. traditional mixed-gender races?