This is the 3rd year of the Rock CF Rivers race on Grosse Ile and I've run it every year. I love it! It's so well-organized in all respects, the shirts are great, it's not crowded, I can keep warm in the high school before the race starts, and there are plenty of bathrooms (mostly real inside bathrooms with actual soap and sinks!). It also raises a lot of money for cystic fibrosis, which is really cool. What's the downside? No post-race bananas!!! Wah-wah! Ah well, I can't have it all.
It was a little chilly this morning - around 27 degrees - but thankfully there wasn't too much wind. And honestly, it was pretty much perfect once I got going. This is such a nice course. There are long stretches along the water, spots that take you by gorgeous homes, and at one point you even run through the Naval Air Station hangar. Everyone along the course is super friendly and supportive. My favorite was the guy in the full Spider-Man suit encouraging me on around the relay exchange point!
I wish I felt better about my race. I should, considering I ran it almost 7 minutes faster than the same race last year. However, I had a lot of negative self-talk going through my mind as I ran (started too fast, uneven pace, why did I sign up for a full marathon??) Then when I was done and saw my time, I was frustrated that it wasn't a new half marathon PR for me. I placed 5th in my age group and had hoped for better.
BUT, not every race can be a PR, right? Or put me in the top 3 in my age group. And maybe every race isn't going to be the best one ever. On the bright side, I improved from last year's time on this race, I kept pushing myself when my mind was telling me to slow down, AND I chicked a lot of dudes. Oh yeah, and I got to see Spider-Man. That, my friends, is not your everyday occurrence.
Time
1:33:20
Pace
7:07/mile
Fuel
Vanilla Chia Pudding (this recipe, minus the cocoa), banana
Tunes
Off to the Races / Lana del Rey
It Gets Better / fun.
The Man That Never Was / Rick Springfield
Paris (Ooh La La) / Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
Get Ready / Mayer Hawthorne
Back in Your Head / Tegan and Sara
Babel / Mumford & Sons
Run Right Back / The Black Keys
Sixteen Saltines / Jack White
Never Go Back / Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
We Found Love / Rihanna
Ain't Messin 'Round / Gary Clarke Jr.
Work Around It / Them Swoops
I Will Wait / Mumford & Sons
Can't Hold Us / Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Heart Attack / Raphael Saadiq
Better Left Unsaid / Otto Vector
In My Head / No Doubt
Blue Orchid / The White Stripes
Runaway Baby / Bruno Mars
Young Blood / The Naked & Famous
Back & Forth / Foo Fighters
Blood for Poppies / Garbage
We Come Running / Youngblood Hawke
Where Have You Been / Rihanna
So Good / B.o.B.
The Antidote / St. Vincent
It Gets Better / fun.
The Man That Never Was / Rick Springfield
Paris (Ooh La La) / Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
Get Ready / Mayer Hawthorne
Back in Your Head / Tegan and Sara
Babel / Mumford & Sons
Run Right Back / The Black Keys
Sixteen Saltines / Jack White
Never Go Back / Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
We Found Love / Rihanna
Ain't Messin 'Round / Gary Clarke Jr.
Work Around It / Them Swoops
I Will Wait / Mumford & Sons
Can't Hold Us / Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Heart Attack / Raphael Saadiq
Better Left Unsaid / Otto Vector
In My Head / No Doubt
Blue Orchid / The White Stripes
Runaway Baby / Bruno Mars
Young Blood / The Naked & Famous
Back & Forth / Foo Fighters
Blood for Poppies / Garbage
We Come Running / Youngblood Hawke
Where Have You Been / Rihanna
So Good / B.o.B.
The Antidote / St. Vincent
Next race: Martian Invasion of Races, Half Marathon - April 13th
