Back in September, on September 15, 2019, I ran the NYRR Virtual Halfway There 13. 1 half-marathon (powered by Strava). Full disclosure: I received a free entry from BibRave as a BibRavePro in exchange for my experience/review of the race. My frequent training partner also decided to run it virtually (we both try to run a half every month, schedule permitting). So we were able to coordinate our schedules and run it the same day/time, mostly on the same trail(s). Having travelled to New York in June/July and run there on the Brooklyn Bridge, it was wonderful to be able to coordinate a half-marathon to be run about the same time as others but have the flexibility to choose the course, time and day. And we sought out bridges on our course, trying to simulate some of New York's famous bridges using Nebraska trail bridges. We tracked our run on Strava for the route and distance. The aid stations were sort of inapplicable as we were self-supported (carrying our own water in 2 liter). Starting at sunrise, we took advantage of shade from trees along Rock Island Trail, then I ran east on Billy Wolff Trail and back to Tierra Park, near 27th Street and Highway 2 (Nebraska Highway). It was an excellent training opportunity to prepare for the Good Life Halfsy (the half I'm running this weekend) and allowing for sufficient recovery. Strava says I ran 13. 2 miles in 2:18, averaging 10:26 pace. Not bad. A good effort. A very familiar course. Having this virtual opportunity was a wonderful experience. I highly recommend you try this NYRR virtual racing opportunity along with the others they offer. Thank you! Enjoyed it very much!

On Sunday, October 21, I enjoyed running my first full marathon within the state of Iowa in Des Moines. At 8am, we lined up 7000 or so strong (marathoners, half-marathoners, and marathon relay folks) to enjoy a grand tour of Des Moines, including some surprises. I was fortunate to be able to pick up my race packet 2 days early on Friday night. I had a little trouble finding the expo location at the Iowa Event Center but it was dark by the time I arrived in town. I was impressed with the expo, the race director spoke and explained to us that we would feel a little crowded for at least the first 2 miles or so until the half-marathoners are directed off to the left and the full marathoners to the right. I made a note of that and tried to watch for fast people passing with batons (that means marathon relay runners). I was impressed to see so many vendors and selections at the expo, including some I wasn't expecting like Oofos for example (make running sandals). And it was nice to see the marathoner jacket in the marathon bag which I thought I could wear if needed on the day of the race. I know you aren't supposed to wear anything you haven't worn before but one must stay warm during a cool breezy race as well. So although I tested the rest of my gear/clothing beforehand, only the IMT Des Moines Marathon 26.2 jacket was new. Arriving in town a few days early allowed me to run in Clive (near West Des Moines) to adjust to my surroundings a little more. Running in Iowa is very similar to Nebraska with some subtle differences.

On the day of the race, Sunday, I layered up, grabbed all my gear and my water, and drove off determined to park at Principal Park. Unfortunately, when I got near Principal Park, my route was blocked by police/route barricades. So I recalculated at ended up at a downtown parking garage at 8th and Mulberry. I highly recommend that you do not even try to go to Principal Park to park unless you leave super early. 8th and Mulberry is about 6 blocks away from the start. Just park at a downtown parking garage and you won't get redirected and a little lost like I was until I reached downtown.

*Weather was nice for the race-about 38-40 degrees for the start (that's PR weather for some) and it rose into the 50s. It felt quite a bit cooler due to the wind in spots. Prepare for a breeze. Bring some gloves but you might not need them for the whole race. Definitely want a hat and maybe a scarf/wrap of some sort.
*Surface: Mostly asphalt, there were some giant potholes and cracks in the road surface so be careful. Some of those hazards were not well marked either. The best surface was the lap run upon the Drake University track. That was a surprise, I didn't realize that was on the course. (The wind almost blew my hat off on the track but I grabbed it in time so prepare for that.) Make sure you have your number visible on the track as they call out peoples names when they enter the track stadium. I had my jacket zipped up until the chip mat on the end of the lap. I didn't realize they were going to do that. Surprise.

*Hills: Yes, there were some. Nothing too dramatic, gently rolling hills for the most part. There is a nice downhill between 16-17 where you can accelerate and make up some time if needed. The 4:10 pacer was kind enough to flag that for me.

*Hydration/Aid Stations: I was very impressed with the water stops and aid stations. My only frustration was in determining which cups were water and which were Gatorade (all were served in Gatorade cups). Some aid workers were more vocal about which, others I had to ask to be sure. I didn't carry water with me at all so I think I stopped at almost every water station except one. It seems like there were water stops every mile or two throughout the race.

*Food/Bacon? Yes, there was bacon. At mile 19, I was amazed to be offered bacon by someone and I told him you've got to be kidding me. He said, no really it's bacon and here you need the salt. Realizing he was right, I grabbed 2 bacon strips and devoured them. Then I had a craving for bacon which I could not find after the race. Yes, I will run for bacon. That was a fun surprise that made me smile and chuckle a little. It was well-timed too. I was happy to see some GU packets offered (I forgot my nutritional protein bars but remembered to take the salt tablets). I grabbed a few salted caramel gu packets and those worked well. They were also offering things like gummy bears, skittles, and M&Ms. And Kleenex/facial tissue was appreciated too (I forgot to grab it).
*Animals/Nature/Birds: The most amazing moment of this race was the bald eagle that appeared out of nowhere at mile 21 and was circling above us. A photographer was snapping it and I lost all sense of time and space. I just wanted to watch the eagle. We don't see them very often where I live in Nebraska. We saw other birds too but the eagle stands alone and circling over us, it seemed to affirm that we all belonged running this course. It was a spectacular moment. Unfortunately, my phone was dead and I could not capture it except with my memory.
*Can you find people you might know? Yes, I saw two people during the race that I met afterward and we greeted each other during the race.
*At the start: very crowded at the drop bag location (this is where my phone died). Allow extra time. I was barely able to move into the area of the start I wanted for positioning for my pace. Mostly I ran with the 4:10 group for much of the race until late.
*Chip race/mats: There is a chip mat at the half, 20 miles, and the finish. There was at least one other one I think. Maybe at the Drake track?
*Photographers: Yes, there are free photos you can get through the DMM app. Make sure you show your number so they can capture some photos of you. I just unzipped my Des Moines windbreaker whenever I saw photographers. One caught a photo with a nice blue background. The free photos were at the 20 mile and finish point for me. Marathon Foto/Photo has photos you can buy if you wish to do so.
*Support/Spectators: The support and spectators was impressive for most of the course. The trail part was a little thinner in numbers but many of us are trail runners so we can be self-reliant on those stretches. Good support around the lake at 21-23 miles or so. Very windy there in that vicinity so prepare to cover up and hold on to your hat.
*Medical/Bikes: Bikes circulated in front of us and back and forth to make sure runners were doing well. Medical staff were every few miles and I didn't really see anyone in any distress that I could tell.
*Des Moines Marathon app: I was obsessed with the countdown clock. I love keeping track of time like that and it was a good reminder how much time I had left to do x, y and z before the race. I think it's probably the best marathon app I've used for any race I have run. Very easy to use and people loved tracking us during the race (family, friends).

*Bathroom/port-a-potties: Plenty of these on the course every few miles. Didn't need one but it was good to know these were there just in case.

*Finish: Well marked with a colorfully designed arch and photographers on ladders on both sides. We could see about when the photographers were snapping photos. And it was fun to finish with someone near you even if it wasn't someone I knew. We'll always be in that finish photo series together.

This was a wonderful race experience for me. I ran with the 4:10 pacers, wore a 4:10 pacing bracelet. I did run-walk-run as that is how I train and race. My heart rate was a little elevated (and I was cold despite being layered up and wearing double gloves) for the first half so I had to be a little conservative early. Once we reached the Drake track, I was much more relaxed. I remembered my Dad and brothers had travelled to watch the Drake relays there so it gave me a family connection I wasn't expecting. And finally on the trail portion, I felt like I was back in my groove. By 20 miles, I was having a good experience (pretty zippy at 30k point), then I slowed down a little. Managing a recent glute injury, I was trying to avoid aggravating that problem. It became obvious 4:10 wasn't going to happen, then my goal shifted to 4:15. And finally I reset the goal at 4:30-4:35ish and landed at 4:34:42, just under my adjusted target pace. It was a fantastic relief to be able to finish a full marathon and still have energy to walk~slowly~and enjoy it. I knew I had given my all and a blood blister on one foot bore that out for me. I knew I lacked the speedwork needed to run much faster. And that's okay. Sometimes you run a marathon simply to finish and do your very best without a major time goal hanging in the balance. It's a lot less pressure to have some lower-pressure races like this.
*Food/drinks afterwards: I was happy to receive a bottle of water right after my marathon medal. The photographer snapped me holding it up. Then there was an assortment of cookies, bananas, chips, queso, pork sandwiches and Gatorade. And chocolate milk. The cookies were irresistible. It was sort of tough to find what we wanted here but we did find the Sam Adams beer area. And the PR bell which we were delighted to see and hear people ring.

PR bell: Yes, it was there and it was large and loud, the way it should be.

Photo areas afterwards: Yes, we got some great photos by the Des Moines sign with our names on it (also the car had our names on it at the expo) and the I Can Do this! sign was a great location for a photo after too.

High fiving friends during the race: Yes, I did enjoy this experience in the middle of the race. It is possible with friends passing on both sides in several locations too, giving us a great opportunity for that. And everyone gives each other energy with that exchange.

*Hospitality: I was amazed the warm (Hawkeye) hospitality I received as someone from Nebraska. And I think many people seemed to feel that too. Well done!

It's a good blend of urban and rural feel on the trail. Prepare for pleasant surprises. Enjoy the experience! I loved it and I think you will too!

On July 8, I ran the Lincoln Mile race for the first time. It's a flat, out-and-back, hook-and-ladder shaped course. I was very happy to be able to run with my 40-something age group for the last time in a race before turning 50. If I remember right, the older age groups ran first so I was able to observe the 50s age group start and finish. Led by bikes, the leaders are able to break away and have some room. For the rest of us, it took about 1/2 a mile or so for us to have a little more running room. Until then, we were running in packs/groups. The course runs briefly north on 12th Street, then east on R Street before we run a few blocks south on Centennial Mall (aka 15th Street). Seeing the State Capitol is a highlight at the turnaround. Then we turn around the way we came and finish on 12th Street. I didn't train for this race distance. It was a bit of a speed test for me. I was hoping for a little bit faster. I ran a 6:42 officially (although Garmin/Strava tell me I ran a little longer than a full mile). 21st in my age group of 29 on tired legs. But having run a race (5k) that week already, it was nice to be able to run a shorter faster one just to see how fast I could run it. Afterwards, there are plenty of refreshments (water, Italian ice, bananas, bagels, etc.). I stayed to watch the runners in their 30s compete. Then there are younger runners and elite runners to watch as well. Overall, it was a well-run race and I highly recommend it. How fast can you run a mile? P.S. If you come early, you can easily run a warmup mile around Memorial Stadium area (that's where I ran mine). Also, packet pickup is pretty easy on the day of the event at Lincoln Running Company, only a few blocks from the start of the race. I waited to pick up my packet until the day of the race. The photo is of the men's winner finishing fast in the 50s age group.

It's always exciting to run a race that is being held for the first time, especially on an historic freedom-filled day like July 4. Thanks to the co-sponsors, Fleet Feet Nebraska and CHI Health for bringing this new race to the community. The race is held at Ak-Sar-Ben Village and it's a 3 loop course. (Ak-Sar-Ben is Nebraska spelled backwards. Did you know that?) Each loop is roughly more than a mile. The course measures 3.17 miles so your watch will show a little longer than that at the finish. Once arriving, I picked up my bib and looked around at the location. The elevation is very flat for this course (Garmin measured about 23' climb for the entire course). The humidity was a little bit of an issue. Heat was slightly up but really it was the humidity that was the toughest challenge of this race. There were plenty of opportunities to capture the moment with a special-event Snapchat geofilter for the race so I tested a few snaps with that for the blogpost and to remember. There were roughly 350 or so of us running the race from what we were told. I'm not sure if that included the miler competitors or not. Some people may have run the mile with their kids after the 5k. That is a possibility. At 8:30, the race began and we rotated clockwise in the first loop. The security was good for the event. Streets were blocked off and there was no car traffic coming near us during the race. Only racers, fans/volunteers, and some designated bikers were on the race course. One thing I would definitely recommend is to wear/bring a hat/visor because there is little shade on the course except where trees block the sun in a few locations. I was glad to have a good shade running hat with me. It is a chip race so your time is adjusted by the time you cross the chip mats. You cross the mats three times (once on each mile lap). I didn't really have a specific goal for the race, just decided to run as fast as possible. I didn't train for it specifically. I entered a little late but was still able to enter online easily. There were water stops about every 1/2 mile on the course (roughly 1/2 mile from the starting line). I was carrying water with me so I didn't need to stop for it. But I did take walk breaks during the race to drink water. I noticed some of the sponsors did move around the course a little to cheer different people on and maybe catch us twice on one lap possibly. That was good. I tried to make the first mile faster because it seemed like the heat/humidity were increasing. So the first mile was 6:43. Second mile was a little slower, adjusting to humidity/heat/very bright sunshine: 7:40. And the last mile was 7:59 with a little burst at the end. I was disappointed at the finish that someone sneaked up on me and surged past me at the finish line. Didn't see him coming. My Garmin said 24:08 official time but at the awards they announced my time as 24:06. 7:27 pace overall (slower than a wanted but adjusted for hot/humid day, not bad). I stayed to cheer on some 5k runners as they streamed in after me. After the last 5k runner, they prepared for the milers. There was a mile race afterwards and we were encouraged to support the milers (especially the kids). So we supported them too. After both races, awards for age groups were given (top 3 in each age group and top winners overall for male/female. I was happy to receive 2nd place in my age group with a $15 gift certificate to Fleet Feet Nebraska and a free entry to a 5k in August coupon (sponsored by someone else). I made a point of thanking the CHI Health volunteers after the race too. I was impressed that we all received medals (all finishers), that's rare for a 5k. There was social media integration with Facebook and Instagram and Fleet Feet asked us to share our pictures on all those platforms, tagging them to raise awareness. Well done. It was a good race, well-run and supported, high energy among the race sponsors, volunteers, and participants. Great location for it too. There were plentiful food/drinks after the race from bananas, bagels, protein bars, water, and CHI Health was giving a way free CHI-branded items too. Free massages for people that needed it after the race as well. It was a good, family-friendly, memorable experience and I highly recommend you try this race on for size. You'll enjoy it. Wear your red, white and blue and enjoy the Fourth of July holiday as a family and bring your friends too!