hershey park half marathon

saturday october 20

I was looking for a half marathon in the fall, driving distance, but somewhere fun and different.

what's that? Hershey Park has a half marathon? AND you get two tickets into the park for Hershey Park After Dark? AND there's a chocolate aid station? Yes.

[H, size Miniature]

 

H was not impressed by the rides.

 [what the eff am I supposed to do in here?]

 

but did enjoy being in his stroller [I mean, it's a BOB Ironman and it rides like a dream]

 

 

we were on our feet all day [and did a lot of walking] at the Park, and I knew that would effect my race. ideally the day before the race it's maybe a short run, legs up, compression sleeves on, trashy tv and a nap. this race was: walk uphill, walk, walk, wait in line for roller coaster, ride roller coaster, walk, eat delicious but bad-for-me food, walk, wait in line. repeat.

 

we got to our hotel around 10 and set alarms for 5:45. so very, very early.

 

sunday october 21

 

up and at 'em at quarter to 6 ! we got dressed quickly. I hemmed and hawed over how to dress -- mid 40s at the start and high 40s to low 50s at the finish -- decided on running skirt, thin tshirt, and long sleeved t. H and James were dressed a bit warmer.

 

we stopped at Dunkin Donuts so I could get a bagel and James a giant coffee. apparently, DD was not aware it was a race weekend, and it took forever to get our order. tg we left as early as we did. I HATE running late for a race start. super stressy.

 

and then to the Park ! it was perfect timing to get parked, get to the starting corrals (6-8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm .. really? we're going to put me with the 6 mm ers?) and take a picture with a giant Hershey Bar:

 

 

the race benefits the Children's Miracle Network, and I was tearing up as we passed posters of the kids the race was helping. great organization.

 

 

the race was HILLY .. weird, I know, considering we're in PA ! only about a mile went through the park, but it was neat to see the whole town. A lot of families and kids (and teenagers) were out, cheering us on, waving, holding signs. I high fived all the kids. that's one of the things that's so neat about racing.. feeling like a superstar athlete when you are, at best, a FOMOP runner.

 

[cheering for mommy.. with tons of enthusiasm, clearly]

 

after the first mile, my glass-is-half-full optimism had me ready for a PR..

unfortunately, I couldn't quite hold a sub 8:10 !

 

splits:

 

1: 8:09.5
2: 8:22.3
3: 8:15.6
4: 8:18.8
5: 8:23.6
6: 8:16.0
7: 8:32.2
8: 8:24.6
9: 8:33.7
10: 8:42.4
11: 8:37.0
12: 8:53.8
13: 8:26.9
14: 2:48.4 (.33 mi according to Garmie the Garmin)

 



chip time: 1:52:47
pace: 8:35
overall: 702/ 3749
gender: 242/ 2381
ag [F 25-34]: 89 / 816

[not bad rankings !]

and then we did our family photo

 
 
and then to Chocolate World:

 

[one of everything, if you please]

and then back to maryland [H and I both napped in the car]

overall I'm happy with my race, but I'd like to see what I could do on rested legs on a flat(ter) course. I'd love to PR this distance and PR it soon [a 1:46:xx if I remember correctly]