Thursday, August 25, 2011

Park City Half-Marathon: The Race in Review

We drove to Utah last weekend for the Park City Half-Marathon.  It was kind of a quick trip.  We stayed with Emily, one of my roommates from college, and her family, and got to watch her make this amazing cake.  We got there Friday night and went to the "Expo," which was not really an expo, it was a pretty small race.  The just handed me my bag with my bib and the T-shirt in it and said, "See you tomorrow." 

The race was hard.  It was slightly uphill on the way up.  So slight that I didn't really realize we were going uphill until about mile 5, it go pretty steep at mile 6 and 7, then we turned around right after mile 7.  Then I was cooking on the way back, trying to make it in less than 2 hours.  I went pretty slow on the way up so I had my work cut out for me.  I was averaging 9:30-9:45 on the way up and then trying for 8:30s on the way down. 


In the end, I got discouraged because I didn't know how much longer I had.  There wasn't a lot of us, so we're running and I can't hear anything (I had my headphones in, I'm an idiot!) or see any sign of the end so I'm still running but I realize I can't make it in under 2 hours so I slowed down a little and wondered if we were actually going the right way.  Then I turn a corner and the end is RIGHT THERE.  I was kind of ticked.  I wish, at the end of a race, they would have indicators at 1/2 mile left, 1/4 mile left, something.
Me finishing the race, stopping my watch, and being totally oblivious to James taking my pictures and cheering for me because I'm the idiot that forgot to take her headphones out.
In the end, I finished in 2 hours and 2 minutes, which is not a bad time.  I guess because I did the Seattle one much faster, I was hoping to do better on this one.  It was good practice and preparation for the Colorado Springs Marathon on Labor Day.  Also, our friends John and Ashley and their little munchkin Lindsay came, which was awesome!  And James was there, taking pictures.  This is the first big race he's been at and not been running, too.  The more people I know are at the finish line, the faster I run. 
  Here's me with my "medal" made out of recycled glass.  That's cool, I like being green, but let's call it what it is:  a necklace on a ribbon that says, "Park City Half Marathon." 

6 comments:

Manoj and Marie Mathew said...

You are so funny! I love your description of your medal. : ) Sorry about the end, that sounds tough especially since you could have made it under 2 hours if you had only known. But you were running uphill at high altitude running 9:30 miles, that is still amazing! I'm so proud of you sister of mine. What did you listen to while your running with your headphones in?

Christy Bateman Mathatas said...

The two gomers for most of it (when I was trying not to be an idiot), then just random music when I was trying not to be a wimp. Christina Aguilera's "Fighter" came on in the last 3 minutes and that was very motivating. Thanks, Marie!

Laura K. said...

Great job Christy. I love reading your race in review. Can't wait to watch you run the marathon is a couple weeks!

Emily Judd said...

what you forgot to say it that you helped me dye the fondant! I can't believe i forgot to write that in the post. Sooooo changing that! IT was so great to see you!

Stacy said...

Christy, that is so cool! When you started running, you really did it. Way to go.

sara cardon said...

Congrats on the fantastic time! You are a running fool! Anything under 10 minute miles is totally impressive to me. How fun that you got to see Emily, I am jealous you had a mini-reunion. Good luck at your marathon!