April 17, 2021

This was NOT a half marathon that I planned on.  I wanted to run this race but on its original (downhill) course. April 2020’s race got cancelled and the race was re-scheduled to August but on a new course. I chose at the time run the half marathon virtually and defer my registration to April 2021 (when I had hoped things would be normal again.)

Instead of racing returning to normal, half marathon after half marathon either cancelled or went virtual. So the RD organized a half marathon (Upstate Classic) in November on this new course.  I decided to run that one. Though not downhill but hilly, I did enjoy the race. So instead of deferring to April 2022, I signed up (Sure, why not? to quote Wendy.)

The restrictions this race were the same as for last November’s Upstate Classic Half Marathon and it had to held on the same course (due to the Pandemic) since its COVID Safety Plan had already been approved.

So I signed up for the Druthers Helderberg to Hudson Half Marathon as my 50th Half Marathon (44th if you don’t count the 2020 virtuals) for several reasons:

• It was a ‘real” race.
• It was local and I could sleep in my own bed the night before.
• It was local so I would know a lot of the runners.
• Several of my running friends were doing it.
• With all the restrictions, I knew that it would be safe.
• I was familiar with the course as it was the same one as the one that I ran last November.

Half Marathon Training:

If you follow my posts, you also know that I am not strict about following a training plan. But I do run 3 miles several times during the work week. All my weekday runs are solo ones.

And on the weekends, I do my Long Run. Usually most of my miles are with one or more of my running friends.

Pre-Race Activities and Preparations:

The last day I ran was Wednesday so I took two days off from running. Of course, there was walking (I can’t just sit around).

Packet pick up was easy peasy.  Just went to the race headquarters. There was along line of cars waiting to do a drive-by pick up but I just parked across the street. I gave them my bib # and someone masked gave me a bag with my bib and shirt. (NO WAITING!! LOL)

short sleeved women’s tee shirt

I did my usual carb loading of pizza the night before and tried to figure out what to wear.  It was colder than I would have liked but there was no rain or snow so I was a happy camper. I hate being overdressed (and was tempted to even wear a skirt and short sleeved shirt)  But I reluctantly added another shirt and capris plus my DIY arm sleeves and gloves. Last week, my new Brooks running shoes gave me blisters (could have been the socks?) but I decided not to take a chance and wore my older Topos ones (from my October half) and taped my blisters.

My biggest dilemma was what to do about water.  I hate to carry my water bottle but there would be no cups of water provided on the course, only table to fill up your own bottle.

In the end, I decided on a small water bottle. At the last minute, I also grabbed a paper cup, flattened it and put that in my pocket. (I used it last time and it worked great.)

I also knew that I would be cold waiting to start and cold after. Usually there is bag check but now with COVID, there is none so I decided to leave a bag somewhere with old stuff and if it got taken so what? It would have been throwaways, anyway.

Race Day:

I woke up early and ate my race breakfast of oatmeal and coffee. My start time was 8:18 and I had to be in my corral by 8:14 am. I left my house around 6:30 am and tried decide what my race plan would be on the 30 minute drive over.

So the plan???

HM PR – 2:06:52
Upstate Classic HM – 2:23:21
Last HM – 2:35:58

Druthers H2H HM – Just finish.  No time goal!! (prediction – 2:30:00)

The course:

A loop starting and ending in the same location.

and not flat… at all:

My last real half marathon was in Florida in February. The course was flat but it was extremely humid and hot.  So with the hills, the conditions would probably equal out.

Although this was a “real” race, there were many changes from a half (organized by this company) that was held in April of 2019:

I understood all the restrictions and I am grateful for the opportunity to race. I was not worried about catching COVID. Besides I had both of my vaccines.

My last concern was my damn foot.  Bunion, neuroma, hammer toe…. I’ve had pain on and off for more than a year.  It’s much better than it had been back late 2019, early 2020 but it still hurts from time to time.  Sometimes a lot, sometimes just a little.   You never know and I know there are much worse things to worry about so I run. I walk, I hike.

Anyway, here’s how the race went:

I used my GPS to get to the race location, Altamont Fairgrounds. Last time, I went in the opposite entrance. This time I went the correct way but still entered in a different entrance than the directions. As a result, I did not have to wait in any line.

The parking lot was huge and MUDDY. I parked and texted my running friends Sherry and Judy. They were running late so I just waited in my car to stay warm.

Sherry arrived first and we waited together and took pix.

There were 11 waves. I was in wave 7 and Sherry and Judy in waves 10 & 11.  The first wave started at 8:00 and before I knew it was time for me to enter my corral. I left my bag near the food area and put on gloves and DIY arm warmers (Mistake since they were NOT necessary.)

Masks were required while waiting to start, in the start corral and after crossing the finish line. Since it was chilly, as you can see above and below, I opted for a gaiter (much easier to pull up and down when someone got close during the race.) Groups of 8 started every few seconds. Things happened like clockwork.

just waiting to enter my corral

The only problem was the mud. I mean puddles of mud. My shoes and socks were soaked even before I started the race.

(many of the pics are courtesy of Peter Deal’s FB page – THANKS)

Miles 1-3:

I did wear my Garmin watch this time but I was debating whether or not to use it. I hate the pressure of seeing my time and splits. But I like having stats when the race is over so I decided to use it (and just not look at it during the race.)

muddy start 

The mud continued for a while so at least that slowed me down.

ugh mud mud

Normally in a half marathon, I would run and then only walk at the water stops Usually they are every 2 miles and every mile toward the end.  But at this race, the first water stop was not until around mile 3.2. I would have to try not to walk until then.

I started out slowly but probably not slow enough.  Around mile 2, it already started to get hard…hills.  Not as bad as they would get later. Now they were just rolling ones. I felt pretty good and actually ran up the hills (at least at the beginning.)

cute sight along the early miles of the course

I was familiar with this course but obviously since we were running on roads, there were cars. You were supposed to run on the shoulder but it was slanted and I found it awkward. So I ran toward the middle of the road until a car came by.  I was more comfortable that way. But the negative was not running the tangents. 😦

Miles 3- 6.2:

I stopped at the first water stop and a volunteer filled up my paper cup.  Best idea ever.  I used that same cup the whole race. I wasn’t hungry yet so I waited to eat my GU. I did drop off my arm sleeves and gloves.  The sun had come out. I could have stayed with my original outfit (one shirt and skirt.) But later, it did get windy so I never felt that over-heated.

best place to buy cider donuts – lots of spectators here.

Around mile 4, we passed by Indian Ladder Farms and the smell of fresh cider donuts filled the air.

The rolling hills continued. Believe it or not, my expected foot pain had not started yet but my lower backache was consistent from beginning to end. It’s always something. I tried to pay attention to my form but it may have been that I was wearing OLD worn shoes.

The hills ceased to roll and started to become steep hills.  Those type of hills where it was even hard to walk up them.  So walk I did but trying to pick up the pace on the downhill.

Just as I was approaching one hill, a spectator handed me some clementine slices. A life-saver since at that point I had not eaten my GU and was way overdue for some fuel.

Miles 6.2-8.75

The second water stop was at mile 6.2.  I re-filled my water cup and ate my GU.  I forgot to mention that I was wearing a newly purchased skirt.  It was a smaller size than I normally wear but it had no drawstring so it was loose the whole race.  But the biggest problem was that the pocket on this older skirt was narrow and it took me forever to squeeze my cup in it each time I removed it.

The big hills seems to be more frequent the second half of the race. As a result, my pace increased.  No surprise and I was totally ok with walking when needed.

Miles 8.75 – 11.1

There was another water stop around mile 8.75. I again stopped and refilled my cup. I also ate my 2nd Gu even though I really wasn’t hungry.

My lower back still ached and now my foot was starting to get painful.  There wasn’t much I could do about it. So I just focused on the scenery which was very pretty (farms, mountain views, etc.), put one foot in front of the other and grimaced up each hill (along with everyone else lol).

The course marshals were very enthusiastic. There were some families camped out in their driveways.  But for the most part, we were running on the roads in the country… not a lot of places for spectators. However, there were many more than the last time I ran this course. I recognized quite a few and they cheered me on by name.

Two of my running friends were volunteering around mile 9. That was a great mental boost, as well.

I am always glad when I get the mile 10 sign.  Only a 5k from the end…. but as you know, this can be grueling and the hardest part of the race (I’m happy to say that this race followed suit.)

Miles 11.1-13.3

More hills. They never seemed to end.  And one last water stop at mile 11.1.  I just wanted to finish so I skipped it. So I never ate my last GU either.

Finally when the hills seemed to flatten, we ran on a road with a lot of traffic. It was annoying since you had make sure you ran on the uneven slanted shoulder (as opposed to the middle which I preferred.)

Mile 13 seemed like a full marathon.  My legs just died. To make matters worse, there was one hill after another.  I walked most of this mile so that I could at least sprint across the finish line and not embarrass myself.

Finally we approached the entrance to the fair grounds. An announcer announced “If you can hear me, you’re almost there! But the mud is even worse than when you started!”

And he was right. It made it impossible to run fast since the mud was very slippery. I did my best and was glad to not land on my butt and to cross with a smile (I think.)

I did check my watch and was pleased to see that I had finished under 2 1/2 hours (but then I forgot to turn it off. Strava had me running a 19 mile race at a 7 min pace lol)

A volunteer handed me a medal (in plastic) and I headed off to find my bag in order to put on my jacket (now sweaty and getting chilled!)

I got my food (a boxed lunch) and sat with some friends waiting for Sherry and Judy to finish.

drank some chocolate milk that I had brought with me and saved my lunch for later

Sherry finished first and though she started after me, we both had almost the exact race time.  That makes sense since we did all our long training runs together.

smiling because we were done

Then both Judy and another friend, Barbara, finished. Judy was running to raise money for Leukemia (in memory of her daughter) and raised $20,000!! Barbara had just completed her FIRST half marathon.  Both were super happy.

Additional Race Reflections:

It may seem that my recap above had a lot of complaints.  But on the whole, the race was a really good experience. I have zero regrets in running it. The race was so well organized. It was great to see running friends again!  Sure, it was a challenge. Aren’t all hard things?

My race pace was nothing to write home about but it was a better than I expected. I didn’t train hard. I did zero speed drills or hill work. That’s not what my running is about right now.  I run to exercise, socialize with friends and get outdoors.

Besides, my finish time for this race was 13 minutes faster than my last FLAT half marathon and a few seconds faster than the one on this SAME course.

Though I am no longer expecting results even close to a PR but I would love to struggle less in future half marathons and have more even or negative split times. (Does that mean I have to train? lol)

I slowed down big time the 2nd half of the race!!

Back to the race itself:

The Good:

• A Live Race!!!
• Connecting with local runners.
• Felt safe with the provided restrictions.
• Decent post race food. (box lunch of pre-ordered sandwich, chips, apple, brownie)
• Well organized.
• Lots of pre-race information.
• Easy packet pick up.
• Ample parking.
• Enthusiastic volunteers.
• Running it with friends
• Live tracking for others to follow runners and runners to get immediate results.
• Free photos.
• Decent weather.
• Lots of compliments on my outfit (someone even said that I was the best dressed runner in the race 🙂 )
• A live race!!!

The Bad:

• Hilly Course.
• MUD at the start and finish.
• No water provided (unless you carried your own bottle).
• Many restrictions (though necessary due to Covid-19).
• Not trained for hills or speed (my fault).
• My sore foot (expected)
• My achy lower back 😦

The Ugly:

• Nothing really

The tale of two races – miles 1-6.5 and miles 6.5-13.1:

Would I recommend this race?

Sure.  But I prefer the real (downhill) course without COVID restrictions – 2022??

April 2019 

Next Up:

I signed up for the 10 miler on May 30, 2021

Final Thoughts:

2020 was a crazy year.  Two real half marathons, six virtual half marathons and then one “pandemic” half marathon.  Not how I planned it.

Of course, now 2021 has continued the way 2020 ended.

With all the pandemic restrictions, it was not the race that I would have planned to run but I did it.

Now I am really anxious to run a one without any annoying restrictions!! And fewer hills!

February 14, 2021

It seems like I’ve been planning this race forever (since last February, I believe).

So this year, I did run the Publix A1A Fort Lauderdale Half Marathon as my 43th Half Marathon (49th if you count the six 2020 virtuals) for these reasons:

• A warmer weather race-cation opportunity
• I had a flight credit from a cancelled vacation.
• I had enough points for 4 nights in a hotel.
• It was held on Presidents Day weekend (one less day to take off from work)
• It was advertised as a scenic course with ocean views.
• The race’s COVID-19 plan provided enough safety for its racers IMO.
• I’ve never been to Fort Lauderdale.
• I had four friends that lived nearby (for the winter.)
• I had gotten BOTH of my COVID vaccines.

Half Marathon Training:

If you follow my posts, you also know that I am not strict about following a training plan.  I ran my last half marathon in November (an in-person one.)  I didn’t wear a watch. It was very hilly and so I was thrilled to just finish.

Upstate Classic HM

As with all my half marathon training, I did not really care about my week day runs. They were usually 3 easy miles.

However, I do try to do longer runs on the weekend. I did manage ALL year to run at least 10 miles every weekend.  I even got in one 11 miler and one 12 miler before this race.

Though I did feel somewhat prepared to run 13.1 miles, my goal for this half marathon was still to just finish and to ENJOY RUNNING A REAL RACE!!!

Pre-Race Activities and Preparations:

Although the half marathon was scheduled for Sunday morning, I arrived (with no flight drama) in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday afternoon. I rented a car there and drove North to Boca Raton where I spent the next two days (staying in a hotel rather than at my friends’ places.)

I got to hang out with my four friends while visiting the beaches, gardens, bird sanctuaries and outdoor restaurants. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there (even wearing a mask almost all the time).

On Saturday afternoon, I left Boca, headed back to Fort Lauderdale to the expo to pick up my race packet, then returned North to Pompano Beach for a Lighthouse Tour (by Boat) followed by dinner across from the Pompano Beach pier. Instead of my usual pre-race pizza, I chose Shrimp n Grits (and hoped that it was an adequate carb loading substitute.)

Finally I arrived at my Fort Lauderdale hotel in time to organize my usual race outfit (tank, skirt, cap) and hit the sack earlyish.

Race Day:

I brought my oatmeal and coffee from home with me and got up around 3:00 am to get ready and have breakfast in my hotel room. I was a little nervous when it was already 78 degrees with 91% humidity – ouch! Not much I could do except leave off the compression calf sleeves and the throw-away clothing.

I had decided to purchase in advance the VIP parking. For $29, it was affordable (hey how many races did I NOT pay to run in 2020?) and piece of mind that early in the morning.  You had to be at the race by 4:30 am!!

The parking lot was at a hotel and very easy to find.  And you were able to use the hotel restrooms (and there were many!) and the race start (and finish) was right across the street. It was a little breezy so I put on my DIY arm warmers but they sure didn’t stay on long.

You were required to wear a mask until you crossed the start line and everyone complied. The runners were so friendly and from all over the US. This was actually the best part of the race….making new friends.

view while waiting to start

There was a staggered start. – 20 runners at a time, 6 ft apart.  You lined up by estimated finish time. I lined up behind the 2:15 pacer.  however most runners around me said that they were slower but didn’t want to wait that long to start. I felt the same way!

This may have been the last time I saw this sign

Eventually the race started with the announcer reminding runners to throw their bib in the trash and not on the course. (You would be given another mask after you crossed the finish line to wear in the finish/food/band area.)

I started around 6:30 am.

I’ll do my best to recap the race below. (Warning: it’ll be long…)

My plan, as usual, was to stop and walk briefly at every water stop (so I wouldn’t get dehydrated) and to stop and walk longer to eat a GU around every 3-4 miles.  I planned to walk whenever necessary and NOT RACE it. It was VERY hot (85 degrees with 95% humidity) and I didn’t want to end up in an ambulance.

looks hilly. but it wasn’t!

We started running south (with the ocean on the left) and ran along route 1A and around the point where we viewed some gorgeous oceanside homes.

As always, I felt more energetic during the beginning miles. Unfortunately, my feet hurt from the first step to the last. I was disappointed but was prepared for the pain. I was trying to run at a  consistent pace. I was not very successful at this as the race went on.

I stopped at each water stop as planned. They were at about every 1 1/2 miles which normally would be frequent enough but not when it over 85 degrees.  After the first few water/Gatorade stops, I started taking TWO cups of water – one to drink and one to pour on myself.

Around mile 3, a lady went down.  At that point, I decided to slow down and make sure that it would not be me. Now we were heading north toward the race start (with the ocean on the right).

I was very excited to finally get to see the sun rise over the ocean without clouds blocking the sun. I think it was around mile 4 and I ran over to snap a photo.

Miles 4-6:

As you can see, we were still running with the water on our right.  I was desperately trying to focus on the beautiful views and not on how hot it was and how dizzy/nauseous it was making me feel. I took my first GU at this point and slowed down which made me feel better.

fake smile

I continued slogging along running until a water stop.  But my running felt like a crawl. I used my watch to see what mile we were on. The mile markers were painted on the ground (very lightly and often crossed out from last year’s course).

Miles 6-10:

Although I loved looking at the ocean, it did get monotonous after awhile. Other runners told me that in previous years, it was not a loop and so not as much ocean views but a variety of views including a park.

Many runners were dressed up in their tutus for Valentine’s Day and that was at least a distraction.

I just continued putting one step in front of another. I was determined to finish even if it meant walking the rest of the race.

The turn around which seemed like a marathon away finally arrived around mile 8 and then we did a loop until mile 9.

Then we returned onto 1A with now the ocean on our left.  The slower half marathoners were now heading in the opposite direction (as opposed to the speedy ones that passed me by before.)

Around this time, I ate another GU and started drinking more water and walking longer at the stops. And there was the blister forming on my left foot – ouchy!

Miles 10-13.17:

By this point, I was struggling big time. Not sure why. The course was flat!

The Vaccine? Too much activity on previous days? Not enough sleep?  The heat?  The humidity? My feet? ???

Whatever the reason, I knew that it would NOT prevent me from finishing.  I kept thinking that there were marathon runners completing the course TWICE!!!!!!  I certainly can do it once.

One last GU and I was able to re-energize and sprint toward the finish line.

I crossed at 2:35:58. 

A big PW but I was thrilled to have finished and have “run” a RACE!!

I was immediately handed a bottle of water, a mask and the finisher medal wrapped in plastic.

It took me a while to get up enough energy to move from sitting on that wall.  I first headed to get some chocolate milk and then sat again and chatted with a few runners (all happy but very very hot and sweaty.)

Next I dragged my aching feet to the ocean and boy, did that feel good.

not sure how long I stood there?

Then I decided that I needed to eat. Nothing really appealed to me though there was quite a variety but my stomach felt too queasy for tacos, burritos, refried beans…

I opted for some fruit, cookies, rice and a cold brew. I think I also took some other items and drinks but skipped the beer (before 10 am.)

Eventually, I headed back to my car since my friend Barbara was picking me up at my hotel in order to meet two other friends for a airboat ride on the Everglades.

perfect activity post-race…nice breeze on the boat and I didn’t have to walk anywhere.

Additional Race Reflections:

The Good:

• A real Race
• 2 day expo with mandatory mask requirements
• A good number of booths and food/drink samples at the expo.
• Excellent communication about every aspect of the race before, during and after the race. – FB video on 1-19-21 and many Q & A’s.
• Easy packet pick-up
• VIP parking available and city lots (COVID rate) and public lots
• Sufficient number of port-a-potties at start/finish and along the course
• Staggered start – 6 ft apart, 20 in each corral (.5 mile area). Each corral started every 20 seconds.
• Spectators required to wear masks.
• Sanitizing stations throughout the race.
• Water stops 1.2-1.5 miles apart – 6 so you could stop 12 times.
• Disposable masks given out at the finish line.
• Volunteers/police directing traffic.
• Pacers.
• Many racers dressed up for Valentine’s Day.
• 6 hour time limit for the race (since it included a marathon)
• Pre-packaged food post-race and safe places to eat.
• Music (Band) in the finish area
• Custom Sand Castle
• Lots of photographers on the course
• Sunny weather
• Beautiful course. Water views throughout.
• Friendly staff, participants, volunteers, residents.
• A large variety of food (tacos, burritos, fruit, cookies, beer, chocolate milk, cold brew, etc.)
• Ocean near the finish area (to go swimming)
• Age groups awards mailed.
• A real race.

made out of sand

The Bad:

• Early 5:45 am start time (but probably necessary due to temps)
• ALL COVID Restrictions (but very necessary).
• Cooler and less humid temps would have been nicer.
• Large number of racers (but 50% capacity of the original) – about 2000 runners.
• No Bag Check –  not necessary if you parked close by
• Ocean views could get monotonous (but necessary due to revised course and no shuttle to the start)
• I had no friends running this with me (missed you Cari!)

The Ugly:

• Nothing 🙂

the dolphins move back n forth

Would I recommend this race?

Yes. Yes. Yes.

It was super well-organized. Special attention was paid to EVERY detail.  The course was scenic. And if the pandemic ends and it returns to the previous course, it will be even better.

Final Stats:

I am so proud that my body can run even when the conditions are not optimal. Yup, pain is temporary. I quickly forgot the next day how much it had hurt.

A far cry from my 2:06:52 PR in 2017 and my NYC qualifying time of 2:11:15 in 2019.

This old broad will just have to be content finishing upright from now on, I guess.

Next Up:

Druthers Helderberg to Hudson Half Marathon. (on a revised course – same as the Fall Classic)

April 14, 2021

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There is a link-up organized by Zenaida and Kim (Kooky Runner).

Since today is Tuesday, I’m also linking up with these ladies and you should too.

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I’m linking up also with this new link-up:

Formerly the Running Coaches’ Corner, it’s back with new co-hosts Coach Debbie Runs, Running on Happy, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, Runs with Pugs, and Fauxrunner.

Happy Running! Have you ever been to Fort Lauderdale? Ever run this race? Any in-person races planned for 2021? Please share.