RNR Arizona Half Marathon Recap

Tempe/Phoenix, Arizona

State #19

Start Time: 7:50 am

Temperature: 43 at the start, 55 and sunny at the finish

Bib #5233

Overall: 4584/13,344
Division Place: 300/1186
Gender Place: 1938/7844

Finish Time: 2:08:09

The view from the back of corral 12

Staying with my parents, in Gold Canyon, 45 minutes away from the race start was a good idea.  Not being aware of the road closures race morning, was a bad idea.

When S and I "race" together, agreeing on a start line arrival time is a battle.  I err on the side of caution, which can leave us standing around freezing, waiting for a start.  He would like to park the car close to the start and hear the gun go off as the car door slams.  Usually we can find a happy medium.

Sunday morning, after driving most of the course (with all the side roads closed and no way to turn left towards the parking lot) we parked the rental car at ASU, at 7:45, five minutes before the gun.

We hustled to the start line, with many other runners that had just arrived.  Corrals were moving by the time we could see the banner.  We found a short potty line, and were lucky to jump in at the back of corral 12 (I had planned to start in corral 5).  S kept reminding me to relax, that our late arrival was no big deal.  Fine.

Honestly, I wasn't stressed out.  My only goals were to finish faster than I ran in Mississippi (missed it by 30 seconds) and to meetup with some of my real and imaginary friends post race.

The weather was perfect, but I found the first 10 miles of the course boring.  We ran down the middle of closed roads, passing strip malls often,  and the course was packed the whole way (13,000 runners for the half, along with mini marathoners started together, the full started in another part of town).  There was a guy already walking before the half mile mark, in a blue shirt with endorphin junkie written on the back.

S ran with me the whole way.  We tried to maintain a 9:30 pace, but I fell off of it after the halfway point.  The course didn't have a lot of turns, so we would run for miles with only the other runners to entertain me (and the bands along the course, but who listens to them)?

We caught the P.F. Changs dragon (at mile 6), right as they were pulling off the course to go dragon potty. 

I chased this guy down, for a photo op.  Love the shirt, and congrats on a good race, Mr. Half Marathon Virgin.

I grabbed 3 Gu, at the Gu station around mile 7.  I ate the vanilla and brought home two orange (That's right B!  Two for the road!)  

For the first time ever, I grabbed a stick of vaseline from the volunteer at mile 9.  My lulu skirt was riding up something awful.  S had the nerve to ask me if the chafing was really the skirt's fault?  Maybe I should blame it on my big thighs?  Thanks, honey.

Near mile 10, we passed Papagos Park, the scenery finally changed, with views of the desert.  And then we saw two Angelas running together.

The guide mentioned she and the blind runner were both named Angela.  Amazing.  I was in awe.

I had nothing left in my tank for the last 3 miles.  It was sunny, and hot and S was pulling me along. We finished near where we parked, at ASU. The full marathon truck with the time on it passed us.  S demanded that we have to finish before the first full marathoner (we did, just barely).

View from the parking lot near the finish.

After getting my medal and some water, I found my imaginary friend, Jodi, from Run Jodi Run.  She came out from Ohio to run this race for the second time.

Me and Jodi, accidentally a bit matchy matchy!

Then I reminded S to put on his patient hat that we were going to find more friends and wait for the Andy Grammer concert.  (No, S, not Kelsey Grammar, ANDY Grammer.)  The meetup area was on the infield of the ASU track.  A stage was set up, the track was tarped over and it was a great place to hang out in the Arizona sunshine.

My faster friends from Portland.  We met up at the B (for beer) sign.

All the girls, after the concert.

Fine by me, S took a nap.

Surprisingly, it was easy to get out of the parking lot and navigate ourselves away from the course.  Kudos to the race directors for an easy logistical exit.

Lots of typical RNR treats at the finish (although I didn't see Marathon bars).  I angered the Dole volunteer, he told me they weren't allowed to hand out the empty boxes.  I took one, tossed my drinks and snacks in and walked away with it, I'm cool like that.

See my bada$$ Dole box.  Evidence of the crime.

The medal is neat, with a 10 inside the guitar.  The race shirts are long sleeve (Usually RNR has short sleeve shirts, did we get long sleeves since it was the 10th anniversary of this race?)

Would I do this race again?  The weather was great, and I would love an excuse to get out of cold, rainy Oregon in January next year.  Maybe if they changed up the course a bit?  Or if I got my own private sign made again....

Fine, Emma and Dara aren't my kids.  But, A would make me a sign if I brought her, right?

Next up, state #20, Georgia!  Georgia Publix 3/17/13, St. Patrick's Day!