Bismarck Half Marathon

3rd half marathon done!

I ran my third and not final half marathon this weekend in Bismarck. It was a great race! I PR'd by about 10 minutes running an unofficial 2:16:??.

The course was pretty along the river and through Seratoma Park. A few things I didn't like about the course was the amount of cement sidewalks and the lack of aide stations. I ran with a hydration belt, so few water stations didn't really effect me. One thing I was dissapointed about was the Kroll's Diner truck serving knoephla soup wasn't there like last year. Also, the medal was kind of bland.

If a runner wants a big screaming crowd, the Bismarck Marathon is not for them. It is a relatively small race, but that also allows for a less crowded course. 

The first ten miles absolutely flied by. It feels like it only took ten minutes. At about mile 10 I knew I was probably going to PR. I followed a run/walk strategy of 9/1. I was able to keep a pretty good pace, without much speed work in training, even with a minute of walking. I kicked it into high gear with a half mile to go trying to get the most out of my PR. 13.1 went by so fast, that I almost wasn't ready to be done. 

My mom brought Kensley down to cheer me on. They missed me the first two spots because I was just too speedy ;), but they made it to the finish and Kensley crossed the finish line with me. After she said, "next time, let's run the whole thing together!" I'm thinking a 5k will be in the near future for us. I love her enthusiasm for running. It reminds me to just enjoy the run when I make it more like work. 

My cousins Jodi & Cristin ran the 10k! Super proud of them for not only finishing, but running the whole thing!! 

go Laura go!

After I finished, we jumped in the car to go find Grant's mom, who was running the full.We cheered her on at several places until she finished her first freaking marathon!!!! So so proud of her. And thankful that 20 years ago she actually brought Grant home from the hospital. HAPPY BIRTHDAY G!

I am thinking about doing a full for myself. The Fargo Marathon is in May and would give me a good training base before the Yellowstone Half and possibly one in South Dakota in June. The mere thought of 26.2 used to be intimidating, but now I am feeling as it's a challenge waiting for me to conquer. We will see what this winter brings me, but as of now I am penciling in an event of the Fargo Marathon.