Fits Do Race Reviews: Get Lucky 1/2 Marathon

By Cool J in Minneapolis

This morning, I ran the Team Ortho Get Lucky 1/2 marathon. I did a preview of this race HERE. 

Remember the nice sweatshirt I wrote about? 

Nice sweatshirts!

There was also a 7k race at 9 am today, which is quite popular (11,000+ runners) but we had 15-17 miles on the marathon training schedule, so most of the spring marathoners in the Calhoun Beach Running Club ran the "21k" or half-marathon instead. It started at 8 am in St. Paul at the Ford plant.

Dusters, Abby, Kelly, and I arrived around 7 am, and paid $10 to park in the Ford parking lot. (For the price we paid for the race, you'd think parking at a Ford plant would be free!). It was pretty chilly outside (about 20 degrees) and there was a thin layer of snow and ice on the ground- not ideal conditions for a race. We waited in the car until about 7:30, and then did about a 2 mile warmup. The line of cars to get into the parking lot at that point was several miles long. We thought for sure the race would be delayed to allow for everyone to arrive. There were a lot of port-potties available, but the line was super long there as well....

Alas, the race did start on time- well, at 8:05 am. I was anxious about how my IT band would feel, so I didn't have high expectations for this race. I was just going to be happy to run (hopefully) without pain. I didn't want a repeat of last Saturday. The IT band was definitely tight, and it is sore now post-race, but nothing like last Saturday. Thank goodness!

It was a chilly day for a race, and I'm not sure I dressed warm enough. Luckily, Abby lent me her warm Craft hat. Craft makes awesome gear- some of the best winter gear out there, in my opinion. Thanks Abby!

Lindsey, me, Abby

I didn't particularly care for the out-and-back course on Ford Parkway, and there were some really slippery spots. However, I do think that the race was very well-organized (except for the parking situation), and there was plenty of support on the course.

And my time? Well, my mile splits weren't very consistent. I think I need to start a little slower to finish stronger. What do you think? The two slowest miles were the two hilly miles, so that's my excuse ;-)

Mile 1: 8:11
Mile 2: 8:07
Mile 3: 8:18
Mile 4: 8:10
Mile 5: 8:37
Mile 6: 8:24
Mile 7:  8:13
Mile 8: 8:36
Mile 9: 8:13
Mile 10: 8:08
Mile 11: 8:22
Mile 12: 8:27
Mile 13: 8:24
Total time: 1:50 even.

Not a PR, but that's okay. I made it with minimal pain of the IT band. I am grateful to be running. We ended with another 2 miles for a cool-down, for total mileage for the day of about 17 miles. Not too shabby.

I would rate the overall race experience of the Get Lucky as a 6 out of 10. Dusters gave it a 5 out of 10. He said he just doesn't like winter races, and hates the out-and-back course, and also didn't enjoy the rolling hills. Abby and Kelly gave it a 7- they are much more generous, I guess. So that averages out to a 6.25 overall rating for the Get Lucky Half Marathon, based on four people's opinions! Hey, it's usually just MY opinion.

Some definite pros:

They had plenty of post-race goodies. Yes, that is a peppermint pattie, yum!

And in true Team Ortho style, they had a nice finisher's medal.

Thanks for taking the pictures Andrew! 

Happy to be done with our run!

In my race preview, I had mentioned the post-race party (free beer!) but we were so freezing after today's race that we decided to come right home for a hot shower. We'll have a beer tonight to make up for it. We're heading to dinner at Cafe Maude with some friends, and then to the Orpheum for Spamalot! But first, time for some more foam rolling.

I hope you are all enjoying your St. Patrick's Day. 

Did you do a St. Patrick's Day themed run today? Did you wear a costume? Or are you doing one tomorrow? Please share!

I wore the only green top that I had. And my shamrock BIC band again too, though it was covered by the cozy Craft hat.

Fits Do (Future) Race Reviews: Get Lucky!

By Cool J in Minneapolis

My spring race calendar has changed just a tiny bit since this post, where I listed the Securian Run, Goldy's 10 mile, Borgess Run for the Health of It Half Marathon in Kalamazoo, the TC 1 Mile, and of course the Newport Marathon.  There's just one change so far. Instead of Goldy's 10 mile, our coach put the Get Lucky 21k on the calendar (i.e. 21k= 13.1 miles).

 {said calendar- where Coach Paul put the Get Lucky Half.}

The Get Lucky is organized by Team Ortho, and is held on March 16, as close to St. Patrick's Day as possible. There is a 21k (half-marathon) and a 7k, both on the same day but in different locations.  The 21k starts at 8 a.m. at the Ford plant along the Mississippi River.

I ran the 7k in 2010, during my first training season with the Calhoun Beach Running Club. We were training for the Seattle marathon at the time. 

 {7k race in 2010}

This year, I registered for the half marathon, and good lordy, it's pricey! The half marathon is $67, and that's without any "additions." At check out, you can add winter hats, fashion headbands, baseball caps, racerback tanks, socks, drawstring bags, and probably more! 

I went with the basic registration. I totally understand the appeal of all the SWAG, but I was able to resist the temptation of all those goodies. I'll save my money for the goodies at the Newport Marathon in June!

However, even with the basic registration, you still receive an embroidered hoodie (which you receive before the race; hence why I already have mine), complete with finger loops to keep your hands warm.

It's a cute sweatshirt, but I think that's what you're really paying for with your registration.

The 21k course is in St. Paul:

It looks like there are two water stops that you pass by twice. There is music on the course, and fancy medals for the finishers (unlike the Securian Half that I just did, with no medals...though I'm used to running half marathons with no medals- totally fine with me)

What I like about Team Ortho is that they make running appealing and accessible to the mass market.  All the fancy SWAG, the medals, and the goodies are cool, and who doesn't want to run with friends and then enjoy a few cold ones at a post-race party? They are able to motivate more non-runners to get out there and run, which is great, in my opinion.

Details of said post-race party: One free glass of Finnegan's at Kieran's Irish Pub in Minneapolis, the Local in Minneapolis, Cooper Pub in St. Louis Park or the Liffey in St. Paul. Don't forget your ID!

Team Ortho organizes quite a few races in the Twin Cities area, and though they have had their challenges on some of these races, I have usually had positive experiences so far, and I'm excited to experience the "Get Lucky 21k." Hope to see you there!

Fits Do Race Reviews (sort of): The Minneapolis Marathon

By Jessie

Let me start off this post right away by stating that I did not participate in any of the Minneapolis Marathon events! I'm only writing this "review" from the point of view of a spectator.

Please share your insights in the comments if you have actual experience with this race!

The Minneapolis Marathon is relatively new. I believe this is only the third year of its existence.
It's very different than the quite popular Twin Cities Marathon, which is held the first Sunday in October. The Twin Cities Marathon has been around for decades, and it runs through Minneapolis and finishes in St. Paul at the capitol. My personal opinion is that the Twin Cities marathon offers a much more beautiful urban course, and it shows off the best of the Twin Cities.

However, the new Minneapolis Marathon does give runners another option in the area for a spring marathon, other than Grandma's Marathon in Duluth.

The Minneapolis Marathon is organized by Team Ortho, which is the same organization that held the Monster Dash 1/2 Marathon that I ran last Halloween.

Pros:

1. Great Gear: Team Ortho events have great SWAG- great medals, great finisher's shirts, etc. 
2. Customized Runner Tracking: They also have great "apps"- there was a SmartPhone application free for download, that allowed you to track your runners as they progressed. It was quite sophisticated. You could only track two runners at a time, but the app was easy to use, and seemed pretty accurate.
3. Fan Support- Despite the fact that this is a new race, there were still a lot of fans who came out to cheer for the runners, including the D-man, Matilda, and me. I even dug up an old cowbell to ring! I guarantee the others around me were chanting more cowbell please! :) 

Cons:

1. Weather- it was HOT, HOT, HOT! The race directors try to counteract this by starting the full marathon at 6:30 am, but the runners still had to contend with blazing sun and warm temperatures. We were located around mile 18, and we were sweating just as spectators. I am sure the runners were roasting.

2. Course There was also a half marathon that started an hour later (7:30). It was an out-and-back on the same course, so the full marathoners easily caught up with a lot of the half marathoners. I can only imagine that it must have been difficult to dodge the crowds as a full marathoner when this happened. We witnessed runners who were probably on pace for a 3:15 marathon, who had to weave in-and-out of thick crowds of half marathon walkers.

Also, as a spectator, I have to admit I wanted to cheer extra loudly for those full marathoners who were darting through the crowds. I found myself yelling "Go FULL marathoner!" since I knew how tough it was out there at that point in the race. They were at mile 18, whereas the half runners were only at mile 8. However, I felt guilty for singling out the fulls. I'm sure as a participants this was difficult for both parties.  

My personal experience with full marathons that include a half has always been that the half runners were the same course at the same time, and then they would split from us to go to the finish much earlier.

I understand why race directors include a half marathon. It opens up the event to a greater number of participants, and brings out the crowds (and the $$ of course). Yet, I always enjoy the races the best where the full marathon is the MAIN event.

Here's a quick recap of the races I've done, and whether they included a half:

1. Twin Cities Marathon: Minneapolis, MN- the full marathon is the main attraction. There is a 10 mile run, but it is on a completely different course and starts much earlier.
2. Bank of America Chicago Marathon: Chicago IL- the full marathon is the ONLY event.
3. Rock n Roll San Diego: San Diego, CA- When I did this race in 2006, it only included a full. I believe it now includes a half on the same course.
4. Grand Rapids Marathon: Grand Rapids, MI- Only a full marathon.
5. Big Sur International Marathon: Big Sur, CA- 20 mile race as well as the full, and a relay. All on the same course.
6. Rock n Roll Seattle: Seattle, WA- Full marathon shared the course with the half until they split off for the finish.
7. Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon: Milwaukee, WI- Full marathon was the only event.
8. Go! St. Louis Marathon: St. Louis, MO - Full marathon shared the course with the half marathoners until they split off for the finish
9. St. George Marathon: St. George UT Full marathon was the only event
10. St. Jude's Memphis Marathon: Memphis, TN Full marathon shared the course with the half until they split off for the finish.

Here is a picture of one of the leading half marathoners (with a full walker on the course). This picture makes it appear as though the runners were graciously spaced, but that definitely was not the case later in the run.

3. Hills- Apparently, the course included some poorly place hills. Hills, heat, and blazing sun? Sounds like a recipe for disaster.


Like I said, since I did not actually participate in this race, I don't know that much about the rest of the events, such as the expo, the finish line etc.

Please share your thoughts if you did participate!


We did get to see a lot of our run club friends running the half, as well as a run clubber who was running her FIRST FULL! Congrats on strong work!

Go runners! Nice work!

Fits do race reviews: Monster Dash 1/2 marathon

By: Cool J

Next Saturday, one of LL and my sisters is coming up to my city for the Monster Dash 1/2 marathon. She has been training very hard post-baby, and this is her "comeback race". I'm looking forward to sharing this experience with her, and will be very proud when she crosses the finish line. 

We discussed running together, but our paces are a little different, and she said she would prefer to run alone with her headphones, which I understand. 

Last year, the 1/2 marathon got a lot of bad press because of the faulty shuttle buses from the finish line back to the start. To alleviate this issue, the race directors completely changed the course:

The 2011 Half Marathon and 10-Mile Monster Dash is in St. Paul this year!  We are very excited to have the races on a course that is fast, beautiful and entertaining.  Did we say fast?  You just might PR on this course which is all downhill (400 vertical feet total from start to finish -- to be exact)!

 Combined with the beautiful fall foliage, the start of the race is spectacular! It begins at the picturesque Cathedral of St. Paul that overlooks the city. Participants will run the tree-lined course along historic Summit Avenue and finish in Downtown St. Paul at the Mighty Mississippi (See course info).  The chip-timed race is USATF certified. 

And if you can handle it-- challenge yourself to run the distance in costume!  You could win our costume contest! But make sure you run with it on first-- we can guarantee fun but we cannot guarantee "no chafing".

Start time: 8:30 a.m.

Though I have not done the 1/2 marathon, Ms. Matilda (my vizsla) and I have run the 5k in the past:

Runners are encouraged to wear costumes, which was easy enough for a 5k, but for 13.1 miles, it might be a bit more difficult.  We're going to try to find some "monster flair" but will probably run in our regular running clothes.

My sister is arriving on Friday, when we'll go to the expo, (and perhaps some shopping!) and then a friend of hers, who lives up here, is having us over for a pasta feast carb-load.

Team Ortho, the charity behind this race, has a reputation for great gear at their races. However, with great gear comes high prices. I believe I paid $80 for this 1/2, which I think is a little pricey. I will be sure to share all the pictures of the gear we get for that $80!