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Love Rox Half Marathon - RunHalf Marathon


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Richmond, Virginia
United States
Richmond Multisports
35F / 2C
Precipitation
Total Time = 2h 18m 54s
Overall Rank = /
Age Group =
Age Group Rank = 0/
Pre-race routine:

This race had a 10 AM start so I was able to take my time getting breakfast and getting ready. Headed up to Richmond with my husband and hunted a parking lot. Walked over to the race start. Freaking COLD. I figured I would be okay once I got running, but since we got there over an hour before the race start I hung out in the heated tent and was still shivering.
Event warmup:

Stayed in the tent as long as I could. Then out to the race start. Hung out with various people....
Run
  • 2h 18m 54s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 10m 36s  min/mile
Comments:

She had us start in a field. Evidently the plan had been to start us on a small bridge but that was closed so she started us off in the field. Whatever, it's not a huge race, only had 1000 participant max for the half marathon so it shouldn't have been bad.....but when we finally got on the sidewalks it was congested and we had these tight turns for stairs that got bottlenecked.
Did I mention cold, windy, mixed precipitation of freezing rain, snow and sleet? Trying to avoid the puddles so the feet don't get to wet. Some can't be helped.
Thought I was doing okay, but knew I was slower than my usual efforts. Just didn't have any "pop" today. Maybe I was using too much effort to just stay warm. I don't know.....Wanted to bail at the end of the first loop but the course snaked back out and before I realized it I was at mile 8. I only remember that mile marker because the volunteer there was fantastic. She cheered for each of us like we were her best friend. I told her I loved her because at that moment I needed a best friend to cheer me.
Got to mile 10 and I am DONE mentally, it's just a matter of finishing this mess because all I want is to get warm. I have had it with sleet and freezing rain. Mile 11 had another awesome volunteer with a cowbell cheering us up the hill like the little engine that could.
Mile 12 and we have this turn down a steep hill. It was bad enough on lap one, now it's so freaking slick. Make that one and the next turn leads to another viciously steep downhill. Brutal, I slowed way down on it because it was that steep it felt unsafe.
I had seen the finish from the top of these hills but it sure seemed like a while before I could finally get to the chute.
I was so cold and stiff when I finished. Could not stretch at all because of the cold. Headed into the tent and stood in front of the space heater to eat a little.
What would you do differently?:

Not sign up for any more RMS races. Her run course here is a lot of the same course as Rocket's Landing Olympic and that course sucked in 100 degree heat as much as it sucked in the frigid weather.
Post race
Warm down:

Heated tent
Bowl of chili
Walked to Capital Ale House with Jen, Kristen and my husband for lunch.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

FRIGID temps with mixed wintery precipitation

Event comments:

I will not do this race again.




Last updated: 2013-01-12 12:00 AM
Running
02:18:54 | 13.1 miles | 10m 36s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/
Overall: 0/
Performance: Below average
Course: A two loop out and back inner city course. Along the canal walk which might have been pretty on a nicer day or in warmer weather....but was not all that attractive. It contained multiple sets of stairs, some turns that were tight onto the staircases and on the stairs themselves and truthfully, just plain sucked.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Not enough
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 2
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race? No
Evaluation
Course challenge
Organized?
Events on-time?
Lots of volunteers?
Plenty of drinks?
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5]

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2013-02-16 8:15 PM

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Royal(PITA)
14270
50005000200020001001002525
West Chester, Ohio
Subject: Love Rox Half Marathon


2013-02-16 8:40 PM
in reply to: #4625300

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Expert
1694
1000500100252525
Illinois
Subject: RE: Love Rox Half Marathon
Ugh, this sounds absolutely miserable. Hanging out in a tent trying to stay cold prior to the race probably impacted your legs. But great job for hanging in there, you are a badazzzz!
2013-02-16 9:12 PM
in reply to: #4625300

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Science Nerd
28760
50005000500050005000200010005001001002525
Redwood City, California
Subject: RE: Love Rox Half Marathon
Never, never again.  Seriously, we are crazy!
2013-02-16 10:39 PM
in reply to: #4625300

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Champion
6107
50001000100
Out running or enjoying a fine glass of red...
Subject: RE: Love Rox Half Marathon
Judi & RMS....just like Taylor Swift....never getting back together...like ever. . Great seeing you!
2013-02-17 3:00 AM
in reply to: #4625300

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Expert
973
5001001001001002525
Berkeley, Calif.
Subject: RE: Love Rox Half Marathon
Yeeeeeeeeesh, that sounds miserable. Good job sticking it out to the end (although I wouldn't have blamed you a bit for dropping out after that first loop). I'm guessing your time was off from all of the bunching and the stairs and the cold and just never hitting your comfort zone.

I hope you're signing up for another race to wipe out the bad taste of this one!
2013-02-17 3:08 PM
in reply to: #4625300

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Extreme Veteran
541
50025
Virginny
Subject: RE: Love Rox Half Marathon
OMG, that volunteer at the turnaround was fantastic!! Only bright spot in a crappy race. I also felt that brick hill was unsafe.

Don't tell me Rockett's Landing is that bad... I think I'm planning on that one...

Sorry I missed meeting you. Some other race!


2013-02-17 9:08 PM
in reply to: #4625300

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Pro
3730
2000100050010010025
NorCal
Subject: RE: Love Rox Half Marathon
Always tough to run in those conditions mother nature throws at us, but starting in a field???  WTF!?
2013-02-18 7:58 AM
in reply to: #4625300

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Master
2327
200010010010025
North Alabama
Subject: RE: Love Rox Half Marathon

A field and stairs? Sounds more like a failed "muddy buddy" obstacle course instead of an actual half marathon course.

Sorry to hear it was awful.

2013-02-18 8:07 AM
in reply to: #4625300

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Expert
1580
1000500252525
Ankeny, Iowa
Subject: RE: Love Rox Half Marathon
Sorry about the crappy conditions - good job for hanging in there.
2013-02-18 8:20 AM
in reply to: #4625300

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.
2013-02-18 8:22 AM
in reply to: #4625300

Expert
1157
10001002525
Tremonton, Utah
Subject: RE: Love Rox Half Marathon

That race route would have been HORRID in decent conditions.  I agree with the other poster.. failed Mud Run.

At least she had heaters and chili at the finish to help you thaw out.

 

GREAT JOB toughing it out.   I admire you for that!



2013-02-18 8:29 AM
in reply to: #4625300

Champion
14571
50005000200020005002525
the alamo city, Texas
Subject: RE: Love Rox Half Marathon
a february race in virginia is just always a gamble - the last time i did one it started snowing halfway through!  but, yeah, laurie sometimes makes some weird decisions with races.  i do really prefer setup these days.
2013-02-18 10:34 AM
in reply to: #4625300

Master
1397
1000100100100252525
Granvile, Ohio
Subject: RE: Love Rox Half Marathon
Congrats for making it to the finish line.  You should be nothing but proud of yourself for having what it takes to make it to the end and cross that line!  Thank goodness you had a couple of great volunteers to make it a little better for you!
2013-02-18 2:28 PM
in reply to: #4625300

Pro
5123
5000100
Canandaigua NY
Subject: RE: Love Rox Half Marathon
Great job toughing it out! 
2013-02-18 6:19 PM
in reply to: #4625300

Master
1848
100050010010010025
Canandaigua
Subject: RE: Love Rox Half Marathon
I"d say that was a PR for a miserable course.  You should be very proud of yourself for fighting through it and getting it done.  Nice job!
2013-02-18 6:19 PM
in reply to: #4625300

Master
1848
100050010010010025
Canandaigua
Subject: RE: Love Rox Half Marathon
I"d say that was a PR for a miserable course.  You should be very proud of yourself for fighting through it and getting it done.  Nice job!


2013-02-19 8:19 AM
in reply to: #4625300

Champion
14677
5000500020002000500100252525
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Love Rox Half Marathon

I admire you for even thinking of racing in that weather, let alone sticking it out on such a terrible, unsafe course. Kudos to you!

At least you had friends and good food afterward.

2013-02-21 9:52 AM
in reply to: #4625300

Expert
663
5001002525
Williamsburg, VA
Subject: RE: Love Rox Half Marathon
Gotta say that I am so proud of you for sticking that race out. Also glad I waited to decided weather or not I was going to do that race, then decided no. Probably the best thought. Never have been happy with any RMS races. They are very disorganized and crappy courses.
2013-02-21 11:47 AM
in reply to: #4625300

Champion
5312
5000100100100
Calgary
Subject: RE: Love Rox Half Marathon

Love having stairs in a race, really mixes things up, because we all know we incorporate stairs in our tempo runs.

Way to stick it out.

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