We now return to (somewhat) regular programming....

The last time that I laced up my shoes to race was March 1, 2020 at the Cowtown Half Marathon. I probably didn't have any business running that far on that day as it was only two weeks after my first ultra marathon at Black Canyon and I just wasn't recovered. I ended up walking the last two or three miles of the race with that same hip and knee pain that plagued me in the later miles of the 60K at Black Canyon. It was my personal worst half marathon time, but hindsight being what it is I'm really grateful to have been out there that day. I remember the crush of people during the post race celebration and laughing and talking with friends while being covered in sunshine. None of us had any idea what a stark contrast our world would be just two weeks later.

March 1, 2020 - my last live race

I kept myself entertained well enough during the remainder of 2020. I enjoy racing, but it is not the reason that I train and I stayed plenty active running, cycling, and swimming once the pools opened up again in June. I enjoyed having the fitness to go after any potential adventure or virtual race that came up. I rode my road bike all summer and ran trails once we started meeting up socially distanced in groups again. I signed up for TransTexas in July and I virtually ran and walked almost all the way across Texas before having to shut it down just a couple of weeks and less than 100 miles from the end. I ran the Dallas Half Marathon virtually on December 12 and had one of my strongest half marathons in a couple of years. I felt great, it was a great day - until later that night I noticed a tender spot on the top of my foot. Things seemed better until I went out for a run the following Tuesday morning and had to shut it down and limp home after 3 miles. It would appear that I had a metatarsal stress fracture, I found myself in an incredibly nerdy flipper shoe throughout the holidays and I did not run for 8 weeks.  

All smiles after my virtual Dallas Half - if I only knew

I've never been more thankful to be a triathlete and poured myself into swimming and cycling while I was not able to run. I joined up with the Coeur Velo live cycling workouts via Zoom and it was one of the best things to happen to my cycling fitness. See? There is always a silver lining if you keep your mind open! I'm still enjoying these workouts super early on weekday mornings and the structured long trainer rides on Saturdays got me through until the weather got nice enough to ride outside again. I am thankful for the community that the Coeur Virtual Cycling Club has brought into my life. The swimming and cycling kept my fitness nice and strong and I even got a little bit of a jump on training for my next big race - Ironman 70.3 in Des Moines coming up this June.

Coming back from a stress fracture is not as easy as they make it sound. I started limited running in February and slowly rebuilt from there. After a various tweaks and pains (not in my foot) related to a compromised gait, I finally started to feel like myself again. I wanted to put a race on my calendar and the Cowtown Half on May 8 worked out perfectly. It would give me something to aim for and would be a good benchmark on where my running is heading into the last block of training for my 70.3 in Des Moines.

After 60 weeks.....race day was here. I've run 13 miles more times than I can count, but I felt the familiar pre-race jitters as we drove to Fort Worth early Saturday morning. I was not expecting a fast race, but I was hoping for a healthy race. It would be my longest run since the injury in December and I just wanted to cover the distance without any pain other than fatigue. The course was modified from the usual course, we ran in reverse with some new sections that I'd never seen. The Cowtown Half is a challenging race to begin with, but they promised us even more hills in this edition.

Start lines these days are very anti-climatic. It is common for a race to give you a start time and you simply walk up and cross the line when it is your turn to go. Erik and I walked up together and then we were off! I watched him disappear into the distance as I settled into an easy pace to start the race. It was my hope to run a relaxed pace and then kick it up at the end if I had anything left. Spoiler alert: this did not happen. 

If felt so good to be running in a live race with other people! I made sure to thank every police office directing traffic and as many of the volunteers as I could. Miles 1-5 were my fastest then things started to slow down from there. I think that it was a combination of the humid weather, the strong winds, the course, and my rusty mental racing game. Sundance Square and the Stockyards are my favorite parts of the Cowtown course and we were through them by mile 6. I also noticed that I didn't feel much wind during any of the early miles, which told me we would have to face it eventually - likely in the later miles. And we did! I started to walk up some of the hills at this point, thinking that it would save me some energy for the flat stretches.

Around mile 9 we entered a park and it was my least favorite part of the course. The path was long and somewhat narrow, the air was heavy, and there just wasn't much to see. I think that this is where my rusty mental game started to get me as I lost focus through here. I was ready to be done! I was also reaching past my longest mileage in months and I know that my endurance isn't quite where it needs to be. I stopped to walk out a brief but sharp side stitch when my Coeur teammate Christa ran by and called out to me. It gave me a boost and I got back to it. 

There was one more long and steady hill to climb and I hiked up it with as much purpose as I could muster. It is amazing how much better I felt knowing that the hills were done and I was able to pick up the pace in that final mile. I found myself with a huge lump in my throat and tears in my eyes as I crossed the finish line. I looked around and tried to take it all in and feel the moment. We have all been waiting so long for these moments that feel so "normal" to return. I will never take a start or a finish line for granted again. Not only were races cancelled for a year due to the pandemic, I was physically unable to run at all just a couple months ago. I am so lucky that I GET to do these things that I love so much! 

The post race hangout was not quite the same, but it was nice to see so many faces that I haven't seen in person for so long. I cannot say enough positive things about the Cowtown race officials and their attention to detail to provide a safe racing environment for us. I'm so appreciative that they made it happen despite the delay on the calendar and the multitude of other challenges I'm sure that they faced. It was the perfect "comeback" race for me and provided closure and a fresh start to the gradual return of normalcy. 

Next up - Ironman 70.3 Des Moines. My first 70.3 since 2018 and I can't wait!

Cowtown Half: #workharder

Cowtown Half is one of my favorite races and it is a highlight of my racing calendar.  I haven't missed a year since my first time running it in 2009 and boy, do we have some stories together! That first time is still one of the coldest races I've ever run. Then there was the year of the terrible traffic, when I kicked Mr K out of the car on the freeway so he could get to the marathon start in time.  Two years ago there was snow on the ground and I hit the "peak" of my running plateau.  And then last year...the year that I ran 1:49:55 and after five years got that 1:50 monkey off my back.  It really has been the best of times and the worst of times, all rolled into one race.

I didn't really know what to expect this year as I had a strong running base, but had not done any consistent speedwork.  I certainly had not been working as hard as I was last year when I had that magical race day.  The Cowtown isn't the easiest course, but I knew that anything was possible - a glance at my race history confirmed that.  The weather was just perfectly chilly and the wind was fairly low, so I decided to give it a shot and see what happened.

When in Cowtown...

One of the reasons that this race is one of my favorites is because I get to see so many of "my people" there. Mr K and I were in corral 2 and we got off to a smooth start, I love it when that happens.  I also love it when they play Bruno Mars as I run out - showtime!!  Mr K slipped away fairly quickly and I went about the business of settling into my race.  Cowtown is a favorite because it always seems like such a community event.  I spotted Stude (The Encourager) around mile 2 and he shouted "Last 4 Fast Four, MK." I gotta tell you, this bit of encouragement might have saved my race because I'm not so sure I would have pushed as hard without the reminder.

I passed the first 5K in 27:29 with an average pace of 8:51 and I saw Marlon somewhere after the 5K mark.  I met Marlon years ago on Daily Mile and then later in person when we were in OKC for the half marathon.  He was running the marathon and went on to have a strong day.  I stuck with him for a little bit as I know that he is such a strong runner and would set a consistent pace, but eventually I lost sight of him.  Not long after that I spotted Jessica (of @JessRunsBlessed fame).  She had a great day too!

I have a fever.....#cowbell

The 10K mat was somewhere in here and I crossed it in 55:14, average pace 8:53 - nice and consistent.  I saw Ninja just before the turn on Exchange Street.  It was just for a split second, but it was so nice to see one of my tribe and I knew that he got up early and made a long drive to be there to cheer everyone on.  That always lifts my spirits!  That turn on Exchange Street is my favorite part of the race, it is hard to top that view of the Stockyards and the crowds there are so spirited.  It passes by way too quickly and then it is back to work.

I was running pretty even splits, but I just wasn't "feeling it." It was like I couldn't quite settle into the race and lots of little things were annoying me.  My pace slipped a little bit in here and I worked to refocus before we got to the big climb up the Main Street bridge.  I knew that as soon as I got over the hill it would be time for "last four, fast four." Years ago I discovered that the easiest way for me to get up that hill is to run it one lamppost at a time.  It is just so much easier to focus on the increment right in front of me rather than look all the way to the top.  I think that is a great metaphor for life too!  About halfway up the hill I spotted Tini who gave me a huge cheer and a big high five - she is the best!

Mr K had another strong day! (Pic: Andy W)

Now it was time to get to work on a strong finish, time to focus and see if I could save my race.  My pace had started to slip a bit before the hill and I knew that this was my chance to regroup for a strong finish.  As I passed the split for the marathon I was thankful that I was not running the full and I sent all my best wishes to my friends who were - gooooo Sandie and Drum!! I got to mile 11 at 1:37:58, averaging 8:54.

I know the end of this race well - slight up hill to mile 11, then a big downhill, cross the long bridge and then another slight downhill to mile 12.  The last mile of the race is like torture because you can see where you stated at the Will Rogers Center, but you have to go a mile around to the other side where the finish line is.  Four turns to the finish, I could hear the announcer and I could taste the finish line.  Why is it that this part feels like it takes days?

I finished in 1:55:12 with an average pace of 8:47.  That "last four, fast four" insured that I would have my second fastest Cowtown in the nine times that I had run it.  It always takes me a few days to process a race.  I walked away from this one with a new respect for the PR I ran there last year.  Hard work pays off and I earned that one - no fluke, no luck, just putting in the miles and the intensity.  I felt like I ran the best race I had for my current level of training, but I also feel like I have a faster half in me if I just work a little harder. You want to run faster? Work harder. You want to be stronger? Work harder.  There was a whole lot of good on this race day, but the best thing to come from it was a new commitment to work harder this spring.  My fire was relit, time to focus and embrace my new mantra.....work harder.

Cowtown Half: Never Too Old...

So this race happened at the end of February....and I have been terribly remiss in taking the time to record my story in this blog.  I love sharing my stories with you, but I write these stories in large part for myself.  They serve as a great reference for me - a reminder of where I've been, a way to look back at the good times, and a way to see the challenges I have overcome as well.  I can't not record this story because this race was a huge milestone for me.  I have had this goal of running a sub 1:50 half marathon for myself for many years and had all but given up on reaching it.  But this is the year of the #PRincess and of being fearless, so why not just go for it?

The Cowtown Half Marathon is one of my favorite, not-to-miss races.  I ran my first Cowtown in 2009 and have experienced just about every condition and scenario possible.  Freezing cold, wind, heat, humidity, even snow and ice...Cowtown has delivered all of these in the last eight years.  I have had painful races.  I have had strong races.  I have run the early miles of Mr K's marathon with him.  I have sprinted to the start line from the worst traffic ever.  Last year was especially challenging as my legs felt heavy and disengaged from the very beginning.  I still don't know what went wrong that day.  I trained diligently for the race and I was rested and ready to go.  Maybe it was the cold? It was my 50th half marathon and Mr K made a shirt for me with a huge 5-0 on the back.  I enjoyed all of the cheers and compliments that I got along the way, so that made the race fun.  It was also pretty amazing to see snow on the ground, but the running itself was less than stellar and I felt lucky to finish in 2:01:30.  I remember hanging out with all my friends post race and Stude (The Encourager - remember him?) was celebrating a new half marathon PR.  He looked at me and said "See MK, you are never too old to PR." I wasn't so sure he was right about that, but those words stuck in my head.

Traditional pre-race photo with Irene, John, Mr K, and Mama C (photo: Mama C)

Mr K and I learned our lesson many years ago and opted to spend the night in Fort Worth rather than take our chances with the traffic on race morning.  Our hotel was near mile 11 on the half marathon course, so we were super close to the start/finish, allowing us to have a stress free race morning.  We met up with Mama C and the gang for a few pictures before heading to our start corral.  I had such success running the first 10 miles of the 3M Half with the 1:55 pace group and I was hoping to use a similar plan here at Cowtown.  It is just kind of nice to let someone else handle the pacing for you during the first 10 miles or so of the race.  Unfortunately, Cowtown did not have a 1:55 group so I was hoping to stick near the 1:50 group (because I ran 1:50 at 3M this did not seem out of reach).  Cowtown is a harder course than 3M, so I was not sure how feasible this plan was, but I was going to give it a shot. I was just behind the pace group when the race started, but they took off quite a bit faster than I felt like I should go - so I watched them slip away.

I knew this course quite well, which certainly played to my advantage.  I was running a bit faster than I did at 3M, but I also knew that there was a killer hill at mile 9 so it might be smart to bank some time while I could.  The weather was not ideal with temperatures near 60 with high humidity and some wind, but I tried not to let that get into my mind.  I made it through the first 5K in 26:18 with an average pace of 8:25.  I was running largely by feel and did not have the pace displayed on my watch, only heart rate, distance, and time.  I was getting my paces when the mile splits chimed and I was happy to see them stay fairly consistent.

The traditional Mark O. photo

There were some small hills between the 5K and 10K mark, but I was ready for them.  Steady and smooth all the way up!  The splits were still coming in very consistently and I just tried to hang on to it as long as I could.  I crossed the 10K mark in 52:43 with an average pace of 8:27.  Almost halfway! My favorite part of The Cowtown is when we make that right hand turn onto Exchange Avenue right before mile 7.  Anyone familiar with Fort Worth knows that Exchange Avenue takes you right through the heart of the famous Stockyards.  There is such an energy boost her as the crowds are usually pretty thick and the street makes a bit of a downhill.  There was a terrific band here this year too and my feet entrained perfectly to the beat of their song.  I love it when that happens!

I regained my focus as I passed out of the Stockyards.  Things were about to get real.  As in, we were quickly approaching the mammoth hill known as the Main Street Bridge.  I hadn't done a lot of hill training, so I wasn't sure what this race was going to bring.  I knew that things get tougher as we approach mile 9 and there isn't much relief until the downhill after mile 11.  I also knew that my pacing was about to get real in that my game plan (suggested by Stude - The Encourager) was to get over the big hill and then hammer the pace until the end.

I always count the light posts as I climb that big hill.  It just seems easier that way, much easier than looking all the way to the top.  This hill is pretty sneaky too as just when you think you have made it to the top, it turns a corner and goes up just a little bit longer.  I love all of the cheerleaders on the hill - they are just amazing!  (Special shout out to Anne Barnwell for giving me a shout out.  It is just so nice to hear your name during a tough part of the run.)  Huge deep breath as I crossed mile 9 and climbed the hill.....here....goes...nothing.

I felt like I was running hard, but I was worried that it was not hard enough.  Just keep pushing, MK, see what you can do!  I didn't know if I was on pace for a PR, but I felt like I could come pretty close to my time from 3M Half.  There was a bit of wild desperation in these final miles, I gotta tell you. I soon got some reinforcement as mile 11 came in at 8:11 - my fastest so far.  It might not feel faster, but it was!  I crossed the timing mat at mile 11 in 1:33:15 with an average pace of 8:27 - I am nothing if not consistent!  I knew that there was a pretty good downhill between 11 and 12 and I worked hard to make the most of it.  It paid off too because that ended up being my fastest mile of the race at 7:55.

Post race and post burger with Mama C and Irene

The end of this race is just so tough mentally.  You can see that you have made it back to the grounds of the Will Rogers Center, but they make you run all the way around it in order to get to the finish.  So darned close....yet still a mile or so away.  I spotted the 1:50 pacer somewhere between mile 12 and 13.  Could it be?  Is this even possible?  I locked on him like a laser beam, knowing that if I could pass him I would have my long awaited sub 1:50.  I really had no idea if I could catch him, but I sure was going to try! Just. Keep. Running.  I could hear the race announcer now and I knew that we just had to turn two more corners. Catch that pacer, MK!!

And I did catch him, just before mile 13 - and I kept him behind me like it was my job.  The finish line was in sight now.  I had no idea what my time was, but I sprinted as if every single second counted - because it did!  I am not sure I have ever run that hard in my life, I'm not sure where that even came from.  My watch read 1:49:58 - I (thought) I'd done it!!  I was so worried that the official time would have me over the 1:50 mark, but it didn't - the official time was even better at 1:49:55.  I could hardly believe my eyes.  After all these years, it finally happened...and on the most unlikely of courses in the most unlikely weather.  For six years my half marathon PR stood as untouchable, and now I'd scored my 2nd half PR in as many months.

Believe your watch, MK! That just happened.

All this to say: never give up on yourself, never stop working for your goals, never stop trying.  I've been a runner for almost eight years now, I thought that I'd hit all my big milestones.  I had plateaued in a serious way, I thought that PRs were not for me.  But you just never know what you are capable of until you push your boundaries.  You are never too old.

Be fearless.

Cowtown Half: The Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway

I have had some interesting adventures in Cowtown over the seven times that I've run the half marathon: 25 mph wind and freezing temperatures, hip pain, the worst traffic jam ever during which I kicked Mr K out of the car while we were still on the freeway, and a few years of warm temperatures and high humidity.  All that being said, this one might have been the most interesting one to date.  On Friday morning the snow started coming down and it didn't stop until the late afternoon.  The Cowtown folks were quick to announce that Saturday's 5K and 10K races would be cancelled.  The temperatures were supposed to get into the 40s on Saturday and I assumed that the half marathon, marathon, and ultra would be no problem.  However, the forecast was wrong and temperatures hovered around freezing all day on Saturday.  We received word on Saturday evening that the marathon and ultra were cancelled, but everyone was welcome to run the half marathon.  I can't imagine how devastating this decision must have been for the Cowtown staff and I'm so grateful that they still gave us the chance to run the half marathon.  I know that some extra hours were put in on Saturday night to insure that we had a safe course on Sunday morning.

Special race, special shirt (Pic: Stude)

I was especially looking forward to this race as it was my 50th half marathon.  Mr K made a special race shirt for me and I was looking forward to wearing it with lots of pride. We spent the night at Marci and Fred's in Fort Worth and arrived super early to the race.  There was a good crowd for the half marathon and we saw lots of friendly faces before and after the race.  It was a cold as we waited for the race to start and I was glad to finally get moving.  I wasn't sure what the day would hold and I decided to cover up my watch and just run.  Mr K slipped away during the first couple of miles and went on to have a super strong race.

Happy To Be Moving! (Pic: Jesse)

I've never raced with snow on the ground before and it was pretty surreal to pass through the park where we run El Scorcho each July.  I have never seen it that way and I thought about all of the sweat I have spent in that park. What a sight!  The spectators were few in number but their spirits were super high.  No doubt they had the hardest job as standing still in the freezing temperatures is way colder than running in freezing temperatures.  I made an effort to thank all of the police officers along the way as they were standing out in the cold to keep all of us safe.

Post Race w Andy, John, Mama C, Mr K, Stude, & Mark O (Pic: Andy)

Every year I'm reminded of how much I love the Cowtown Half course.  They really do a great job showcasing the best parts of Fort Worth.  Running down the cobble streets of the historic Stockyards is a highlight of my running year.  By mile 5 I knew by now that I was not on pace for any records and I tried to enjoy the experience.  I got lots of great comments on my special "50th Half" shirt - sure kept a smile on my face.  Imagine my surprise when I heard a train whistle just before the famous hill at mile 9.  A quick glance to my left and I saw that a train would be crossing the race course very soon!  I sprinted over the tracks before the arms came down and in plenty of time to beat the train.  Yet another thing I have never seen in all of my 50 half marathons!  I was glad that I made it over the tracks in time because I could not imagine standing still to wait for the train to cross.  Too cold to stop moving!

Mr K rocks some post race hair (Pic: Stude)

After climbing the Main Street hill at mile 9 the course winds around through downtown Fort Worth - another favorite of mine.  I felt a little bit sad when we passed mile 10 as that is where the marathon would have split off from the half.  I can't imagine how I would feel if my marathon was cancelled.  I was starting to feel tired and ready to be done by this part and focused making the most of the downhill near mile 11.  I never really felt cold during the race, except during the long stretch of the Lancaster Avenue bridge.  While I love this course, the last mile is a tough one mentally.  The buildings around the finish line are visible from here, but you still have to run around a long block in order to get to the finish line.  My legs felt so heavy and dead and I felt like I was crawling by this point.  The finish line is the best sight!

While it was far from my strongest race, I was happy to see the consistency in my splits especially considering that I ran this one totally by feel: 5K - 9:15, 10K - 9:15, 15K - 9:17, 20K - 9:19, finish - 9:16 for a final time of 2:01:30.

Smiles all around! (Pic: Mama C)

Post race brought dry clothes, plenty of friends, the most delicious burger ever, and some terrific live music.  We were all thankful for the opportunity to run and be together on such a cold and dreary day.  Running fifty half marathons has given me many things: medals, race shirts, PRs, strong days, struggle days, and many adventures....but the post race feeling of satisfaction and sharing it all with Mr K and my friends is what will keep me coming back for fifty more.

Cowtown Half Marathon: Earning My Spurs





There are some races that just standout as "favorites" on the run calendar.  The Cowtown Half is certainly one of those.  This was my sixth time to run the Cowtown Half (insert "where has time gone" cliche here) and many of those years have brought stories.  Remember the first year with the freezing cold, high winds, and ridiculous hip pain?  What about the year that I kicked Mr K out of the car on the highway as we were stuck in the worst traffic ever? Always a grand adventure in the Town of the Cow.

Coming soon to a Half Ironman near you: The TriBesties

I had no real time goals coming into this race and I have been trying to approach half marathons with a more natural, laid back attitude.  I have taken to starting my watch then never looking at it again, letting the legs do what they want to do on that day.  I have had some really good races since I started this approach last year in Oklahoma City and I plan to continue it.  Wouldn't you know it, we trained during some of the coldest weather that North Texas has seen in years....and race day dawned warm and humid.  Humidity is no friend of mine and I have had some absolutely horrid experiences on days like this one.  In the past I chose to ignore the weather and push hard in the first ten miles of the race, only to blow up and hate life in the later miles.  This has happened at least three times in recent memory and each time I end up with a time just over two hours.  This time I made an effort to keep the pace more conservative in the beginning in order to have a more pleasant experience.

Team K (Pic: Mama C)

I really enjoy this course despite the added challenge of the hills, the organizers do a terrific time showing off the best parts of Fort Worth.  My favorite section comes just before mile 7 as we run through the historic Fort Worth Stockyards.  The most infamous hill comes around mile 9 as we climb the Main Street bridge leading into my other favorite part of the race - Sundance Square.  The worst part of the Main Street hill is that you can see it coming for more than a half of a mile.  The best part of that hill is that there is always a frunner or two at the top to cheer you on.  I have found that it is best to count the lamp posts on this hill rather than looking at the whole thing all at once.  I started at a fairly conservative pace, but decided that I had more in the tank and felt pretty proud of myself as I passed several dudes on the way up.  As expected, Fred and Music Mary were waiting near the top. 

Passing the dudes on that hill (Pic: Music Mary)

The full marathoners and ultra marathoners split from us half marathoners around mile 10 and I sent all of my best energy to them at the split.  It was not an easy day to run a marathon, but they were getting it done.  As bad as the hill at mile 9 is, I think that the one around mile 11 might be worst.  It is far shorter and more steep and the mental energy is starting to wane by that part.  The good news is that there is a rocking downhill about a quarter mile later and I let it all go.  I don't care what anyone says, I LOVE running downhill.

Spoiler alert....I finished!

I was so focused on finishing strong that I almost missed the hot dog that was calling out my name.  Yep, you read that right.  TPG was dressed as a hot dog and was holding a picture of Kid President that read "you were born to be awesome." Did I notice my friend or the random hot dog?  Nope.  I only saw Kid President before realizing that someone was saying my name before realizing that it was my friend...dressed in a hot dog suit.  Race amnesia at its finest, y'all!

And all I saw was Kid President... (Pic: Mama C)

Shortly after that the race was done and I was pleased to see 1:58 on my watch.  I was so pleased to have a strong and consistent run in the humidity.  It was slower than I would have liked, but it sure beats blowing up at mile 10 and finishing the remaining miles in misery.  I was even more proud when I saw my pacing according to the race results: 5K - 9:06, 10K - 9:10, 11 mile - 9:08, Finish - 9:04. Looks like the hill repeats in the later miles of my long runs paid off!

Post Race With My Girls Marci and Mama C (Pic: Mama C)

The best part of Cowtown is the time spent with frunners at our traditional pre and post race hang outs.  While the weather was warm for running, it was perfect for enjoying some chicken fried bacon and a cold beer on a shady patio.  I enjoy the challenge that training and racing brings, but the thing that keeps me coming back for more is the friendships that I have made in the process. 

Another Great Day in The Town of the Cow (Pic: Mama C)

The End of a Five Year Journey: The Cowtown Half

The guiding minds behind the Cowtown Marathon, Ultra Marathon, and Half Marathon were creative geniuses when they came up with the five year medal series.  For the years 2009-2013, each race medal is a triangle shaped piece--a point of a star.  Complete a race all five years and you have earned all the pieces of a full star.  The star is quite stunning and the race officials certainly spared no detail on the medal design.  Each medal alone is beautiful and certainly something one would be proud of, but the detail really shines when they are all together. 

It just so happens that I started running in 2008 so I was just "in time" to start the medal series in February 2009.  That was my third half marathon and I was not entirely sure that I would finish that day.  I was fighting with some hip pain and it seemed to peak at that race.  I proudly accepted my medal that day and knew that I would be back for four more years to complete my star.  Sometimes we forget how far we have come, and this occasion provided the perfect opportunity to look back.  That 2009 race was my 3rd half marathon and I finished it in 2:17, fast forward to 2013 and it is my 39th half marathon and I finished in a course record of 1:55:13.  There are plenty of stories in those middle years too, Mr K ran the marathon in the 3 middle years--you know that those always come with a good story or two.

I really love Cowtown weekend, it is a great chance to spend time with our friends who live on the west side of the vast Metroplex.  Marci and her husband Fred were nice enough to put us up Saturday night so that we didn't have to get up quite as early to make the 7:00 race start.  We enjoyed a great carb-filled dinner with a table full of frunners before heading off to an early bedtime.  I had some big goals for the race and needed all the sleep I could get!

Drum and I share a traditional A-Frame Hug

We have had some truly horrendous running weather at times (see Dallas Marathon for a recent memory), but the race weather gods were very giving for the Cowtown.  There isn't anything much more perfect for running than 36 degrees and no wind with beautiful sunshine.  It did get a little bit warm for the marathoners and ultra runners, but was perfect for 13.1 miles.  An super early arrival allowed us to beat the traffic and meet up with everyone in our group.  I had planned to meet up with Byron as he was pacing some others to a time that was near my PR and I had also talked about running with Gretchen, but alas I could not find any of them in the busy start corral.  This was not my plan, but I race alone 99% of the time, so I wasn't worried.  I set out alone and focused on setting a nice, fairly conservative pace for myself.

Cowtown Half is one of the more difficult half marathons in the area and I was familiar with the terrain as it was the third year they had used this course.  The first substantial hill comes between miles four and five and I could hear some guys talking about what a huge hill it was.  I am guessing it was their first time, because everyone knows that the REAL hill takes almost the entire mile from 9-10.  Sometime around mile 6 I heard a familiar voice behind me and was thrilled to see Felix.  I got a hug-on-the-run and watched him disappear into the distance.  He was looking so strong and, turns out, just barely missed a PR!  Paces splits so far: 8:34, 8:37, 8:48, 8:36, 9:00, and 8:39.

I was feeling good, knowing that I was running the best race that I had to give on that day.  Cowtown has become my favorite "big" local half marathon and miles 6.5-10.5 is a big reason why.  The course takes you through some of the best that Fort Worth has to offer--down Exchange Street through the famous Stockyards, then up the dreaded Main Street Bridge with the great view of the courthouse, then downtown and by Sundance Square.  I love it when a city puts its best scenes on display for race day!  The Main Street Bridge is a real doozy, but I have some secret weapons to help me deal with it.  One is counting the light posts as I pass them (there are 9 of them), the goal is just to get to the next post.  The other secret weapon is my favorite part of the whole race---a whole gang of frunners clad in visible-from-space FIGJAM shirts.  It is amazing how powerful it is, knowing that they would be at the top of that monster climb. 

 

The Wild West Y'all--Scene at the Stockyards





That hill takes alot out of any runner and I tried to use the downtown section as a recovery period as I knew that there was one more substatial hill to go before the downhill-ish finish.  I was starting to feel that it was taking more effort to hold the pace, but by now there were just 3 miles to go.  I tried to push them tempo a little bit faster with each mile, but I'm not sure that my efforts were working.  This is the part of the race that I wish I could "practice" during training--the part at the end where you are tired but have to keep on keeping on.

I finally made it back to the Will Rodgers Center grounds and was trying to gather my mental fortitude for a strong finish.  I had about a quarter mile to go when I spotted Byron waiting on the corner.  He jumped in just in front of me and started hollering at me in Cajun--I'm not sure what he was saying--I just knew that I was trying like heck to keep up with him.  I was fairly certain that I might die if I didn't reach the finish line soon!  Serious thanks go to Byron--that little burst at the end might have made the difference in the course record.  Splits for miles 7-13 (8:32, 8:57, 8:48, 9:17, 8:33, 8:30, 8:32, 7:24--last quarter mile).

Post Race with Felix

I was somewhat disappointed, at first, but hindsight has helped me put things into perspective.  Cowtown is a tough race and I ran it the best that I could on that day.  What else could I expect from myself? 

After the race I found Mr K and Felix and we gathered our finisher's shirts (it is pink!) and some recovery snacks and visited while we waited for the rest of our crew.  Celebratory burgers and beers were enjoyed by all on the patio Magnolia Motor Lounge--it was great to thank our cheerleaders in person for helping to get everyone up that big ole hill.

Mama C and Marci--these girls ROCK!

And just like that, five years of racing Cowtown have gone by.  When I got that first medal in 2009 I just hoped that I was still running in 2013.  I had no idea that not only would I still be running, I would be running faster, and (even better) be surrounded by an incredible group of peers that support me every step of the way.  I can't help but to wonder what the next five years will bring.

Best Photobomb Evah....Seriously, we don't know that guy....

 

(Thanks ALWAYS to Mama C for the pictures!!)

Ah Cowtown...So We Meet Again

If you have been following along you will know that Cowtown and I have a bit of a dysfunctional relationship. The first year I ran it was hip pain and in sub-freezing temps with a 25 mph wind, last year there was the amazingly bad traffic situation, and this year it was the heat and humidity. Yep, looks like we brought a little bit of Houston home with us after that last race. I could not believe it when I checked the weather at 4:15 am...66 degrees. I knew that it was going to be a tough day.

Erik and I were both pretty nervous on the way over to Fort Worth. We were both a little bit scarred from the worst race day traffic I have ever experienced. Cowtown had done many things to insure that the race would run more smoothly and this was evident when we were able to exit fairly easily and secure a close parking spot with little wait. Big sigh of relief right there!!

We did all of the usual pre-race mixing and mingling. It is really cool how many friends that I have made through running and how many of them I see at the race. I was wearing my new Lucky 13 Run Team shirt in that classic shade of Heels and Hills pink and I spotted Paula and several other new friends in that same shade of pink. It is going to be so much fun to represent at future races!

Erik was running his 3rd marathon and my job was to pace him through the first 10.5 miles--until the marathon and half marathon courses split from each other. He has a history of starting marathons way too fast and I was thrilled to be able to help him have a strong marathon finish. We moved back to the 3rd corral (we were assigned to the 2nd) and placed ourselves between a couple of pace groups. The start was delayed 10 minutes due to traffic (wonder if they did that last year...I was parking the car at the starting time!). It was nearly 70 degrees with humidity nearing 90% and a strong wind. Ready. Set. GO!

Erik and I both fought the urge to speed up as we ran the first 3 or 4 miles, but we both kept thinking about how much Erik would need that energy in the later stages of his race. We tried to hold a pace that is a minute per mile slower than our half marathon paces. Parts of the course were very pretty and I loved running down Exchange Street in the historic Stockyards. What a great way to showcase the city's sights! We were having a great time, running an easier pace, and talking to other people who were running near us. And then came mile 9....oh that hill! It wasn't anything like that famous hill in the Austin Half, but it was no joke either--especially on a hot and humid day. We both buckled down and plowed up the hill and got it done. It really made me wonder how I survived Austin or Tyler and came out with a decent time. After that hill we made a turn and found ourselves in Sundance Square, another fun and scenic part of the race.

Before we knew it we were at the marathon split. I had such mixed feelings as I watched Erik continue on the marathon route. I was so proud of him for all of his hard work, worried about what would lie ahead of him, sad because our run together was finished, and happy that I had helped him come that far. It was time for me to focus on finishing up half marathon #21. I had plans to rock the final 5K after the races split, but found that I had a hard time picking up the pace as much as I wanted to. I'm not sure what was going on--maybe it was the heat, lack of hydration, or the fact that I had a few more rolling hills ahead of me. It might have been the relief that I wasn't trying to beat any of personal records, but I suspect that it is because my body had settled into a comfortable pace, my mile splits show that I was picking up speed with each mile until the end. I focused on passing people and had a steady run up to the end. I was hoping to get in before 2:10 as we had been behind the 2:10 pace group for most of the race. Mission accomplished: 2:08:33 was my final time. It was a tough day for running and I was so happy to be finished.
Here are our splits:
Mile 1 10:14
Mile 2 10:00
Mile 3 9:36
Mile 4 9:45
Mile 5 9:58
Mile 6 9:43
Mile 7 10:02
Mile 8 9:42
Mile 9 10:04 (not bad with that hill)
Mile 10 9:47
Mile 11 9:16
Mile 12 9:15
Mile 13 8:58
last .2 8:04
Average Pace 9:41

I consumed an entire bottle of water in a quick minute, collected my medal, and set about to find the food and finisher's shirts. I picked up my food in a cattle barn, my shirt in the poultry barn, and the bag check was in the swine barn....gotta love Fort Worth! There were many half marathon finishers hanging out in these common areas and I was happy to see even more friends--Michelle B. and Lucy this time. I took a few minutes to send some texts and to update Facebook and Twitter before going to the car to shed some of my running gear. I was ready to head to the finish line and cheer Erik on.

I dare you to stand at a marathon finish line for very long and NOT be inspired! It is such an experience to see all of the runners come across that line, some of them strong, some of them hobbled, but all of them with a huge sense of accomplishment. This might have been my favorite part of the day. There are so many stories there--I even saw a guy finish his 200th marathon and his wife finish #204 (you go girl!). I was also fortunate to see friends Ben and Liza finish and then Erik himself. I was so happy to see him upright and even managing a smile...always a relief! He had just finished marathon #3, I'm so proud of him! I found my first experience pacing someone to be highly rewarding. I am honored that Erik gave me that opportunity and it was so nice to give back to someone who gives so much to me.


Hungry runners!

We met up with Ben, Liza, Vi, and Kylee and decided to head over to Jake's for some postrace burgers. Lunch was spent discussing the many thoughts and feelings that everyone had as they tackled those tough running conditions.

I am happy to collect the 3rd wedge of my star--a 5 year medal series started by The Cowtown back in 2009. It is great to see that medal finally coming together and I am going to have some great stories to tell. Only 2 wedges remain....what will they be...more half marathons, a full marathon, an ultra marathon? Only time will tell!

When Running Is A Team Sport

I can't believe that I have been absent from my blog for over two weeks now. Those bad weather days were great for blogging and catching up on reading but I am paying for them now. There is so much to be done at work and there is no extending those deadlines. That and the fact that there just hasn't been a great deal going on lately. It has been rinse, lather, repeat around here as far as running goes...although with a big of a twist....we went from 18 degrees to 85 degrees in a span of 10 days. I never thought that my summer acclimation process would take place in February. I am hoping that March cools off a bit before the hot summer bears down upon us. If you know anything about me, you know that I am a big baby when it comes to running in the heat. I get it done, but it just isn't pretty.

So it has been pretty uneventful around here....until now...a running feast or famine, one might say. This is a big weekend around here, The Cowtown Marathon and Half Marathon are upon us. The Cowtown is a wonderful race and I am looking forward to running my 3rd consecutive half marathon, but the Town of the Cow and I have had some issues over the years. Remember 2009 and 2010? I don't know what it is about this race, but I have yet to have a positive, stress-free experience with it. I'm starting to think that Fort Worth might have something against this Dallas lovin' gal. This is going to be a good year, I just know it.

The Houston Half Marathon really got me thinking about running as a team effort. Erik and I really relied on each other that day as we slogged through 13.1 miles of 90% humidity, 68 degrees, and rain. I know that I would not have finished in 2:00 if Erik had not been pulling me along (and he said the same thing about me). Team Kennemer was in full effect in Houston and will be again on Sunday. Erik will be completing his 3rd marathon and I am excited about pacing him through until the marathon splits from the half marathon (somewhere around mile 10, if I remember correctly). If you follow my running reports, you will know that I attack each race with the full intent of getting a new personal record. That will not be the goal on Sunday as Erik's marathon pace will have to be slower than my PR half marathon pace. Team Kennemer's goal for Sunday will be for Erik to complete 26.2 miles feeling strong, happy, and pleased with his efforts. I am thrilled to be a part of that and can't wait to support him. The Cowtown is offering runner tracker for those of you who want to follow us on our journey. Go to this link and follow the directions.

The first weekend in March will also hold an opportunity for running as a team effort. I will be part of a team of 11 running ladies (named the Mad-Dames) as we tackle 200 miles in the Texas Independence Relay. I am scheduled to run legs 1, 7, 25, 33 for those of you following along at home. This will bring my total miles for the weekend to just under 20 and will include night time runs in the Texas Hill Country. I am so excited to run with runners that I am friends with already, runners that I have met through blogging or Twitter, and runners that I will meet next Friday. It is guaranteed to be a good time and I can't wait to report on it here in a couple of weeks.

One more story of running as a team sport. I recently met a runner named Corina via Twitter and Facebook and I will meet her in person next week at the Relay. The Cowtown will be her 11th marathon and she is using a team approach to help her reach a very big time goal. Read her very inspirational story here. I know that Corina is going to rock this race and I can't wait to hear her story! Make sure to read her friend Suann's thoughts on running as a team sport. I am so proud to be part of a community that supports each other so graciously!

Now it is your turn! Tell me about your favorite running buddy or your best teamwork story. I can't wait to hear them!

Hey Cowtown...what's your beef???

I am starting to believe that Cowtown has a grudge against me. I'm not sure why, I have never done anything to make the city of Ft Worth mad at me...at least, anything that I can think of. Saturday came early, 4:30 to be exact, and Erik and I headed out to Ft Worth. It looked like a beautiful morning, there was a huge moon low on the horizon as we drove towards the wild west. The drive was uneventful and we even ran into our fellow runners, Liza and Vi, as they made their journey to the race. However, I can pinpoint one moment when things started to go wrong...Liza and Vi went straight on the highway and we veered off to another highway. There was a HUGE line of traffic for our exit. "Calm down" I told myself, "it is 6:30, the race is an hour from now....we'll be fine." I shot a text to Liza and found that she and Vi were already parked and ready to go. Daylight came and we were still sitting in this line...when it got closer to 7:00 I insisted that Erik get out of the car and walk. He was running the full marathon and I felt that it was more important for him to be there and mentally right for the race.

I made it off the highway and by some miracle found a parking space...problems solved, right? WRONG! This was the one lot that was charging for parking that day, $3.00 to be exact....and there was a line of about 30 people waiting to pay the one machine there in the lot. I was so tempted to just bail and pay later, but I knew that this would be the ONE time that the car would be towed. So...I got in line with all of the other folks. Current time...7:35. The line was going nowhere and time was ticking and someone finally said that we could just go. While in line I met a girl named Laura, we talked about how this wasn't as big of a deal as we were making it out to be and how we should just settle down. Easier said than done, it felt like a pretty big deal in that moment! Laura and I took off to find the start line, which was a good 5 blocks from the parking lot.

We made it to the start area and found that they had delayed the race start a little bit, which pleased me. I was not pleased to see that I was at the very back, behind the 2 hr 50 min half marathon pace group. I was also stressing out as I was unable to complete my pre-race restroom rituals.

The race finally got going and it felt good to just be running. The beginning was challenging as I had to work my around many walkers and slower runners. I didn't see any mile markers until mile 3, so I had no idea how my pace was setting up. I must have done okay, because my watch read 27:00 on the dot when I saw mile 3-a perfect 9 minute mile. However, I had to make a restroom stop early in the race--which meant lines at the restroom--so I lost 3 minutes off my time. I tried to make the time up, but never really caught up. I wasn't too upset at that point, I was still happy that I made it to the start line!

It was a beautiful day for running and I really enjoyed the sights along the Cowtown course. I have to give a big "shout out" to Diane, who was there watching for her dad. I saw her at mile 6.5 and again around mile 10--it was such a boost to see a familiar face and hear someone cheering for me! Thanks Diane! You rock!

Overall, it was a good race. I could have done without the pre-race stress, but in the end it was okay. I finished in 2:02:26. I was hoping to be closer to a 2:00 hr finish, and if you subtract the 3 minutes for the restroom stop I would be in at 1:59:26. The 1+ miles of uneven brick streets are pretty uncool too...uneven surfaces are so hard on the body. I do think that my quest to chase last year's ghosts away was a success--it was a pain free race and I took about 15 minutes off of my time.

Stay tuned for part 2 of the Cowtown Report...hear about Erik's 2nd marathon, a proposal, and great friends!

Chasing the Ghosts of Cowtown Past

Saturday brings the Cowtown Half Marathon, which will be my 3rd half marathon in 28 days. I ran the Cowtown last year, but it has haunted me ever since. I had started to have some pain in my hip a few weeks before the race and the pain had really increased in the week or so leading up to the Cowtown. The morning for February 28 dawned bitterly cold and with a very strong north wind. It was one of those famous North Texas cold fronts, it was warm the day before--the temperatures were approaching the 60s and then the bottom fell out that night. Erik and I shivered with all of the other runners while we waiting for the start to arrive. It was the coldest race that I had ever run (until the Texas Half this year...brrr!). The start was very inspiring, as many are, watching the large group of runners spread out into the street before me. The pain began before we even made it to the 1st mile marker. I was so discouraged because I knew that there were so many more miles to come. I began to tell myself that merely finishing would be fine today, even if I had to walk it at times. I soon caught up with the 2:20 pace group and made it a goal to stay in front of them. Somehow I made it and ended up finishing in 2:17, which was my 2nd fastest half marathon at that time, only 4 minutes off of my personal record. That was my 3rd half marathon and I was really just pleased to come out ahead of 2:20.

I learned so much about myself that day, I had no idea that I could really dig in and work through something that challenging. Everything was stacked against me that day: the weather, the strong winds, and the pain. Who knew that a half marathon could be that hard? Months later, after much frustration and nashing of teeth, I found out that all that pain was caused by my shoes. When I started running I got fitted for shoes at a running store; however, I was fitted for the wrong shoes. All of the muscles in my hips and legs were having to work hard to correct my gait and stride. Once I got the correct shoes and a massage therapist helped me work out the kinks, I was stronger than ever.

I am looking forward to Cowtown this year. I plan to chase away the ghosts of last year and to really enjoy the journey that the race will bring. Do I smell another personal record? Time will tell...only 2 more days to go....