Wisconsin Half Marathon Race Report (2012)
The Wisconsin Half Marathon was this past Saturday! It was my fourth year running it – the first two years with Steven, last year with Erin, and this year, with my brother-in-law Andrew!
This race holds a special place in my heart, as it was the first half marathon I ever ran in 2009, and it held my 1:57:47 PR for almost two years! I was really excited Andrew wanted to run it as his first half.
While carb-loading at Red Robin on Friday night, we discussed Andrew’s goals for his first half:
- Don’t punch myself in the face or get punched in the face
- Finish the race
- Run the entire race
- Finish the race running a 10:00mm pace (goal finish time 2:11:00)
- Make Kim puke at the end
What can I say? Andrew’s goal list was a bit unique. He met all of the goals except one. Hopefully you can guess which one it was.
Kenosha is close enough to our home that we can drive up there race morning, but it does mean waking up at 4:30! That’s okay for me – it’s when I normally get up for work, and I was so excited about running Andrew’s first half with him!
It rained on the way up to the race, but it stopped about 35 minutes prior to race start. It was nice and cool (53°) but humid! I wore a tank and felt sweat dripping down my arms right away.
We got in to the start line 15 minutes early and eventually ran in to Bobbi and Marcia! (Also, at packet pick-up, I randomly ran in to Megan – I actually recognized her baby before her!)
Then we were off! We saw Steven and his dad at mile 1:
And again at mile 4:
The first 4+ miles go through downtown and residential neighborhood. The buildings and homes block most of the wind and trees provide some shade (shade was not an issue). After the first few miles you head north and do an out and back for maybe 5 miles along Lake Michigan, up to Carthage College. It’s a beautiful part of the course, but completely open to wind, has no shade and is full of potholes. Oh! And puddles on Saturday. And let’s not forget the small hills.
The wind was pushing at us from the north, but we kept our pace running in to it, knowing it would be at our backs on the way back out. It definitely felt cooler, but I honestly started to warm up about 6 miles in and I felt great. We actually picked up the pace right before mile 9, when we were heading back in to the downtown/residential area. Our second half was definitely a bit faster than our first! We pushed it for the last 4 miles, running progressively faster! A bit faster than Andrew’s goal pace, but he was doing so well!
We saw Steven and his dad right before the finish, the picked up the pace to run it in!
Our official time was 2:06:11, a 9:37 pace! Andrew did so well! He finished, without walking, and well under a 10:00 minute mile pace! And we were able to run faster at the end. I think he ran a very smart race!
I was really pleased too – the past two years I’ve had less than stellar races on this course. This year it was a total breeze for me and I felt great at the end! I’m so happy I got to run Andrew’s first half with him. Maybe he will want to come back next year and do it again! I know I’ll be out there. I have been doing this race since the inaugural year and can’t stop now!
Themocracy
Yay! I love running (or just being around someone) who’s just run their first race – ever or of a new distance! Go Andrew! Go Kim for not puking!
Me too! A first race at a new distance is so fun and exciting! And I just love this race! 🙂
Congrats to Andrew! It was so great seeing you out there. I love that you’ve done every one so far. It was a fun one!
It was great seeing you too! This is a fun race 🙂 Can’t wait for next year… ha ha ha 🙂
Great recap. I’m sure it was fun to help Andrew get through his first half very successfully. Guess he didn’t make you puke though!
The whole puke thing was a sick joke between me and Andrew, ha ha ha. We are not so mature. I would have to be running really fast to puke!
I’m pretty sure those are the coolest finisher’s medals I’ve ever seen! ha ha
Congrats on the race, Kim! That’s a great pace!
I really love this race. And I was SO glad that Andrew was so tall (and looks so much like Steven) that we could find you before it all started. Wish I could’ve hung with you at the end – I wasn’t even a minute behind you 🙂 But you were in my head! (PUSH Bobbi! Kim would say PUSH!)
Ha ha! Happy I got in your head! You did a great job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you are on Cloud 9!
Congrats on a great race!!! And I love the medals!!!
Congratulations to Andrew! And you for not puking 🙂 Those medals are so cute. I’d love to do this race someday.
You totally should! It’s a lot of fun 🙂 And good weather all four years so far (I know some people think this was not good weather… but it was for me, even with the humidity!).
I’m happy to hear that you both had stellar races! Congratulations to Andrew on his first half! Sounds like a great day all around! YAY GUYS!
OH! And you guys are the new ridiculously photogenic guy(s)!
Ha ha, thanks! I am excited to see our race pics!
Sounds like a great race! You were obviously a good running partner for him.
What a great race!!! I love your new header photo. You look like a graceful runner/ballerina in mid air!!! 🙂
Oh no! Did Andrew get punched in the face? it looks like a pretty successful race, with a pretty cool medal this year.
He didn’t! Phew! I think it was close though 😉 He almost left his bib in the car, which will probably go on the list for next time.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! GREAT JOB!!!!!!
Congrats to both you and Andrew! It sounds like it was a really great race!
yay! I can’t wait to find “my race” that i run every single year! Great job pacing – i should hire you to pace me!
I could never pace you on the hills and heat of Cinci though. Maybe we should run 13.1 together. I am thinking 1:50 if the conditions are right.
Great job on the race both of you! I’m sorry we didn’t get to meet up – we were the two girls in the knee socks and yellow hats that you saw. Nothing like dressing crazy for a race!
Yay!! Sounds like a great recap!! I loved this course and will be back next year!!
Looks like you guys had a great time! Your BIL did amazing, so glad you were there to support and cheer him on. Love the pics of you guys, you look like you were really enjoying yourself.
That’s so awesome the rain stopped just in time for the race. It was meant to be! Nice job on feeling good throughout the race and helping your BIL beat his goal!
Kim, congrats on another WI finish. I should have know you’d have been there. I know I had to have seen you as after putting out all those cones on the course I stationed myself at the far north turnaround. Saw lots of folks I know but never spotted Kimbot. See you there next year, if not before. Ian
I should have thought to look for you! Are you involved with the 13.1 on June 9 at all? I will be at that one!
Yay redemption! I bet Andrew was happy to have you next to him keeping him on task 🙂
Awesome that you got to run with your BIL!! That sounds like a great race. My PR (and only time for a half marathon since I’ve only done two and got the same time on the same course) is 2:06! I know I can run under 2 hours but I just haven’t yet. Maybe I should come out and run this race with you next year!
Do come! 🙂 🙂 🙂 If not then, sooner 🙂
Do you have any plans for a half this year?
I love those medals – they’re pretty awesome.
Good job on the race!
Whoaaa speedy runner you are!! Way to go!!!
I’m so envious of Andrew having someone as supportive running along side him for that entire half! I don’t know anyone who runs at my pace right now, so I either need to get faster or find some slow runners 🙂
I wouldn’t have guessed that the Wisconsin Marathon is based in Kenosha. Those are some pretty great cheesy medals that you’ve collected over the years!
Congrats on a great half!! How fun to run it with your BIL for his first time. It looks like he rocked it, but he had a great coach too :-). Hope you have a great week!
I am so proud of you guys!
Great job! You look like you were having a blast in the picture coming up to the finish line! Maybe I’ll have to go on a road trip next year and run that one since I have that rotation block off 🙂 Looks like fun! Congrats to both you and Andrew!
Yay Wisconsin Half! The first time we “met” even though I think it was just us yelling at each other. 🙂
OOh, awesome race! Congratulations to Andrew! I still wanna’ get up here and do this race some time. Maybe next year?
YES!!!! That would be really fun!
Love those medals! What a great race 🙂