Montana 1/2 Race Report

Race:

Montana 1/2 Marathon- Billings Montana

State # 47

Lifetime half #57

Age Group 4/37

Overall Place: 63/ 370

Official time: 1:48:13

Not going to lie, I wasn't expecting much for Montana. I knew the temps would be cooler, but aside from that I really wasn't looking forward to this race. I'm burnt out on racing and now I'm kind of just going through the motions where I don't care how I do anymore. Despite drinking my way through the city and waking up race morning hung over, I was surprisingly pleased with the race.

Race start was at 8am and for some reason we were under the impression that we had to be at the highschool by 6:45am for the shuttle to the start, which meant up at 5:30 so we could be in lobby at 6am. Up too early for no reason = hangover bummer

Turns out there was a shuttle at 6:45, but multiple more afterward, the last one arriving 15 or so min before race start. So instead we got to arrive 1 hour before start to stare at barren nothingness and freeze because the wind made the temps just uncomfortable enough to want to have a sweatshirt.

The no thrills start prior to everyone lining up

Found out while waiting around that apparently the course is downhill and flat / fast, Again, since Kim and I had zero plans for this race, we didn't even bother to look at elevation, great surprise to hear when you're feeling like death. 

Race started about 5 min late and the first mile was a pretty noticeable downhill. I would say it was awesome, however the road was slanted so 1 mile at a pretty decent pace on that type of terrain had my shins screaming. I was a little nervous that so soon in I was already in pain, but mile 2-4 were flat and the road evened out so the pain subsided. First 4 miles are what I would call traditional "Montana scenery" aka tons of nature. Although it was overcast, there was still a lot to take in and it was surprisingly peaceful and enjoyable.

horses RIGHT next to road, they were running alongside runners, but by the time I took this photo they had tired out

Shortly into the 4th mile we hit our first (and only) uphill as well as we entered neighborhoods. I kind of lost my cool and was starting to feel queasy. I tried walking but that didn't help much. Finally right after we left one neighborhood I vommitted on the side of the road. My saving grace was there were no spectators, however I did have a fellow runner come up to me and run my back... weird right?

shortly after the 'incident' 

Apparently the little upchuck action did the trick as I started to enjoy the race. Around mile 6.5 we were merged with a 10k (apparently there was a 10k option for this race and I had no idea) Suddenly instead of having the sight of just a few people in front of me, there were hundreds. I'm not used to bobbing and weaving around individuals so late in the game... this continued until mile 12.

Around mile 8- still super congested

Like clockwork in the past several races, I got a 2nd wind in the 8th mile and picked up the pace... and that lasted until mile 11 which left me dry heaving... since I didn't eat anything before race nothing came up, BUT I did get another friendly pat on the back from a fellow runner. Montanians are the nicest! Wouldn't you know it that although I couldn't make anything come out of me via my mouth, the other end was acting up and I seriously thought about stopping any time I passed a port o potty 

favorite sign ever! 

Last 2 miles were a long, long, long straightaway through neighborhoods, agony in having to use the bathroom. It's strange how beginning of race was in middle of no where, and yet we ended in a high traffic area. By the end it truly felt like 2 separate races since now the sun was out and there were people everywhere.

Am I almost done yet?

I finished behind a group of 4 10kers females all holding hands - luckily I didn't have a too much of a kick to pass them, otherwise I surely would have been annoyed.

Took my medal, made a beeline for the bathroom, then laid down on the infield of the track til Kim found me. I was wiped, excited to be done, and quite honestly impressed that I finished in 1:48. 

By far probably the most unexepected good surprise races in a while. Sometimes its nice to have your expectations low and then blown away. I'm obsessed with the fact that Montana's medal is in the shape of the state, love that. Although I have no immediate plans to re-visit Montana anytime soon, overall it will leave a positive lasting impression.