Hartford Half Marathon

[jodistar]

Hi Everyone,

Decided to make a separate post from our weekly training thread (mostly because I know that we are coming up on a new week).

The Hartford Half and Full Marathons took off at the same time and same area....at times throughout the course they separated us - I was really nervous about that, I thought for sure that I would end up following the wrong path but I did just fine.

This is the best experience that I've had - although a lot tougher than what I had expected. When you read about the Hartford Marathon it says that it is a fast and flat route.....but there are several inclines, you are going up and down highway ramps, etc. but the support throughout the course was the best! Plenty of water stations, and there was a GU station at mile 7.

I'm not able to give you specifics on my time, when I checked my bag I realized that I left my Garmin in my bag ......yeah, at the starting line I look at my wrist and go to start my.......ummmmm, where is it? hehe

The first 8 miles went by really fast.....I was amazed to see that I had come that far and I did this all without any MP3 on or anything, I just was really enjoying taking in the sights and enjoying the nice, very cold fall weather.

Anyhow, loved the race....I finished in 2 hours and 26 minutes.....I hope that's good? I really was hoping to come in 10 minutes faster but overall I'm happy!

Funniest thing was the Hartford Marathon is famous for ended the race running under the arches.....hehe, I didn't even remember seeing it on my way in. Don't know how I could miss these:

Here are some pictures of me and my medal:

 

[scoolover]

Hey Jodi,
I was in the area today and would have gone to the marathon if I were not committed to the Uconn - Army game in E. Hartford. Congrats on your finish. That is a good time if you ask me. Keep up the good work.
Scott

 

[MelRhoads]

Jodi - great job on the race. That was a great time!!!!! It looks like a cool medal and a beautiful course.

 

[escape]

Jodi, congratulations! That is an awesome time!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

CONGRATULATIONS JODI!!! That is a great time. You have come so far. WTG!!! We're all very proud of you. Your in great shape for your Goofy training!

 

[Honeibee]

Jodi - You did great! That's wonderful! I am very very proud!

 

[plutosmyfav]

Great job! I love that medal

 

[getnthinr]

Congratulations, Jodi! Wow, we missed a chance at a mini-WISH meet. I was there too, but waaaaaaaay behind you. My official chip time was 3:03, clock time was something like 3:08. Very different from those Disney races where its typically 20 minutes before I cross the finish line. The friend I stayed with in MA said last year it was cold and rainy, so we really did have a spectacular day. I don't have a photo of me and my medal though, because they ran out of half medals before I finished. Bummer.

Medal or no medal, the race was still great, though. I was prepared for a very urban (read "boring") race, but it turned out that for someone like me who had never seen New England, the Hartford skyline was beautiful and filled with enough Victorian architecture and interesting modern buildings to give me plenty to look at, the foliage was at its brightest gold, red, pink, and orange peak, and the race offered both a nice shirt and sufficient freebies to make it well worth the trip whether the medal ever makes it or not. There was music on the course at 3 places (on the half), and a party in the park afterwards. I thought it was great!

While I was in New England, I reaped the benefits of my friend's previous job experience as a professional tour guide as we crisscrossed MA, VT, and CT -- we saw dinosaur tracks, 3 covered bridges, the 100-mile view from Hogback Mt, the Yankee Candle Factory home, (one of) the Vermont Country Store(s), spectacular foliage views from Sugarloaf Mountain and the historic Summit House at Skinner State Park, and even worked in a meal at Bub's Bar-B-Q (whose motto is "Pig Out in Style") and a couple of cups of real honest-to-goodness fresh hot apple cider.

When I distributed the maple sugar candy, Vermont apple, maple syrup, and Vermont cheese to my family and my 7-yr-old son exclaimed through his mouthful of maple, "We're gonna scratch the [NC] mountains from our vacation list and from now on we're going wherever you just went!" I think that means he liked it.

It was a great trip and I couldn't have asked for a most gorgeous crisp New England Fall weekend.

 

[jodistar]

Medal or no medal, the race was still great, though. I was prepared for a very urban (read "boring") race, but it turned out that for someone like me who had never seen New England, the Hartford skyline was beautiful and filled with enough Victorian architecture and interesting modern buildings to give me plenty to look at, the foliage was at its brightest gold, red, pink, and orange peak, and the race offered both a nice shirt and sufficient freebies to make it well worth the trip whether the medal ever makes it or not. There was music on the course at 3 places (on the half), and a party in the park afterwards. I thought it was great!

While I was in New England, I reaped the benefits of my friend's previous job experience as a professional tour guide as we crisscrossed MA, VT, and CT -- we saw dinosaur tracks, 3 covered bridges, the 100-mile view from Hogback Mt, the Yankee Candle Factory home, (one of) the Vermont Country Store(s), spectacular foliage views from Sugarloaf Mountain and the historic Summit House at Skinner State Park, and even worked in a meal at Bub's Bar-B-Q (whose motto is "Pig Out in Style") and a couple of cups of real honest-to-goodness fresh hot apple cider.

When I distributed the maple sugar candy, Vermont apple, maple syrup, and Vermont cheese to my family and my 7-yr-old son exclaimed through his mouthful of maple, "We're gonna scratch the [NC] mountains from our vacation list and from now on we're going wherever you just went!" I think that means he liked it.

It was a great trip and I couldn't have asked for a most gorgeous crisp New England Fall weekend.

Wow - that sounds like a great tour! I agree the after party was great! As far as I know they had two. One in the park and then at night also! I love New England

Too bad we missed one another - - It was a great race though! I didn't even know that they ran out of half marathon medals.

Well - we will just have to meet at Disney then

 

[wtpclc]

Way to go jodi! That's awesome!!

 

[keenercam]

Way to go, Jodi! Awesome finish time. You look great with that medal. Can't wait to see you sporting three come January!

 

[gatorphipps]

That is a great time Jodi! I am so proud of how far you have come! Watch out Goofy...here comes Jodi! That is good training for WDW...It is FLAT, but there are ramps to go up and down.....the one that sticks out in my mind is a "hill" after you come out of Animal Kingdom. Around mile 20. AHHHHHH.....

 

[jodistar]

That is a great time Jodi! I am so proud of how far you have come! Watch out Goofy...here comes Jodi! That is good training for WDW...It is FLAT, but there are ramps to go up and down.....the one that sticks out in my mind is a "hill" after you come out of Animal Kingdom. Around mile 20. AHHHHHH.....

Thanks Krista! I'm really glad that I decided to just stay to the half and not upgrade to the Marathon.......towards the end of the half I realized that I didn't eat quite enough that morning. So I guess that is an important lesson to learn for Disney.

Hey what do you wear during the races? I bought two fuel belts so far, only to find when I run with them on they don't fit as well as they should. Any ideas of what I can wear instead of a fuel belt?

 

[jodistar]

Hey Jodi,
I was in the area today and would have gone to the marathon if I were not committed to the Uconn - Army game in E. Hartford. Congrats on your finish. That is a good time if you ask me. Keep up the good work.
Scott

Oh - the huskies are worth missing the marathon I'm still pretty excited that I finished and have a medal . Now to get ready for Disney

 

[jodistar]

Wow - You are all the best cheerleaders! Thank you all so much! Looking forward to meeting everyone in Disney!

 

[jodistar]

Jodi - You did great! That's wonderful! I am very very proud!

Thanks Judy!