Skinny Raven Half-Marathon 2013 – Race Recap

This race recap post is long overdue, but it has been a crazy busy week. Moving into our new house was quite the chore (as to be expected), but I literally got everything unpacked and put in its proper place by 10 p.m. Sunday night! Success!!

In between moving and unpacking over the weekend, I managed to run a half-marathon on Sunday. Nothing like cramming as much as possible into a single weekend. Something I am very good at—just as my husband.

This was my 4th time running the Skinny Raven Half-Marathon, which starts on 6th Avenue in downtown Anchorage. The Big Wild Life Runs weekend events feature a marathon, marathon relay, marathon walk, half-marathon, a 5K, and a kids 2K.

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It was a rainy, dreary day, but at the same time the rain doesn’t bother me that much. I will take it over snow any day. (I’ve said this multiple times in the past and will most likely continue to say this.)

Best thing about the day: literally no wait for those port-a-potties right inside the area where everyone lined up!

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While everyone took shelter, I was busy warming up and doing my pre-race ritual. One of the things I like to do are some striders/accelerations before the race starts in order to get my muscles warmed up for the faster pace of the race. I usually run these striders in front of the pack of people lined up for the race, which is right in front of the start. I have to admit it is pretty exhilarating running fast in front of the spectators and makes me feel like an elite athlete (even though I am not). But this time when I tried to do this, I was informed by an official (volunteer) that I could not be running in this area. Oops. I tried to protest a little (which isn’t like me), but I backed off and had to walk way around to get back to the area everyone was lining up. IMG_2447I’ll just give a short recap on this race since there wasn’t anything particularly exciting or different.

Overall, I had a very good race. I felt good and strong the entire race. The only frustrating part was the fact I never knew what my average pace was or lap time. My GPS was not picking up a good signal on the wooden trails at all during the entire race. (Guess I’m a little too dependent upon it.)

I thought I was running around a 6:45 minute/mile pace throughout much of the race, but unfortunately my overall pace was 6:55 minutes/mile. I am still very happy with this time, but I was really hoping to break 1:30, which I would have needed a pace of 6:50. It doesn’t seem like much, and I would have liked to think I could have run 5 seconds per mile faster, but I also push myself very hard. I did spend the entire day prior to the race unpacking and organizing, so I was on my feet a lot. I would have liked to rest more, but I also wanted to get everything unpacked before the work-week started.

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I was happy that I place 1st in my age group and 5th overall for the women. I can’t complain about that.

Picture prior to the race. The hat was a lifesaver in keeping the rain off my face.

IMG_2449This week I will wrap up a weekly mileage of about 80-82 miles. I was pretty exhausted on Monday and Tuesday but felt good during my 22 mile long run that I did today (Thursday) because I’m spending the weekend in San Francisco celebrating a friend’s 30th birthday!!

Catch you all later!

Hi, I'm Michelle

I love running around the lakes of Minnesota, running after my two boys, and racing anything from the 5K to the marathon. I have been blogging here since 2010 when I ran my first marathon. I finally secured my sub-3 hour marathon after trying for 8 years.

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3 Comments

  1. 8.23.13
    Sarah said:

    awesome job on the race! enjoy your trip 🙂

    p.s. i also swear by a hat in the rain. it makes running in the rain (which is my favorite thing ever) even better so the rain isn’t in my eyes. my purple nike hat is my fave 🙂

  2. 8.29.13
    Jill the Duchess said:

    I just found your blog through the Alaska Blog Network & I ran the Big Wild Life Marathon in the rain, probably ran right next to you! Love your blog – it’s inspiring to see another Alaskan lady running and eating right – I can learn from you!
    Also, I totally need to invest in cuter running clothes, you look great – wish I would’ve packed a hat for race day, rain was in my face all 26 miles! Happy I found your blog 🙂