11/23- Cleveland Fall Classic Half Marathon 1:51.25






What could be better than running 13.1 miles???!!!?? running 13.1 miles when at the start of the race it's 11 degrees LOL! Yeah..it was a little nuts, but I have to be honest and say I was actually hot running the race! I had three top layers on and two bottom layers!






This was my first time running this race held by the Cleveland West Road Runners Club. It was about an hour and twenty minute drive in Strongsville,OH and when we got there the parking was a mess! I don't think it matters when you get there, the parking here is just bad! There is a parking lot about half of a mile away..well darn..you're already running 13.1 miles..who wants to add another mile!! So..we didn't park there and we entered Bonnie picnic park area and we were told we couldn't park here either. We weren't about to go back to the other parking area so we saw others pulling onto the shoulders of the roads inside the park! so we did it too..they certainly weren't going to tow all of us!






At check in, you get the much talked about mock long sleeve running shirts! They are pretty sharp!! Bathrooms are limited for the 900 plus people participating. I recommend stopping before you get there if possible! The start is about 400 meters from check in. It is an out and back/out and back loop on a bike trail. It was nice and flat, which i thought I would enjoy..due to the 13 plus miles..but I have to say I missed the diversity! I had run two halfs before this one..both in Mill Creek park in Youngstown..there are definitely ups and downs there! So..make sure you have your IPOD ready..it can get a bit boring out there!! Unfortunately, I opted for no ipod due to the big bulky gloves I had to wear and boy did i wish i had a little backstreet boys or britney at mile 10,11,12....






The course was marked nicely..mile markers at every mile..a couple water stops..it was so cold the water was like a slushy haha! There was also a stand around 9 miles that had some Gu's! I got down a couple mouthfuls of that and felt a little better. You run out to Rt 82 and turn around at the start and do it all over! The turn around at the start is nice! A lot of people are there..(there aren't a lot out on course!) The course was really icy in spots....






I was doing pretty strong through 6-7 miles..really hit a wall around 9-10-11..again music might have helped! I ended up winning my age divison. My time was 1:51.25 eclipsing my previous best 1/2 by about 6 mins. I really wanted to run 1:45..hopefully next year it won't be so cold and I can hit that mark..I averaged 8:30 pace. They hand out their awards as you come through the finish! Great idea! Plaque was very pretty..had the park's fall foliage on it!






Post race food is very good..the hot chocolate tastes marvelous..ahh felt so good going down!! they have muffins,cookies,pasta and meatballs, gatorade..fruit! Very nice!!






Great half to wind the season down..hopefully it's a little warmer next year. I hope to do the Spring version of this event for 2009! Goal time for next year 1:45

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