Waddell and Reed Kansas City Marathon Report

I wasn't sure if a half marathon was in the cards for me because of the lack of any real miles put in this summer but I sent my entry in early this summer and felt that maybe I would be able to handle a decent training run. Turns out that I was able to do it. It wasn't pretty but I got it done.

This year, instead of starting the race 10 minutes late, I skidded in sideways with two minutes to spare! I was able to locate Herb at the 9:00 minute pace marker and off we went (my Garmin didn't even have a signal yet!) There were a record 8,000 + runners starting out in the chilled, dark morning and it still only took a minute for us to cross the timing mats. Herb and I went out fast for the first mile and then settled into a nice 8:45 pace before reaching the Liberty Memorial hill. By then the sun was up and the work was just beginning. I continued to resist the urge to go fast on the straits and that is a really good thing because by mile 9, my hips started to seize up and Herb basically had to cajole my dead carcass all the way to the finish. He could have taken off and shaved 5 or 6 more minutes off of his own time and won his age group but chose to stick with me for the duration. Would I have done the same for someone else...?? Let me think... naaawwww!

I really like the KC 1/2 Marathon course. You get to see the best of this city, the views are amazing and so are the volunteers and multitudes of spectators. The run down the hill into the Plaza was a lot of fun and at the relay point Janice was there to let the crowd know that a fast moving sand crab (me) was coming! Maria was there at miles 9 and 10 with dog and signage. At mile 11 or so, we were met with a gorgeous view a foggy KC skyline as we crested the hill that led us into the jazz district. By mile 12, Herb had to coax me into a better mind-frame (I was definitely in the Bite Me zone) for the finish and then let me truck on by him at the very end... wow, now that is friendship!

The finish line festival was crowded and a little more claustraphobic this year but that is to be expected as this race continues to grow. I only have one complaint - why is it so impossible to get a cup of coffee at this or any other running event??? End of complaint!
We then met up with Maria and made a beeline for the Coffee Girls on Southwest Blvd to get warm and a coffee buzz!

Yes, it is time for me to go back to work on endurance.