Mile By Mile, Still Wearing a Smile... :)

My headline is cheesy, I understand that... but I just got back my photos from the race, and I am smiling and waving at the camera. I generally look awesome. Besides, I just completed the "World's Cheesiest Race," and I suppose some of that rubbed off on me.

We arrived in Kenosha after about an hour's drive from Arlington Heights. Parking was a breeze, and we walked to the start line. Speaking of breezes, it was REALLY windy, and I'm glad that I'm wearing a long-sleeved t-shirt and pants. (While I will ditch my pants for shorts once the race begins, I am VERY grateful that I didn't leave my pants in the car.)

It's in the mid-40s, and the sun is just starting to peek out. Not a cloud in the sky. It's going to be a gorgeous day, so long as the wind dies down. While I've been training in heinous winds for the past 2 months, that still doesn't mean that I like them. At all.

At precisely 8am, the gun goes off, and away we go! (Note: In a strange twist of fate, the beginning of the race was a blur, and the end of the race is what I remember most. Go figure.)

Mile 1: This is easily the weirdest part of the course. As I found out later in the day, the course was actually remeasured about 2 days before the race, and they added this weird loop downtown around the museums. It would have been awesome, but you went past the start, like, 5 minutes after you had begun the race.

I feel good so far- the best part about the smaller races is that there really aren't a tremendous amount of people around. It's not crowded. I have room to move. Also, kudos to the volunteers who made the start corral a breeze. It seems like people actually paid attention to the markers, and I don't have to speed around any walked. It looks like they all started in the back of the pack.

Of course, due to the lack of toilets before the race, I have to go now. Before the mile marker. It is, however, now or never.

My mile ends up being around 11:30. Not bad for a first mile with a potty break. I think I am going to speed up just a tad to make up some of that time.

Mile 2: We turn a corner and I can smell the lake. (Water is NOT odorless, people!) It's a gorgeous day and I can't wait til we are running alongside the lake. The views are incredible. We turn another corner and I hit a wall- a wind wall. Dammit, I guess the wind is not going to cooperate! Thank God I've been running outside since February...

We are now passing HUGE, gorgeous lakefront homes. I think I could live there. It's perfect. Aside from the potholes that I keep stepping in, argh. I hope that clears up soon!

Mile 3: More running through the residential neighborhood. There are still TONS of potholes. And oddly enough, there are no spectators. I mean, we're literally running in front of people's houses, you'd think they might want to come out? Very different from Little Rock, where there were people EVERYWHERE. Oh well, it's only the first year.

We pass another aid station, and again I take water. I'm a little scared of the HEED sports drink, as I have never tried it before.

Mile 4: This stretch of road seems to take forever. We were running alongside a cemetary, and now we're onto the back end of the medical buildings. La la la. It's getting kind of boring. I also feel like the course isn't measured correctly. Either that, or the mile markers are not placed right. It seems like this "mile" is equivalent to about 1.5. Very frustrating. As is the lack of aid stations. I am getting parched, and I literally have no idea when we'll get water again.

Mile 5: We're into downtown! Yay! Hopefully there will be more people and more things to look at.

We pass a Walgreens... how I am dying for a Gatorade at this very moment...

I scan the crowd of spectators, but still do not see Jay. Where is he? He's gotta be around here somewhere...

We continue on through downtown, and there are tons of bars and restaurants, but still not a whole lot of people. So weird. We go up a bridge and pass the U.S. Coast Guard Station. I did not know there was a base in Kenosha. Well then, you learn something new every day.

We're now in the gorgeous lakefront park, where we will get to run right alongside the lake for about 5 miles. I think to myself, when we are coming back out of this park, the race is almost done! That's not so bad at all!

Mile 6: But I'll tell you what IS bad... the potholes! Argh, they have come back to haunt me! But this park is so nice and well-kept, albeit lonely. There is absolutely no one out on the course except for us runners. Luckily I have my ipod to keep my company.

Oh no... there are hills! And not just hills, ROLLING hills. While they are not as intense as Little Rock, they're still there. I hate hills. I didn't know southeast Wisconsin had such hills. Thank God I have been reading up on hill training lately, and I know not to fly down the downhills. I really don't want my legs to be TOO sore later on. I have a feeling that I will be walking up the hills on the way back...

Mile 7: I'm in a weird position right now. I feel awesome, and I am right on pace to smash my Little Rock PR. But I am just so dang bored. La la la. And anxiously awaiting the turnaround. I know it's coming, but I can't see it yet. I can, however, see the leaders of the race coming the other way down the path. Runners on my side clap and cheer for them. They are so far ahead, and running great. I do enjoy races where you get to see the leaders. In some ways that's the part of Chicago that I miss. (I understand why Chicago doesn't do that, but I would like it just the same.)

More and more people are starting to come back around. We must be close. I glance to my right and see Carthage College looming. I'm thirsty again. Where is the water station?

Ah the turnaround. Manned by the Kenosha PD and a couple of volunteers. There's not much, but there is water, and boy it sure tastes good.

Mile 8: It's starting to get a little warm out here. The lake breeze is keeping my clothes dry, but even with my hat on, I can still feel a sunburn making its way onto my face. Oh well. I console myself by remembering that this race is more than most people run in a week. I am doing something good.

I stop and walk for a little bit, just to rest. I'm way ahead of my pace, so I have a couple of minutes to spare.

Ugh, more hills. I think I'll walk up these too. I've got plenty of time to spare. I actually want to conserve a little energy so that I am able to finish strong. I already realize that I went out a bit too fast. I was too excited and ambitious today.

Mile 9: Finally, finally, FINALLY there's another aid station! Except that instead of water, they only have the HEED drink. It's now or never, and I AM thirsty. Oh God. It's vile. It's terrible. I can't drink this. I spit out my sip and throw the cup on the ground. I hope I am never dumb enough to sign up for another race with that as a refreshment. So now I have a terrible taste in my mouth AND I'm thirsty. But I'm still running.

I check my watch and realize that quite a significant amount of time has passed. Was there a mile marker for #9? If there was, I didn't see it. Hmm...

Mile 10: Oh no. I have heard horror stories from other runners about the "runs." To date, it has never happened to me before. Until now. I feel like I'm dying. I have just slowed way, way down. Where are the toilets? Seriously, I don't remember having seen a port-o-john since downtown Kenosha. And now we're in the middle of the part. I'm starting to panic. I am contemplating taking a swim in Lake Michigan. I'm getting desperate.

And then, just ahead, a beacon. Hope. Not only is the mile 10 marker right there (way too close to my fake Mile 9 marker), but there's a park district house. With toilets. That are open. Thank God.

I take care of my business, only losing 2 minutes. Once I begin running again, it's as if I've lost 10 pounds. I'm lighter. Less than 3 miles to go, and I'm ready for it.

Mile 11: We exit the park the exact same way we came. Down the big hill, up another hill (which I walk), past the Coast Guard, and over the bridge. Turn the corner, and we're into downtown. I spot a man on the corner drinking a Gatorade. An orange Gatorade, my favorite. I think at this point I could sell my kidney for a sip of that stuff.

The mile marker leads us to another aid station. I'm still well ahead of my pace, but going out too fast is slowly creeping up on me.

As I stop to drink my water, I spot a familiar face. It's Jay! Apparently the race officials had the course remeasured 2 days ago. So all of the maps that were printed were wrong. Which means that Jay has been wandering around downtown Kenosha for almost 2 hours looking for me. Poor guy!

I tell him, "It's PR day, baby" and run away.

Mile 12: More covering parts of the course we already ran. Someone runs in front of me. I am ready to clock them. Haha.

Best sign ever: "Running is like mouthwash... if it burns, that means it's working."

After the weird turnaround, we're headed towards the lake once again. I can see the Start/Finish area. A man standing on the road cheering for everyone tells us that it's just over a quarter mile to go from where he's standing. It's Britney time.

Mile 13: I am FLYING down the road. I have so much energy left (maybe I should have been walking before... hmm... ) that I am all-out sprinting. I wave at Jay and smile for the camera. As I take the last turn into the finish line, I reach down for one last burst and pass 2 guys finishing the race. 2:11:38. A new PR. And just think, if I didn't have to take 2 bathroom breaks, I'd be under 2:10. My body is capable of great things.