Pre-Race
David and I arrived at the start area just after 6 a.m. I was wearing my cheese cowboy hat and cheese cape, and David was sporting a cheese fez and cheese bow tie, so we definitely stood out a bit. Several other runners asked if they could get their picture taken with us, and we happily obliged.
The weather was pretty close to ideal for running -- maybe just a tiny bit cool. I wore a long sleeved shirt under my yellow race shirt to ensure I would stay warm for the duration of the race. Despite the added air resistance from the hat and the cape, I was confident I could cross the line in four hours.
We took our place in the cheese corral with lots of other somewhat crazily-dressed people. For whatever reason, no one wanted to be in front of us, so when the race started at 7 a.m., we were clearly visible in the start photo that appeared on the front of the sports page in the Kenosha News the next day. Nice.
The Early Going
The excitement of race day always gets you going a little faster than goal pace in the first mile. We were targeting 9:09/mile, which would result in a four-hour marathon for me and a two-hour half marathon for David. I took a position ever so slightly behind David in the first mile, just to keep him from going any faster. We reached the one mile mark in 9:00, just a tiny bit ahead of pace.
I came up right alongside David as we eased into the second mile. There were lots of spectators as we cruised through downtown Kenosha, which always makes things more exciting. My parents were out on the course, videotaping and providing me with drinks, sport beans, and energy gels when necessary. I saw a few more familiar faces, including Pastor Dean, the senior pastor at Kenosha Bible Church.
David and I finished the second mile in 9:10.
Change of Plans
David and I planned to stay together on the course for the first 12 miles, at which point the half marathoners turn back to the finish while the full marathoners head further south. Not only could we enjoy the race together, but we could help each other stay on track to finish in a combined six hours or less.
During the third mile, we had to change our plans. At about the 2.1-mile mark, I was pushing along steadily at goal pace. I suddenly realized that David was falling behind. Not wanting to drop him this early in the race, I slowed to 9:30/mile, then to 9:45/mile, then to 10:00/mile pace. Nearing the three-mile mark, I slowed to a walk until David caught up to me.
We chatted for a while, keeping the pace easy. I was relieved to hear that David hadn't pulled a muscle or anything like that. For whatever reason, fatigue had set in pretty early. With about $100 in bonus pledges on the line (for finishing under a combined six hours), we decided that I should push ahead. Hopefully David could hang in there and stay strong for a solid finish.
Moving Right Along
For the next several miles, I ran slightly faster than goal pace to get back on track. I felt pretty good as I reached the north turnaround point, near Carthage College, which was just past the 7.5 mile mark. I headed south for several minutes before seeing David, still making his way north. There was still a smile on his face as he waved at me, so I knew we were still in good shape.
I was feeling pretty good at this point. I made a quick pit stop during mile nine, and I began my usual routine of a serving of sport beans or energy gel every couple of miles. As the course ventured back into the downtown area, there were once again large numbers of spectators, so that helped me along. I also saw my parents at the 11-mile mark. I grabbed some rations from them, as they would be heading to the finish area to see David complete his half marathon.
I kept it going past the half marathon turnaround point. The wind seemed to be helping me as I continued south, so I tried to conserve energy for the final seven miles, during which I'd be heading north with a wind in my face. I arrived at the halfway point in 1:59:22, just a bit ahead of my goal pace.
The Quieter Side
Things definitely got a bit more "serious" after the half marathon turnaround point. While there were still spectators, it was more subdued than the earlier parts of the race. The big question on my mind -- with David likely finishing in more than two hours, should I try and speed up to make up the time? I didn't feel tired at this point, but I also didn't feel super-energized. I kept things right around goal pace through mile 20.
At mile 18, cheers from my wife and five month-old daughter tremendously raised my spirits. Jenelle, who hand-made my cape and David's bow tie, had also made a miniature cape for Eliana. My baby girl was absolutely adorable in her blue hooded sweatshirt with the cape attached in the back. I stopped for a moment to take a picture of them before continuing on my way.
Zooming to the Finish
I learned that David finished the half marathon in 2:22:14. I knew that I couldn't make up 22 minutes of time, but I still hoped to record a good time. Despite a wind in my face, I tried to pick things up in the final 6.2 miles. I averaged 9:02/mile for miles 21-23. I saw my parents, Jenelle, Eliana, and David at mile 22, who gave me the extra encouragement I needed to finish strong.
I dropped the hammer in miles 24-26, turning in splits turned in splits of 8:07 (!!), 8:38, and 8:37. It took me just 1:39 to cover the remaining .22 miles to reach the line in 3:56:22.
Post-Race Fun
David and I each enjoyed beer and bratwurst in the finish area. A few more runners came by to take pictures of us. It's fun to feel like a celebrity for a little while. Back home, we enjoyed plenty of pizza and other snacks to celebrate our successful finishes. David's brother, Adam, along with his family, made the trip up from Illinois to party with us.
Another great race in the books!
| Miles 1-5 | 9:00 | 9:10 | 10:28 | 9:03 | 8:52 |
| Miles 6-10 | 8:58 | 8:53 | 9:01 | 9:09 | 9:01 |
| Miles 11-15 | 8:42 | 8:58 | 8:50 | 9:06 | 9:06 |
| Miles 16-20 | 9:21 | 9:07 | 9:14 | 9:08 | 9:05 |
| Miles 21-25 | 8:48 | 9:05 | 9:12 | 8:07 | 8:38 |
| Miles 26-End | 8:37 | 1:39 |
- Finish Time: 3:56:22
- Average Pace: 9:01/mile
- First half: 1:59:22 Second half: 1:57:00
- Fastest Mile: #24 (8:07) Slowest Mile: #3 (10:28)
- Race Photos
