Polar Dash 14 miler race review & recap

So my goal for 2014 was setting out to do 1 organized race per month for the entire year.... this goal was escalated quickly to wanting to become a member of the Half Fanatics running group. To be a Half Fanatic you have to run 3 Half Marathons (or longer) in a 90 day time frame or 2 Half Marathons in a 16 day period.

My first Half Marathon of the year was the Polar Dash 14 miler. Yes I know what you're thinking, way to be an over achiever right out the gate. Believe me by mile 13 I was more than ready to be done, but I had to cross the finish line which was an additional mile away.

I signed up for this race because the fantastic crazy mom's in my group said it would be fun. These are famous last words and I should know to go the other way when they are spoken but I get sucked in every time. Actually I signed up because the half in December I had been training for was cancelled due to ice and I knew if I didn't sign up right then for another race I would never train to run a race again.

So Jan 25th I arrived at the race, it was a chilly day but not as cold as it had been. Plus the race organizers gave out super cute penguin hats and fleece jackets, so it made the cold more bearable.

I was doing pretty well for the first 6 miles, until I noticed the blisters starting on my left foot just under my big toe. I stopped to fix my sock and told the ladies I had been keeping up with to go on without me and I'd catch up. Well.... I never caught up but I did finish WAY behind them. The course was 3 loops, loops means you run the same course or portion of the course over and over. On the last loop I felt very alone. By mile 11 or maybe it was 12 I got to where I didn't see anyone. Seriously I didn't see another runner at all. By mile 13 the guys driving the golf cart tried to pick me up and drive me to the finish. If I had anything to throw at them I would have. I wasn't quitting with 1 mile left to go. I was being told I was the last runner on the course. ... turned out there were 4 people about 30 minutes behind me but I was the last supported runner meaning when I passed by the last water stop they packed up and shipped out. 

When I crossed the finish line a few of my awesome runner friends were there waiting for me. They seriously rock. After feeling so alone for those last few miles I immediately was happy again. Happy to be finished but happier to be finishing among friends.