Monday, April 6, 2009

Race for Roses Half Marathon Report

Sunday was a perfect day for a half marathon in Portland! Last time I met up with the Portland Bloggers and Joggers (PB&J) gals, they convinced me I needed to run the Races to Roses half marathon. I'm a sucker for running races so it really didn't take much for me to be convinced. Especially it only cost $40 and also the proceeds were going to Albertina Kerr Center, a local Portland non-profit that "works with children who have emotional or mental health challenges, individuals with developmental disabilities, and their families".

Race for Roses wasn't just ANY half marathon for me. It was my first race as a pacer and for Alisa. I was a bit concerned because my hip has been bothering me for a few weeks now... Not sure if it's my IT band or sciatica nerve or the hip socket. Sometimes, it feels like all 3 of them hurt at the same time. Last Sunday, I had planned on a very hilly 18 miler and around my 10th mile, my hip flared up so badly, I had to tell my hubby who was out riding his bike on my run to go back and get the car. It was that painful. Discouraged, I had taken the whole week off and only went out on Saturday to make sure I could even run! Fortunately, Saturday's 6 miler proved I could indeed run. I took it easy and ran 6 miles at about 9:10 pace. It felt good to run after a week off.

I flew up pretty late Saturday night and when I got to their guest bedroom, my awesome race shirt and bib was sitting on the bed! (Hello, a small tech shirt? I love this race!! I normally wear a medium or sometimes large. Ugh!)

The next morning around 5am, we downed some toast with peanut butter and yummy French press coffee (the best way to drink coffee ever) and headed out to the race. One thing I really loved about this race is that the race starts right outside the Portland convention center so you can actually wait inside the center. The weather was perfect but still, a little chilly at 6:30am...

Here's Alisa and me. Yeah, she's tall. And well, I'm short. Her new nickname is Giraffe. I'll tell you in a little bit.
I was told the route would be pretty flat... but, it wasn't! There were couple of challenging hills but that also meant fast downhills. So, granted the hills in Portland are nothing like the hills in SF but a hill is a hill, nonetheless!

Oh, we also ran (literally) into Cindy around mile 4... She was doing the half marathon as part of her training run for her Vancouver Marathon in a few weeks. She was going to run another 7 miles after the race! Yes, she really does have sexy legs in real life! ;-)

Alisa did super well for the first half... she went out strong and ran it faster than her normal pace. But of course, I know first hand what a fast start does to you... She did slow down in the second half but she pulled off a strong race. I definitely had to pull a drill sargent act once or twice but Alisa was definitely motivated to PR on Sunday. She definitely didn't give up. I admire you spirit Alisa. I know another huge PR is waiting for you around the corner. Maybe RnR SD?? :-)

I told Alisa I would make her sprint near the finish... and she did. When the finish line was in sight, she took thoses long long legs and sprinted past me. It was like a giraffe graces whizzed by me. I had no chance. I was the hippopotamus!!! So that's how she got her new nickname on Sunday. The Giraffe.

Oh, btw, she did PR. By 11 minutes! Alisa's official half marathon finish time is 2:27:04!!! I came in a second later according to the official chip time. I know I was there to encourage Alisa for those 13.1 miles but really, it was ALL Alisa. Congrats on your PR, Alisa. You totally deserve it!!

Here's our group photo... Sarah, Mr. Pi (aka Alisa's hubby who drove us to the race and cheered for us, what a sweetie), Alisa, Amy, Emily and moi.

Here's the PB&J girls all cleaned up! You can read more Race for Roses race reports on their blog, too! They all ran excellent races on Sunday!
Amy, Jen, Alisa, Emily and me. Sarah was running a little late. :-)
This is how *I* celebrated after the race!
And then some more!

Here is my favorite photo from the race... The Hippo and the Giraffe.

One last thing, I also ran my half marathon for Tim and Jeannine Oberholzer. Jeanine passed away on Saturday from Cystic Fibrosis... Here's my finisher rose from the race and the medal that I dedicate to them.

31 comments:

  1. Great race report! Sounds like you guys had a fun time

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  2. I'm glad you were able to run without any aches & pains. Sounds like a fun time with friends and those blossoms look so pretty! Sorry for the loss of your friend, though :-(

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  3. Julianne, great job helping Alisa PR. I am sure your support was amazing.

    I am sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. I think it was a very sweet gesture to dedicate the race to her.

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  4. Great race, Julianne! That was so awesome that you helped Alisa run such an awesome race (and dedicated such a nice thing to your friend). I loved both of your race reports.

    You and Alisa look like me and my running buddy. She's 6' (obviously, not Korean), and we're the Korean hippopotami. Hahaha, oh well. Hippopotami are known to run really fast.Yeah! In Chicago, let's be team Hippopotamus!

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  5. Great job on your awesomeness all around - pacing Alisa and dedicating your HM to Tim & Jeanine.

    Next thing you call yourself a hippo, I'm gonna have to fly over there & beat you up.

    Great race!

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  6. Nice race, and even nicer dedication.

    Glad you guys had a good time. Sounds like you did a fine job on the pacing

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  7. congrats, you did such a great job supporting so many others with you running!!! definitely a feel good race :)

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  8. Congratulations! Sounds like a great race. And your friend may be a giraffe, but you are NOT a hippo!

    I love that you got a rose at the finish.

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  9. Great Race Julianne! Its sooo nice of you to run with others to be a pacer and encourage them! Your soo sweet!! That is a beautiful picture of the two of you running! Great job!

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  10. What a great cause. Awesome race report. I get more out of races where I pace friends and cheer people on than I do out of my own races some times. :o)

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  11. So nice to run for a good cause. Great job with the races and blogger meet ups. I just told Emily that you're famous! Meeting tons of bloggers!

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  12. That's a beutiful dedication.

    Good job pacing your girl to an 11 minute PR. I know it's all her, but props to you as well!

    Great pics and sounds like you all had fun.

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  13. Awwwwww....thanks chica! You are NOT a HIPPO! How about a fox...they are strong, fast and shorter than a Giraffe?

    I wouldn't have had such a strong finish if it weren't for you! You were the perfect amount of drill seargant-y! I just hope I didn't kill all your dreams of being a pacer =). I'm tempted to sign up for the SFM and join the 4:45 group =)...since I know you'll be pacing.

    I hope your hip issue continues to heal...can't wait to read about all of your other upcoming races!

    Thanks for helping me smash my PR! You're the best!

    And, yes, I hope to have a BIG PR in RnR SD...hopefully all the ROHO girls will still be around to watch me finish.

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  14. So your hip felt okay on Sunday despite the hills? Hope whatever it is appreciated the rest & doesn't return. Great job pacing-- I want you to be my pacer! You may be short but those are fast legs.

    And, while hippos are actually one of my favorite animals-- I think they're awesome and can watch them for hours-- they are huge and slow-moving and you are by no means a hippo!

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  15. Great job on the race...i think pacing is harder than racing. i ran my first half marathon basically as a pacer person for my friend and it was fun to see her accomplish it and finish strong!

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  16. It was so good to see you & you did a great job pacing!

    I want to hire you for my next race, now! :)

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  17. look at you 2 trucking u that f*ing ramp! when u guys passed me i saw your hat (something on the back about san fran) and i was so excited! i did spend a sec giving you guys a good look to make sure i wasn't about to touch some random people on their backs. i agree with joy, you are totally filled with awesomeness!! that is such a cool and generous thing to do. and your dedication really touched me.

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  18. Great race report and photos. You were an awesome pacer! Congratulations and I'm glad you enjoyed the scenery.

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  19. great report as always julianne :) you were an awesome pacer!!!! congrats on another great race finish :)

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  20. It's so great that you paced Alisa to such a strong finish! I read her report, too, and it just sounds like you two had such a good day. yay!

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  21. Great race report... and what a tribute to Jeanine. I love that picture of you two going up the ramp! :) So fun. I want to be paced or be a pacer!!! Someone hire me. ha ha. :) Can't wait to meet up with you at SDRNR

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  22. I am not here to congratulate you on another great race or for being such a kick-ass pacer, etc.

    I am here to yell at you.

    How dare you call my sweet, wonderful and beautiful friend a hippopatumus????? My dear friend who runs all sorts of races for all sorts of great causes, who gives so much of her time to others?

    That is absolutely not okay and if you do it again, I will yell at you in person. This is your first warning.

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  23. 1st of all great race as a 1st time pacer!!! getting in some practice before SD :) 2nd of all do not refer to yourself as a hippo ever again!!!!!!!

    glad you hip is feeling better :)

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  24. Ditto to Maritza's comment!!!


    BUT I do want to congratulate you on a great race and being an awesome pacer. :) And that was very sweet about your race dedication to your friend - so sorry for your loss but this a beautiful way to honor her.

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  25. The shirt is adorable!!!

    Sounds like fun!

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  26. Dang me and my lateness! But I was having a weird day :) I loved those migas though. Yummy!!

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  27. Sounds like a great experience - way to go!

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  28. Yay for your great pacer skills!

    Alisa is a giraffe but you are NO hippo! It's funny 'cause I think when ShoeRunning and I run together I must look like such a shorty!! Haha!

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  29. It was so great to meet you and share Persephones with you! I can't wait for your next trip up here. Hopefully I'll be getting down to SF soon, I have a new project starting down there soon.

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  30. Congrats on your first gig as a pacer!! You did great.

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  31. CONGRATS ladies! How awesome that you got to pace Alisa! Man you ladies kicked some serious A!!

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