Despite not training, I was getting antsy for a race and ready to start 2012 out right I signed up for the Mississippi Blues Half. George decided to join me, but it was a REALLY quick trip...as in fly in, grab my packet, crash, run, shower, fly out...barely 24 hours on the ground including packet pickup, sleeping, and running. But I was still looking forward to seeing George and to running again.
As soon as I got off the plane I was greeted by a race banner welcoming runners to Jackson (a tiny airport where this sort of thing is feasible).
I knew the majority of the folks on the plane were other runners just based on their conversations and duffle bags. One of them approached me at the taxi stand and asked to share a ride to the hotel, so we chatted on the way there about running. She was my first taste of "oh...you're JUST doing the half?" An atttitude I've not really encountered much through my races. I brushed her off, checked into the hotel, dumped by duffle bad, and headed the couple of blocks to the expo. The expo wasn't much more than 4 or 5 vendors with their tables set up and packet pickup. Again with the "just" the half attitude from the folks there as well. Not to be bothered I headed back to the hotel to wait for George (who's bus was delayed due to Carnival in New Orleans and college football games along the way) and to grab a quick dinner. During dinner (hotel restaurant) there were several runners and about the time I'd finished up a table of ladies right next to me invited me to join them thinking I was just starting. The conversation was good (races) so I joined for a bit and we all chatted about our favorite races, 50 state progress, and race wishlists. There were three of them and they'd obviously met in the hotel, airport, and/or expo and 2 quickly exposed their "just the half" attitudes. This was getting old quickly. I actually was beginning to feel like I needed to justify running "just the half"...I've never felt this way before. George finally arrived and we gracefully bowed out and headed to our room to catch up.
We had a great visit (albeit short) and after catching up a bit and laying out our stuff for the morning we flipped through the race day materials before bed. Even the race day materials advised "slower half marathon runners" to yield the right of way and move to the right for "faster marathon runners". I was a bit put out by this as it is typical race ettiquette and usually goes without saying. If someone is running twice the distance I am in the (or less) time than I am I certainly don't want to hold them up...I don't need a race director to tell me that. No time for hurt feelings though...we crashed for the night.
Race morning we walked the couple of blocks to the startline, said our good lucks and headed to the corrals. The field was small compared to other races we've run so there wasn't much in the way of startline hoopla.
Before we knew it we were off. George had mentioned he heard the course was hilly, but I didn't anticipate that much in the way of hills. I was feeling good so I just kept tackling them...and they just kept coming. I honestly don't think there was a single flat spot anywhere on that course! As soon as I crested one hill I was heading down, as soon as I hit bottom it was back up! They were by no means killer hills, but it was a constant rolling and I knew I was going to be feeling my legs after this one. Having not trained I got my mind locked on the challenge of beating the hills and refused to walk at all. I was having a strong race though so it wasn't a problem.
Around the halfway point I was snapped out of my zone by a large sign on the course instructing slower 1/2 runners to keep right and yield the right of way to faster full runners. I have NEVER seen a sign on a course like this and personally felt it was a bit of a slap to the 1/2 runners. I was beginning to get aggravated that this race was so obviously biased to the full and wonder why they even opened the field to a half, if we are this inferior why take our money? ...exactly...it's a business...it's all about the dollar.
I was still having a strong race, so I refused to let it get in my head and kept plugging along. As I came into the last 3/4 of a mile I was snapped out of my zone again, this time by a bike...I don't recall if it was a horn or a bell, but it was there quickly. I realized it was course support and moved right, then I immediately heard the bicyclist shouting to get out of the way for the marathoners. Over the last 3/4 mile I really don't know if I was more impressed by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place finishers of the full as they each strode past me or more aggravated at each cyclist that announced the first three and instructed us mere 1/2ers to get out of the way. Either way I bounded across the line in 2:23:40, collected my medal, and followed the herd to the finisher's tents. After a quick snack I headed to the hotel and showered then came back to wait and cheer George across the line. An hour or so later he showed up, the hills obviously affecting him as well, and I was there to snap a few pictures and cheer him on.
After his finish, a few fan photos, and a snack we headed back to the hotel to pack and head our separate ways. Again at the taxi stand a runner ask to share a cab and we headed to the airport.
All in all, the Blues was a good course with a decent amount of crowd support. There were ample fluid stops, but while the course map showed a GU stop I never did see any GU. I carry my own so it wasn't a problem and I may have somehow missed it, but I advise folks running it to take their own just in case. The course was well marked (better than any I've done yet) with signs indicating upcoming poor road conditions. The weather was great for a January race without the chill, the swag was neat (a blues CD and Blues harmonica), and the medal was great...
But if you are thin skinned or don't like having your accomplishments of a 13.1 miles belittled, this might not be the race for you. If you are content with your running and don't mind what others may think then I say go for it! Apparently a lot of folks use the Blues to check Mississippi off their lists for both the full and half 50 states club, which says a lot for the Blues. However, I was once again reminded of the fact that I was "just" running the half when a few days after the race the photos were posted...depsite having passed MANY photographers on the course there was literally only 1 photo of me...it was a finishline photo and I wasn't even crossing the line...it was well after I'd crossed, shut off the garmin, and was walking away.
I couldn't help but wonder if it was because I was "just" running the half...but that, of course, is just speculation on my part. Perhaps the photographers didn't notice the different bib colors and perhap, just maybe, it was purely chance so many of them had for whatever reason not pressed their shutter button as I passed. Bottom line, for me, I had a STRONG run despite the hills and I felt good about it, I got to visit with George briefly, I got a nice medal, and I checked off another state....20 states and 24 1/2s complete!
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