Half Marathon!

AWWW MAN!  After months of training and hours of pounding pavement, we finished Moab's 'The Other Half' half marathon this Sunday!  Hells yeah!  My legs are jello right now, but I still feel like a TANK.  Awesome.

I've run two other half marathons before, but this has got to be the classiest and most professional.  The Other Half has it all -- great support staff, generous swag, and a route that takes you through some of the most scenic landscapes in Utah.  The course runs along the Colorado River on Highway 128 for 13.1 miles from Dewey Bridge to Sorrel River Ranch (check out the course map.)  The rockstar scenery glides by like a best-of-Moab checklist:  Fisher Towers, Castle Rock, and the La Sal Mountains.

starting line!

  
About 1500 runners were shuttled to Dewey Bride for the 8:30 AM start.  It was a classically gorgeous fall day -- mid-60s and sunny.  I definitely wasn't running to break any landspeed records, but I felt strong and solid.  Traffic was closed down along the road so we could relax and enjoy the scenery.  Aid stations every 2 miles were stocked with drinks, goos, and snacks.  The killer hill at mile 8 kicked my ass, but the Taiko Drummers at mile 12 were incredible.  Their beating drums were really motivating, and we picked up the pace as we ran the last downhill mile to the finish line.  

The finish was runner's heaven.  We were handed free beers from the Moab Brewery, then shuffled to the grass and zonked out to watch live music, raffle drawings, and the awards ceremony.  Perfect.  :)

Beers at the finish!

medal / bottle opener