Hospital Hill Half Marathon Race Report
I’m still on a bit of a high from Saturday’s race! I can’t believe how awesome I felt during the Hospital Hill Half and that I was able to run the last two miles as my fastest (by quite a bit)! Two things had a big play in that: the weather and hill work.
I didn’t bother checking the forecast the morning of the race. I knew every day of our Kansas City (KC) trip called for sun and a low in the high 60s/low 70s and highs in the high 80s/low 90s. I figured I was going to be running in full on sun with a lovely side of humidity. Imagine my surprise when it was, yes, hella humid at the start, but overcast! Clouds covered the entire sky! Hallelujah! Even though I had sweat dripping down my arms by mile 1, I was grateful there was no sun in the sky.
And then what was that we felt around mile 7? Rain drops? Woo hoo! It started as a gentle rain then got a bit heavier, never a downpour, and never enough to make it so I couldn’t see (I didn’t expect it and didn’t have my visor… but I did have my sunglasses, which I handed off at mile 5!). But enough to keep me cooler and was it my imagination, or did it make it feel like it was less humid? I was a very happy camper, running in the rain.
Rain, rain, rain
And on to dem hills.
The elevation chart makes it look more scary, but it felt more like this:
We don’t have hills like this where I live, but we do have inclines. As you know, I ran hill repeats and hilly long runs every week, for a month, leading up to the race. Even though they were nothing like what I’d be running, I hoped they’d help, and I think they did.
During the race, the hills didn’t feel very challenging IF I remembered not to chat with Gina while I was running up them! Ha! And not to follow any instincts to drink (water… although, some people did set up a beer aid station!) or fuel. Sure, I was out of breath when I got to the top of some hills, but none really made me hate the race or wish it was over. In fact, the race went by really quickly! Too quickly! (Although, we had so much on our schedule for Saturday, I’m happy we ran the pace we did, ha)
Let’s start the race on an uphill! Woot woot!
But… the truth is I definitely would not be this cheerful about it had it not been overcast then rained. So I’m VERY grateful for that – especially when it was incredibly hot and sunny for the rest of the trip.
And I’m so grateful this was my first race of the year with Gina (and her first Missouri race)! It was a birthday gift from me (wanna see your friends?! sign them up for races in other states, ha!) and a chance for us to do a race for fun – no time goals. I just wanted to finish strong (we did!) and was actually pretty surprised our finish time averaged under 10:00 minute miles (I figured I would be slower, not Gina) at 2:09:49.
Apparently, they timed us on certain hills – fun!
The reason we chose to do this race is schedule related. I had asked Gina and fam if they wanted to go to KC the first weekend in June and spectate at the half iron man Andrew, Will and I did in 2013 (I know, what a fun thing to invite someone to do, ha!). Lo and behold, that race was canceled for the year, BUT! The Hospital Hill run series, with a Friday night 5K (and option for an additional medal if you do that with a Saturday race), and Saturday am 10K and Half Marathon was going on. And it turned out it was the only weekend in June that worked with my schedule. So let’s do this random race! I signed myself and Gina up for the half, and Andrew signed up as well.
Now that I’ve done the race, I am surprised I haven’t heard rave reviews of it before! It has a fun expo with quite a few vendors, plenty of race parking/porta potties, clear communication (errr, minus the race website being down Friday night), tons of water/Gatorade stops (filled my bottle up almost every time), a great course that goes through downtown/a campus/residential/by the plaza/by the WWI Memorial/and yes – by several hospitals, HUGE medals, a cool shirt and flip flops, and a post pancake breakfast (that we missed – that’s what happens when the bib tab says “BBQ” lol).
The Liberty Memorial in background (not me, but you get the idea)
There weren’t many spectators, but the ones who were there rocked – many fun signs, and offers of candy, oranges and tissues. It was so funny to see the Kleenex guy out there with an umbrella in one hand covering him and the tissues while he ran with people to make sure they got one without slowing down. I’m always appreciate of spectators, volunteers and police course marshals, but even more on a rainy day (or in any cray weather).
And we had our own spectators! Steven, his dad, Steve, Luca and my dad saw us around mile 5, mile 9, and at the finish. It’s so great to see your peeps and awesome that they wait just to see us for a few seconds! It makes me feel very loved and honestly, want to perform better!
This is definitely a race I’d do again. And I’d like to try the 5K the night before then the half (which they call the Re-Run). We’re already planning on making this an annual trip! And I know it likely won’t have this fantastic weather again. Ha! Maybe more of us will do events next year though!
A few other randoms:
- We got lots of compliments on our flowers! I actually saw another gal with a orange Fellow Flower. Gina joked that I should go run with her, since she was my real bestie, ha.
- This race actually started 5 mins early. When does that happen? Ha!
- About 5,000 people did the 10K and Half. It was never too crowded but it was nice when the 10Kers split off.
- I liked that the course was a long, skinny rectangle. I like course maps I can visualize in my head and that don’t go by the finish until it’s time to finish.
- There were a few drummers on the course! The last set were on the top of the one really steep short hill – it encouraged me to get up faster.
- Gina and I saw two girlfriends with matching tattoos (a symbol for friendship). Hmm, that’s an idea…
- I made this post sound like the entire race was completely pain-free but I did have an upset stomach a few times due to cramps. The kind of cramps you can’t do anything about if you get my drift, ha!
- It was so fun to have this time with Gina to chat away! It’s truly a treat to have that one-on-one time with her (most of our time together is in group settings, which I also love, but, ya know, sometimes you want your bestie ALL TO YOURSELF).
- It’s kind of funny the last two races Gina and I have done have ended with rain. Fine with me!
- This race had FREE pics! Schweet! If I would have known… I would have made an effort to find the photogs and smile. Ha. Usually I just ignore them and look for Steven.
- This race had a virtual goodie bag – I really like when events do that and don’t give you a bunch of unwanted paper at the expo!
- And I don’t even know how to explain this, but the race director sent out some goofy emails that really made me laugh (one example – channel your inner Pac-Man for the race, ha) – it’s fun when the race emails have a sense of humor in them!
Themocracy
I’ve seen this race blowing up all over the half fanatics FB page so it must be a good one. Nice job running those hills. Buying ur friend a half entry…how awesome are you, best friend ever!!! Well maybe only a runner would think that lol. I love the flip flops, it’s always nice to get extras. The humidity is what kills me but I agree rain helps. Running in WV this weekend hoping it’s cooler there. Maybe I’ll see you at this one next year 🙂
Funny, I didn’t see many half fanatics shirts… I wonder if I even saw one? I guess I was too busy noticing who wore the race shirt to the race 🙂
LOL! Race entries are common gifts from me, lol 🙂
I have it on my calendar for next year! Let me know if you do too!
Omg finisher flip flops?? Need. Awesome. (Oh and nice race too)
Nice job! Glad you had a great race. Another blogger friend of mine, Kerry, just ran this race too and I got tired just reading about all those hills in her recap! I think it’s so interesting to hear about the same race from different points of view.
I love the flip flops! I wish more races would give out gifts other than tshirts. We all have enough of those already!
Is she the Yoga on the Run, or something with Yoga in the title blogger? I think I saw her post, too! She was going for sub 1:50 or 1:55 or something, right? No gracias, on this course.
The flip flops were perfect after the race too, cause my shoes were soaking wet 🙂
Yup that was her! She’s a fighter, but yeah, I can’t imagine trying to PR on a such a hilly course! I’m such a big baby about hills
I’ve been to KC and only remember one hill through a neighborhood. It’s amazing how a race can find them all.
It would be hard for a race in KC NOT to have hills unless it was run on one of the flat trails! KC is a hilly place!
Flip flops and pancakes? Could it get any better? Count me in! It’s very cool they time the hills. I do think it becomes less humid when it rains!! Congrats on a great finish time on a hilly course!
Flip flops! What a genius idea! Oh man, I hope other races catch wind of that and start doing it, because I would l.o.v.e. post-race flip flops.
Congrats on your race! Seriously, is there anything better than overcast conditions? I’m so grateful when I don’t have to deal with the sun during a race. And I think you’re spot on about rain cutting the humidity – I went for a run a couple weeks ago where it was SUPER humid, and once it started to rain it felt way, way better — except for the additional five pounds I felt like I was carrying due to everything being soaked 😛
I think it’s a great idea too! It’s nice to get something other than a shirt from time to time (and in this case, in addition to the shirt!).
Thanks! And yes for overcast running conditions… that is what I prefer all the time! I am hoping that we have some of that in our upcoming forecast, ha ha! As long as I don’t chafe because of the rain, I am cool with it!
I lovvvvve racing in the rain, it always feels wonderful no matter the temps. Overcast and rainy are good half ingredients, and sounds like you rocked it – great job!
I think I would be too intimidated to sign up for a race that has Hill in the name, but it looks like a great race. And the medals are enormous!
Thanks! I really like racing in the rain, too! And running in it! Just have to remember to have a towel waiting for me wherever I plan to stop my run, ha ha!
I was actually more excited about running this hilly race than WI this year! I think I wanted a different challenge. It was fun to do hill repeats each week – I am not sure I had ever done them more than once or twice!
Finisher flip flops?! No way! Those would go perfect with my finisher beach towel I got at the Mercedes half. 🙂
The flip flops are amazing!! I want a pair! Is it wrong to want to run a race for the flip flops? LOL! Looks like sorta miserable weather and some tough hills. Glad you had a fun race!
Congrats on the finish. What a great way to spend some quality time with your bestie! Yeah, rain in long summer races is always welcome (to cool me down). Woah, those medals are huge!
I have friends who have run this and they rave about it! Well done! And finishers flip flops!?!?
Late to the party on this (yay work) but congrats on the strong race. You gals looked fab and I’m really happy the race went so well for you. It really couldn’t have gone any better for things out of your control- like the weather minus the cramps. That seriously sucks. I love how happy you both look in the photos. 🙂
Great job to you both!!!! And I love the idea of flip flops!!!
Congrats on a strong race! And yay for all of the hill work!
Also, how fun to have so many people you know involved as spectators and also as runners. That definitely makes for a great experience!
Congrats on a great race despite the weather. Love the flower but LOVE even more the picture of you two holding hands.
I loved your flower headband — I was going to comment on it anyway, and then I saw that you and Gina had matching ones, how fun!
Do you like being able to visualize the course and always know where you are, even if it’s a hard race? I haven’t decided if I prefer one or the other! (I guess I’m leaning towards being able to visualize it because I love to be in control–no surprises!)
Yay for running in the rain! It’s way, way better than sunny races, fo’ sho’.
Now that this race is over, have you kept doing the hilly runs?
Thanks! They’re Fellow Flowers!
I like to have some idea of where I am on the course. I don’t mind if I don’t know the specific neighborhood, but I like knowing what direction I am going and sort of the way I will get to the finish.
I haven’t been doing hill repeats, but I am still running the hilly trail by my house 🙂