Hippie Chick Half Marathon (5/7/16)

We ran our sixth Hippie Chick earlier this month!

Our first was cool and gray. This one was HOT and bright... not a cloud in the sky!

It's become a Mother's Day weekend tradition for us McKee ladies:

And Lynn!!!!

Eryn and I trained for months for this one. She was returning from injury and getting her long-run legs back, and I was looking for structure. But as the day neared, and we saw predictions near 90 degrees, we threw any plans for a PR out the window.

It was already 65 degrees at the start. That's about 15-20 degrees warmer than I'd prefer.

Still, I felt fairly good for the first 8 miles or so. I kept it casual with a little push. Nothing too crazy. Then I turned around for the last 5 miles - directly into the sun. I can't tell you how quickly my energy tanked. That sun was a killer!

A couple walk breaks later, I sprinted onto the turf and across the finish line in 2:12:07 - a 10:05 average. That was good enough for 48 out of 154 in my age division and 239 out of 856 overall. I wasn't the only one hit hard by the heat!

My splits - so even until that sun zapped me:

• Mile 1: 9:39
• Mile 2: 9:31
• Mile 3: 9:26
• Mile 4: 9:30
• Mile 5: 9:30
• Mile 6: 9:35
• Mile 7: 9:36

• Mile 8: 10:04
• Mile 9: 11:11
• Mile 10: 11:03
• Mile 11: 10:40
• Mile 12: 11:00
• Mile 13: 10:20
• Last .09: 7:27

There was a temperature readout on the big screen, and I think it was 76 when I finished. When Eryn finished, it was 82! NOT good.

Speaking of...

These besties walked the quarter marathon:

Pancake breakfast:

Honestly, this race isn't nearly as good since Paula sold it to the Hood to Coast Race Series. But at half price (super, super early bird), it's still a fun way to spend the day celebrating moms and girl power!!

Hopefully 2017 will be cooler! :)