Back to In Person Racing

Syracuse Half Marathon 

It has been well over a year since I have posted on this blog, but I know it is way overdue but a lot has happened since my last post and it is coming full circle.
2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣2️⃣ started with some lofty goals to keep a consistent training regime; however, tweaked my back twice in January meant shelving myself until I could return ti some physical activity. By February the motivation was gone but then a few people kept posting these Peloton workouts and I wasn’t ready to return to the gym yet. 
So as in the past two years more stuff in the pain cave. 
Knowing the Syracuse half was in March I thought could I do 60 days of spinning and other stuff? Well it seems I must have done something as January/February totalled a whopping 36 km combined. Most of it walking. 

Kit Pickup at Fleet Feet

So fast forward to what you want to read. The half I signed up for back in November seemed like a good idea at the time. Border restrictions lifting and return to in person racing was imminent. Well then Omicron added some stress to the equation and I didn’t have much choice as I hate deferred race entries if I could avoid it so I decided within the last week Suzanne and I would take the risk and do our first in person racing with Michelle who’s the seasoned veteran for this race as she has done this a few times and got her sub 2hr 1/2 marathon here so it is definitely special. 
So Suzanne and I left the hotel at 7:30a as the first wave started at 7:53a sharp (according to the email) and they were bang on. We listened to the national anthem and then We found Michelle and Ryan chatted for a bit & snuck into the corral somewhere. 
We did a quick selfie and then we were off. 
I stuck with them for about a km but they were going at a good clip so I pulled back to conserve my energy as I was warned repeatedly about the hills. 
So the first hill was about 15-20 mins into my run and it was a steady climb to 179m and then from mile 2 - 10 there were a series of rollers all over the place. 
The first hill I had caught up to the gals but then they passed me again until I eventually caught up around the five/six mile mark and then eventually passed them and kept plugging away. 
I kept my 9/1’s up until the 10 mile mark and then I was at a point I needed to get this over with so a few extra walks kept me moving. 
Eventually at about the 11 mile mark my legs were getting cranky. After a few more walks and weaving around town I managed to pick up a bit of the pace at the last kilometre and saw one person ahead and decided to try and chase her down. I have no idea if I passed her but I made the best of it. Could be a photo finish. 😅🎥📸
Overall this was a great live and in person race with some definitely cool swag. Thanks to the organizers, volunteers, SOS EMT’s & all the spectators out cheering people on. 

Most of all thanks to Michelle for keeping us honest and showing us her wise shopping and dining ways. Also Suzanne my travel companion 
Highly recommend you give this race a try. 

Official race photos

Photo Booth Photos and some creative license

Very pleased with this time

As a reward, Suzanne and I had stumbled across a truck with the Hamilton logo. That meant the touring company was in Syracuse. I asked Suzanne "Let's just go and see if they have any tickets?" So we found the box office and asked the lady at the window by chance if they have any tickets available? Sure enough she had two tickets in the Orchestra section in Row Z. Brace yourself for $129 USD!!!

Suzanne and I looked at each other she was all over it and she made the impulse purchase and we had an impromptu date night to see Hamilton that evening after the race! It was written in the stars! This made the weekend experience so rewarding in many ways.

We both had an amazing time and even after we got home we the music was in our veins. We didn't throw away our shot. Thankful we were in the room where it happens!