Oktoberfest Half Marathon

On Friday, October 2, Larry and I drove to the Leavenworth area to participate in the Oktoberfest half marathon on October 3; picked up our packets in the evening and drove part of the course. The moon was out up in Icicle Canyon. This was in the first two miles of the course, and on race day, I did not get any photos--too busy running.


Saturday dawned cold and frosty. But we were glad the sun was out, because originally, the forecast said it would be cloudy with a 40% chance of rain! A friend took our photo in the parking lot, as we tried to stay warm in jackets and pants. Behind us is one of the buildings of the Leavenworth Fish Hatchery where the race began and finished.


Larry and his possible running buddy. But it turned out to not be case. Despite having not trained at all, this guy is quite an athlete (not to mention much younger), and ended up finishing nearly 30 minutes ahead of Larry.

The start/finish.

Crowd milling around before the start. I tried in vain to locate a couple ladies I knew--one doing the full marathon; the other also doing the half. But as I'd locked my cell phone in my vehicle in favor of carrying my camera, I couldn't call them (had called one earlier, and she told me what she was wearing, etc.) and soon it was time to start. Oh, well....

I was so busy running, I only stopped briefly for water at Mile 2 and 4 (or 5?), and once to adjust the bungee lace on my right shoe. I breezed by the Mile 7 water stop; I had my own small bottle of water, plus Cliff Shot Bloks, so I was fine. The next mile or so was on trails in the park in Leavenworth. This is the Wenatchee River-- water very low this time of year.

Part of the trail and a runner ahead of me with her sweat jacket wrapped around her waist. I was also continuing on with a jacket slung over my shoulders. That sun really warmed things up. Before the race began, I had stripped down to capri pants, cap-sleeve Brooks running top, and a light jacket. Wish there had been time to dump the jacket at my vehicle.... I wasn't about to dump clothes on the road, like runners in some city marathons do. No one else was throwing clothes about either!

I took it easy on the trails, as I was starting to get sore. Exiting the trail system, the course followed a couple residential streets out to Highway 2, crossing over the river and heading uphill toward a right turn to another residential area. I was reduced to walking--howbeit quickly. I used my ground-eating walk and easily passed a few others who were also walking--your normal kind of walk. This is Mile 9. I took some sports drink, which I drank, (missed the cup disposal!) and a Gu, which I tucked into the pouch on my FuelBelt (Gu's are too messy, and I had no time to waste!).

Heading out from the water stop at Mile 9, you're up a little above the city, and the view was impressive! Looked like a vineyard on the right. Soon the road went down a steep hill. Ow, ow! My adductors were really, really bothering me!

The last three miles were pretty uncomfortable. I alternated between walking and painfully jogging. Ended up playing "cat and mouse" with a few other runners also taking walk breaks that weren't synchronized. So when I was walking, they would pass me, and when they were walking, I would pass them. Finally, I passed this gal with a backpack for the last time! Soon the finish was near! Was glad that the road leading out of the fish hatchery was a grade--because it was down hill to the finish! Larry was waiting for me, but then he took off to the truck. Waited several minutes near the finish area, but he didn't return. So I amused myself by taking photos of myself.

I did it! I finished! (Chip time: 2:44:44.)

Close up of my finishers medal.

Larry didn't show up, so I decided to get in line to pick up my commemorative sweat jacket. You had to show your bib number to get it, so they could keep track of everyone and not give someone a jacket who hadn't actually done the race!

Finally, Larry showed up and found some other people we knew, and met friends of theirs, who had participated. Some people we knew had done the marathon as a relay, but had already left. Had a friend take our photo. I'm wearing the official Oktoberfest sweat jacket.

Then we hung around talking to the husband of a lady who was doing the full marathon. Here she is at the finish getting her medal.

It was a fun day!