Heyyy throwback Thursday! While I’m head over heels for spring at the moment (if you follow me on Instagram, you know this) but today we’re going to talk about fall. More specifically, the half marathon I ran last October, arguably the best time of year to be in Colorado. It had been a while since I’d trained for a race + I got the itch hardcore last summer, so I talked my super awesome + equally crazy friend into running one half of the Durango Double with me.
I ran the road half marathon segment of the Durango Double, which features a trail half on Saturday followed by a Sunday road half.
This course was perfection. I can’t even put into words how perfect it was (though these photos do a pretty good job), except to say that my final time was a personal record by 15 minutes. FIFTEEN MINUTES. And my last official half marathon was in St. Louis at 465 ft above sea level. Compared to Durango’s 6512 ft. This, ladies + gentlemen, is nothing short of a miracle. If you run at all, you know.
Plus, they give you a pint glass + free beer at the finish line, so who can complain about that? And to continue the miracle that was the Durango Double for me, I now give you the best official race photo of all time:
(Photo cred to Brashear Photo)
No one looks that put together while running a half marathon. I swear I didn’t in real life – and yet there I am looking all cool + collected while I casually PR by fifteen minutes. Oh, Durango Double, how I love thee. You make a girl look good.
A few tips if you’re traveling to a race this season:
1. Compression socks are your best friend – wear them under your travel clothes when you’re on the way home from your race + they will do wonders. We had a 6+ hour drive after our race and I don’t think I could have walked the next day without my compression socks.
2. As tempting as it will be when you’re in a new city, be very careful what you eat the night before your race! I was lured by a delicious pasta + felt super unhappy about my life choice two miles into my race. TMI? I’m just trying to save you all my pain, people. I know you love traveling as much as I do + exploring new places to eat is one of my favorite parts, but for the love of your digestive system, wait until after your race.
3. Bring layers for running! You never know what the weather will do – our race was beautifully sunny with a random patch of snow smack-dab in the middle. Yes, it’s annoying. Yes, you won’t be packing light (and I am usually a big advocate for that). But spring + fall are both fickle seasons, so don’t take chances. Unless you like to live on the edge, you risk-taker, you.
Are you a runnerd like me using a destination race as an excuse to get in a little travel? No spring races are in the calendar for me, but I’ve already decided that I’ll be running the road section of the Durango Double again this fall + I already can’t wait.
.png){kind=small}
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
