well, we just got back from my first half marathon - the nerstrand big woods run 1/2 marathon (http://www.raceberryjam.com/nerstrand.html). i felt like i did really well, considering this was my first half marathon, it was a trail run, and it was really cold out.
we got up at 5:30 so that we could check the weather conditions. snow and freezing rain were forcast, so we needed to see if the world was coated in ice. luckily, it wasn’t, so we proceeded to make breakfast and get the girls up. then we drove to faribault, mn, which is about an hour away. got to the race start in plenty of time.
this was actually a TRAIL run and it was BEAUTIFUL! even with the cruddy weather, it was still a lovely place to spend a saturday morning. 2 miles were on asphalt, 1 mile was on asphalt/crushed limestone road, but the rest was on trails. the trails were wet and muddy from the rain the night before, covered in slick leaves. many people wiped out and a few had to drop out of the 10k and 1/2 marathon due to injuries. many sections of the trail were quite rocky. the race bragged ‘aggressive hills’ and sure enough - hills! i slowed to a walk on a couple of them because they were either slick, rocky, or (yippe!) BOTH! the course would have just been more beautiful if the weather had been warmer and drier, but as it was - still beautiful!
my windbreaker and fleece vest were on almost the whole time. many people had advised getting a cheap sweatshirt, hat, gloves, and a leaf bag (really!) and then dropping them at the first or second water station. while i took this advise seriously, i’m glad i decided to bring the windbreaker. i would have frozen in the last 45 minutes had i not had layers to put back on. the sun was out when the race started, but when it went back behind the clouds, the wind picked up and it was COLD. i was happy to have my new water pack from rei (thanks, john!), since i could easily stash all the layers in there during the few miles when it was warm.
the last mile or two were the hardest, since i was getting cold and was tired out from all the hills, but i pushed on. finally, i could se the church where the race would end. when i got there, ella chased me to the finish line! 
afterwards, i had a slice of apple - which was the best apple i had ever tasted, EVER! then i did a little stretching. put back on all the fleece layers i had worn before the race.. the church that hosts the race made soup and sandwiches for all the runners. so, we had some baked goodies, soup, pb&j, etc.
ps. for those who are interested…i have been liberated! my heart rate monitor strap BROKE just before the race. i did the whole race on perceived level of exertion! i have an extra strap at home i can use while i wait for timex to replace the other one. my ability to judge my own pace and exertion is obviously much more developed that i would have given myself credit for. lap data: start to mile 3 32.11 (10.7); mile 3 to mile 6 26.40 (8.89) WOO HOO!; mile 6 to mile 9 36.12 (12) hello hills!; mile 9 to mile 12 35.30 (11.8) yes, more hills; mile 12 to finish 12:15 (11.1). finish time: 2:22.48
