Saturday, October 30, 2010

The Team Ortho Monster Dash Half Marathon Race Report!

This morning I ran in the Team Ortho Monster Dash half marathon. I woke up at 5AM to get ready and then drove into Minneapolis to the Lake Nokomis start.
I scored a parking spot right across from where the bag drop area was located.


I walked up to the start line about 20 minutes before the actual start to see if I could see another Minnesota blogger who would be starting with the speedy front runners. No luck, Gregg, hopefully I will see you at another future race:) I wasn't sure how today's race was going to go considering last weekend's training run was a big fail. I knew it would not be a PR day but hoped for the best.

I lined myself up with the 1:55 pacer Tim. I figured that I would try to stay with him as long as possible and then fall back and run with the 2 hour pacer if I needed. Eventually after a few minutes the race started. Within the first few minutes I had the same girl step on the back of my shoes three times. I know that I have accidentally done this to another runner too. I did not do it three times. I was a little annoyed and ended up speeding a little ahead of the pacer to avoid getting hit again. I think she wanted to be right next to Tim:)

I felt okay the first four or five miles. I didn't feel fantastic and I would never say that I was in my groove. I was moving and not in pain:)


After I hit mile six I was feeling that yucky feeling again. It wasn't as bad as last weekend but I could tell that I would need to slow down. I walked through a water stop and lost my pacer and pace group. I stayed a little behind them for about a mile.

The course was very scenic and I tried to stay focused on the gorgeous views and my fellow runners. Many runners dressed in costumes:) I was very impressed with many people's creativity! I found myself laughing several times! My favorite costume hands down was a pregnant guy wearing a pink dress and blond wig! He adjusted his tummy and wig many times. Great humor! I don't know how anyone was able to run in a wig for the entire 13 miles. Wearing a wig would of drove me bonkers!
Mile seven was a rough one for me. There was a pretty long and challenging hill that kicked my butt. I was sucking some big time air! Shortly after getting over this hill a very nice woman was running past me and asked me if I was Julie. I said, "Yes, I am Julie." She told me that she reads my blog. I asked her how she found it and she told me that she found it through Rambling Renee's blog:) Renee is a fellow St. Cloud River Runner who lives in Rochester. She is an amazing runner and has been a PR machine! Renee has been nursing a toe injury but is getting back in the groove! I am always so flattered when people recognize me from reading my blog. It also amazes me how many non-bloggers read it. Shortly after this nice woman Katy ran by me and wished me good luck, I started to struggle and feel the mental pain.

I took a very short 30 second walk break. I was feeling low on energy agian and honestly started to wonder if I would be able to finish. WTH! Really? I was feeling so down in the dumps that I was thinking about not finishing! I started to think about what my running dad Denny told me. He told me that when we struggle it is mostly mental and that we have to know that other people/runners are tired too. We have to tough it out and continue on:) I talked to Denny last weekend and we spoke about my marathon and those last 6 horrid miles. He told me that next time I run a marathon I will shorten my time by not walking as much and dealing with the mental challenges that come my way. He also mentioned to me that I better train more and get my long runs in:) He he! Isn't that just like a dad? Well, after thinking about this coversation I started running again.



These guys were awesome! I told them I liked their costumes and they told me never again!! It was hard to run in those bad boys:)

The last few miles were hard and I kept running. The 2 hour pacer never passed me...woo hoo! I finished but not in 1:55. Finishing is winning...right Jill! After I crossed the finish line I got my metal and got in line to get water. When I was waiting in line Beth came up to me and said hi! I was so excited to see her! We met at my very first half marathon. We both ran in the St. Paul Securian Half:)
Beth was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy at the end of September. This is something that she has posted in her blog. She is doing great and looks fantastic:) Both Beth and her husband Mike are the nicest people and I feel so fortunate to have met them. I am in awe of Beth's courage and strength! She was given the okay from her doctor to run and ran in the Monster 5K today! Go Beth!

After talking to Beth I went to the bag pick-up. I then walked around for a bit and took a few pictures. I was bummed that I didn't see Minnesota bloggers Heather and Julie:(


Oh, and one thing that I would like to mention is that I am using this race as my virtual Pink Dress Run hosted by my blogger friend Fran. October is breast cancer awareness month.....what a better way to show support than by sporting pink! The only rule was to wear pink and choose your distance. So I wore a pink shirt and a weird version of pink sweat shirt:) Fran is from Holland and lives close to Amsterdam. She and I have the same obsession with high heel shoes and perfume:) Stop by her blog and say hi!
Here are just a few random pictures of runners in their costumes.
I love this!



Okay, check out this line! I got in line for the shuttle bus at 11 AM. There must be some mistake! Seriously, there is no way that this is really the line.....it wasn't moving! If you enlarge this picture you can see that the line turns left and continues up the block and then some!

Still waiting and taking more pictures. I waited in line for almost two hours! We found out that there were only two buses!!!!! We were all so cranky and cold after waiting for that ridiculous amount of time! Finally...a bus!! Oh crap it is not my bus! Wait a little more....

These are the people behind me. Can you believe this? Many smart people had cell phones and were able to call taxi cabs. I was not one of those smart people:)

Woo hoo, this is my bus:) I finally made it home by 2:30. I stopped at Chipotle in Maple Grove for a post race meal! There is nothing like a little Chipotle after a longer run:)
I checked my final stats....
Final time..... 1:58:49.
I placed 1481 out of 3563 total runners.
I placed 636 out of 2122 female runners.
I placed 86 out of 282 for my age group.
Happy running, biking, swimming and lifting! Cheers to you all!

79 comments:

  1. Hey there!
    Was thinking of you too out there today!;-)

    great pics!! and nice job (and yah...i sooo stopped for mexican food on my way home too:)

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  2. I'm impressed that you ran a HM so soon after TCM. Way to go! Love your race report and photos. Congrats!

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  3. great race report Julie! You did great. I am impressed that you are out there racing (I am still having a hard time getting back on my feet from TC Marathon!!).

    Loved the photos. I think I will have to add this to my race wish list next year.

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  4. You did ANOTHER Half Marathon, Julie? Good for you! How many is that so far this year?

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  5. Great job, Julie! Even though you weren't feeling it you hung in there and finished. I love all your pictures...looks like a beautiful course. Fun costumes, too. I wish I'd have taken more pics at my costume race. And that shuttle line looks insane! Hopefully next year they have a few more buses...no fun to stand on your feet so long after a race.

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  6. I liked reading your race report! I'm sorry the race didn't go as well as you would have liked. But, you kicked those negative mental thoughts to the curb, kept going, and finished!! Yay!!!

    That line for the bus is ridiculous!! I can't even believe that!!

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  7. I would have been home resting! You crazy runner girl you! Cheers!

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  8. Congrats! Looks like a beautiful course. You are getting out there and racing - good for you! I could not run in a costume but I like seeing costumes on others! And I would have been furious at the bus situation - enough to not do the race again. Do you know why this happened? They should refund your money!

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  9. Sounds like you toughed out a pretty darn good race. I ran in a Haunted Hustle 1/2 marathon this morning. I was dressed as a witch. I had a great time.
    Love looking at all your pictures. Too bad about the buses. That must have been very frustrating. I am guessing that who ever was incharge of buses - screwed up royally!

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  10. Wow, what a day!! Great job toughing it out (both the run and that bus line - yikes!)

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  11. Those bus lines were INSANE! I did the 5k and was walking back to my car with a friend and we were trying to figure out what bit of awesomeness everyone was stacked up for.

    And then we realized it was for the buses. :(

    I went home, showered, farted around, went to the grocery store and then over to Noodles and Co in Eden Prairie...a couple of runners were just getting back from the race and were rather displeased (to say the least) about the buses...especially given that the race management knew how many runners they were going to have.

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  12. Wow, such an awesome race report. Where do I start? First, Beth looked great. How amazing is she?! You had 32 pictures in this post -best race report EVER. Too bad you lost dreamy Tim and the 1:55 pacing group. Although, you only finished 3 mintues later.

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  13. spooktacular effort julie..well done for running through the demons (no pun intended ;-))

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  14. Congrats on a great run! I don't think wearing a costume for 13 miles is a great idea.

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  15. Miss Julie....
    I know I'm not the right Jill here, but finishing IS definitely winning and you never, ever cease to amaze me! I'd better get my very fat butt into shape so I can keep up with you next year, girl!! And WTH with that line?? Omg, I would have been so mad. I had a similar experience in San Diego getting a bus at the end of a marathon ...worst. experience. ever! Glad you got to celebrate with a little Chipolte - yummy :). So proud of you...you're my hero of the day. Of the week!! :)

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  16. Hey Julie!

    I am so bummed that I missed you at the race. I looked around at the start for you but there were so many people. I must have just missed seeing you finish too. I watched until just after the 1:55 pacer came by. Then I had to go meet my friend's family because we were running the 5k together. I am surprised I didn't see you waiting in the line for the bus. We ran past it around 11:30. I was watched the line for a while and was really glad that I didn't have to wait in it.

    We will run into each other at a race someday soon!

    Julie

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  17. P.S. I forgot to say awesome job! Great race report! You got some great pictures!

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  18. Great jacket in the race swag! I can't believe the same girl stood on the back of your trainer 3 times, I would have been pissed too! Great race though :-)

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  19. Great job Julie! You are a running machine! As usual, your race report is thorough and entertaining. You have the best race reports. I love all the pix. The costumes were pretty cool, although, I would never run in a costume! That bus situation was ridiculous!!! The race directors need to do something to make up for that fiasco! Rest Up!

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  20. At first when I read this I was so confused because I'm doing the monster dash 1/2 here in Chicago this morning. I thought I missed it! Sounds like it was a good race in the end.

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  21. I'd love to do a half like that sometime! I expected there to be at least a few costumes at the one I ran yesterday, but I never saw the first one.

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  22. Way to go! Fun costumes! It seems like it would be a lot more fun to enjoy other runners' costumes than it would be to run in one. I love Chipotle after a long run!

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  23. Wow - Beth is amazing!

    Great pics - still amazed by your running pics. I tried it at my last half, and mine were all horrible. I had to stop to get any decent pics. You must have a good camera.

    Way to conquer those mental challenges and finish strong. Yay!

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  24. Great race report! You did an amazing job of pushing through, and I'm in awe that you ran a half so soon after your full marathon. You make me feel like a bum.

    I love the Halloween Races and think that if I'm still in this area next year, I'll do the Monster Dash. My favorite costume yesterday was the zombie pizza boy with ACTUAL pizza. There were a group of them, and they gave pizza to the volunteers at the mile markers and still had some for themselves at the end of the 5k.

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  25. You always have the best race reports and pictures! Like Happy Feet, if I run and take pictures they come out all blurry.

    Wow Beth, she is amazing.

    Congrats on an awesome race! Sounds like fun, although the mexican food afterwords sounds the best to me.

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  26. Hi Julie! Fun report. I like the Oscar the grouch costume shot the best. Sorry about the hill, yet after looking at the pix I'm ready to move to Minnesota for some flat courses compared to my hill/mountain fest yesterday. Oh, wait I'm I saying?!!? - one week in your Winters I would be wee wee all the way back to Vegas. Great effort Julie! You did really well! Sounds like you have a pack of friends at every race - great!:)

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  27. Great pics and great report. I am a new follower. I saw your comment on MCM Mama's post about being a half marathon junkie (so am I!). Looking forward to following you.
    Kim

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  28. two buses? really? For an entire half marathon. I would say that probably didn't go over well :-( but you ran a splendid race. Well done!!!

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  29. great report julie!
    good race. even tho u didnt PR, u still did awesome! yay!!!!
    cool pix of all the costumes! :)

    happy halloween!

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  30. congratulations!! you did great. :-)

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  31. Great run Julie, well done! Fantastic to go under 2 hours! Lovely photos, lots of fun. Have a good week!

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  32. You're such a running machine! A half marathon so soon after your marathon. I'm so impressed, you are truly an inspiration! Congrats on the result.

    And I love it that you wore pink! And thanks for the shout out.

    Beth is an amazing person if you ask me.

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  33. that race looks like a great time, I don't know how that guy ran in the wig!

    I'm glad you got out there so soon after your full, and hope you get to relax today in between trick or treating!

    : )

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  34. Hi Julie! I loved your race report, good job! Your pictures are fun to look at. I must have ran near you, I finished in 1:56. What a great day for a run! That line for the bus, my god, I ran back to my car at Nokomis in less time that you waited. Crazy!

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  35. hey a sub-2! not shabby at all :) great photos as always! love all the costumes - such creativity. makes me want to do a halloween run.

    lol about my grading system - i didn't put that much thought into it, other than divide the number of things-done by things-i-aimed-for. andddd my backbend wasn't graceful, trust me. happy halloween to you too!

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  36. Congrats on another great race Julie...you are a machine :) Lucky that you got to meet Beth...she seems like such a nice person.

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  37. What a great day for a race! So glad you saw Beth! What a sucky bus line though!

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  38. Great effort, Julie! You are a running machine! So nice to have a running daddy, and he is so right!

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  39. Your race reports are ALWAYS top notch! I love all the photos. Isn't it fun to meet fellow bloggers? Have a great week.

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  40. Congrats on the race! I was bummed I didn't see you - there were so many people! We got in line for the bus right away and still had to wait an hour - missed our 5k we were supposed to do in Anoka. :( What's next? Are you doing the Anoka 5k after Thanksgiving again this year?

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  41. Julie, thanks for being so supportive. I was so glad to get to see you. I wish I knew about the bus situation before the 5K started because I could have driven you back to your car when my race was over. I'm sorry you didn't feel well during this race. It's still soon after your marathon and you are still recovering. You will get there! I haven't worked out much of my race schedule for next year yet, but hopefully we'll get to see more of each other.

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  42. Great race, Julie! I'm sorry to hear about the bus fiasco! I bet Team Ortho will be hearing a ton about it; I know a lot of guys who work there and you should definitely drop them a line -- they are ALWAYS looking for areas to improve their races!

    This was one of my most favorite halfs ever -- i hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!! Great job!!
    xoxo,
    A

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  43. A fast half after the TCM! Very nice job: you are in the first pack of your a.g. and women, congrats. Glad you met Beth, I read her blog too. Looking at the pics I understand how beautiful can be to run through that places and how funny is to meet those runner in their costumes. Have a wonderful week.

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  44. Julie--Way to tough it out when you were feeling bad. And--not too off pace in the end, anyhow! Love all the costumes. And go Beth! How inspiring. I will have to check her blog out.

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  45. Excellent effort and a great run. I don't know why races don't bus people to the start from the finish, instead of vice versa. Doesn't that make more sense?

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  46. Wow great pics...so you had a great Halloween marathon...very nice pics you shared here..thanks for sharing...

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  47. haha oscar the grouch what a great costume, but seriously can't imagine doing a race in that

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  48. Great job Julie! Push through those mental struggles, you can do it!

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  49. Great Job Julie! I am the Katie that saw you! I did not really know anyone else other than my brother who was running this race so i was looking at every dark haired female running to see if it was you! Amazingly I actually found you! I was impressed! I ran the 10 mile after running Whistlestop marathon three weeks ago. i ran the 10 mile in 1:13 and placed 42nd overall and 2nd in my division!

    Hope you have a nice week, Katie

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  50. Great Job Julie! Congrats! I love Halloween races and people watching! Some serious freaks out there!! (freaks with a lot more courage and Halloween spirit than me so kudos to them)

    Oh my-I have many blessings in my life but one thing God did not grant me was PATIENCE! I would have been just a snag to be around if I was waiting for that bus for 2 hours!!!!!

    Great Pics and you look great as usual!

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  51. Ha, ha! I think long lines at race port-a-potties is a universal phenomenon. I loved all the great pics - looks very pretty there. Even though you had a few rough moments, you still ended with a respectable time - good job. I just can't get over what a racing machine you are! Have a great week!

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  52. I seriously need some of your running mojo, congrats as always, your a rockstar

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  53. Looks like a scenic race!! Way to go and push it! Great time :)

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  54. Great job! I disagree on the Chipotle, however. That stuff burns my lips raw.

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  55. Nice job on yet another half marathon! :)

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  56. Nice job Julie. Looks like it was a very fun race.

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  57. Good job on not quitting and finishing the race with a GREAT time!!! The pictures are beautiful and it looks like a fun place to run :) Good job!!!

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  58. Great job Julie!! It looks like a nice race with great scenery.

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  59. Nice Job Julie. Yes, there are many times we have to overcome those mental demons. Good job!
    I heard the shuttle line got insane. I'm sorry you were part of it. They have some things to work on but for the most part I enjoyed myself.
    Maybe see you next year at some race...

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  60. Hi Julie!
    I saw your post yesterday morning but didnt have time to read it or look at the pics as the kids activities were starting, then your coomment on my blog today reminded me I hadn't seen your RR yet. I dont know HOW you do it following so many blogs!
    Great job doing another HALF! what a month with TCM at the beginning and Monster Half at the end. It has been really fun to watch you run all of these half marathons this year, and especially great to follow you thru your marathon:) What a year you have had! You have come thru some adversity and completed some great races. Looking forward to more to come!

    Great RR and fantastic pics:)
    I heard the bus shuttle was way brutal

    Derek

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  61. Great race Julie! And as always awesome race report! I don't know how you take such great pics while you are running! It's all I can do to keep my legs moving!;)
    I have a cousin who ran the monster dash too, maybe I need to plan a trip to MN, you would be an awesome running partner!

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  62. Big fail to the race organizers for not having more buses. That's the kind of annoyance that drives runners away from races.

    Great race report though - nice breaking that two hour barrier!

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  63. Great job, as always! You look great! I would be super annoyed if someone stepped on the back of my foot THREE times. Ah well. Take care! :)

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  64. wow, great costumes!!! You look so pretty!! even after running a half marathon! Nice report!

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  65. Great half marathon Julie, considering that
    the last few miles were hard! Moreover, you reached your goal under two hours!

    Nice and detailed race report of your Monster Dash Half Marathon! I'm sure it was a fun race.
    Many runners dressed in costume ... and you wore a pink shirt :)

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  66. Hey Julie, the Manhattan Half Marathon could be cold or it could be like last year which was in the mid to high 30's. Prolly too warm for ya! haha!

    Lemme know if you come out this winter for a race. campbell.jon@gmail.com if you want to email me

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  67. Julie, CLUTCH parking spot, that's got to be a positive sign.

    As far as that Bus BS, just tell your fellow bloggers your estimated finishing time so we can call the cab for you.

    Good advice from your running Dad, glad it worked.

    Beautiful pictures, but the best is Harry and Lloyd (in the colorful suits), I am so jealous.

    As usual, impressive finishing time. And though you weren't on the podium, you win because you got CHIPOTLE post-race!

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  68. What fun pictures, Julie. I loved them all, especially the one with Beth. She is often on my mind, so strong and I've felt for her since see was going to run NYC and I really wanted to meet her. Nice job on your race, congrats!!

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  69. Great race report Julie, looks a fun race.I loved the pictures of the beautiful race course. Like you I've had a couple of fairly lame runs this year and I know my body is telling me to take a break. Trouble is ; running is a life style and an addiction, not a choice.

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  70. great job on the race. congrats on sticking it out when you didn't feel so hot. I want to run a race in a banana costume someday. :p

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  71. great job - you are so right - finishing is winning.
    The pix help us remember not to forget that this is all for FUN !
    take it easy now - rest is also training and preparation !

    patatas bravas - a delicious Spanish Taps dish - hot crispy potato cubes served with a spicy sauce - not for figure watchers !!! I have these every time i go to barcelona !!!
    ;:0))
    marti

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  72. Great report Julie - another great finish time despite not feeling great! I can't believe how many people were in costumes! Makes it fun to watch though! Enjoy some recovery time! :)

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  73. Great report! I love the costumes and the route looks amazing!

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  74. Great job Julie! I always thought it would be fun to run in costume but not for 13.1 miles! I would stick to a 5k with a costume for sure. lol.

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  75. Congratulations on another race well run. The race looks fun. Great race report as always.

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  76. What a fun day - aside from the bus situation. I love those Halloween runs with all the costumes. I've only done one, but it sure did make the time go by quickly when checking out the silly things people decided to wear!

    Congrats on yet another great race!

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