Starting Line, photo by MommaGFunk

The City of Roses Half Marathon was held on Sunday morning, September 19th in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The race, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Road Runners was my first half marathon, and its proceeds benefit local running programs, specifically those programs designed for youth runners.

A half marathon is 13.1 miles in length, but the City of Roses course was technically 13.2 miles of main roads, side roads, Missouri riverfront roads, historic downtown streets, and asphalt biking trail through a city park.

photo by MommaGFunk

This was my first half marathon, and I’m glad that I chose a race that was local. As I ran through the streets of Cape, good memories of various places in the town came to mind. Those memories ranged from middle school summer band camps at Southeast Missouri State University with my best childhood friend to memories of having coffee with one of my best adult friends on a grassy hillside in Old Town Cape this spring.

The course was mostly flat, although the last three miles or so were more or less a long, low-grade uphill. The weather was fantastic; mostly overcast with temps starting in the low-60s and ending in the mid-70s when the race was complete.

Mile 11ish, photo by MommaGFunk

I’m not a competitive runner, so I hung toward the rear of the group, hovering at around an 11:54 pace and finishing the race in two hours and thirty-six minutes flat. I finished tenth in my division (ages 25-29) and 195th overall out of 215 half marathon runners.

Finish Line, photo by T

I feel fantastic about the results of the race. A year ago, I never would have dreamed I’d run a half marathon, and sixth months ago running more than five miles sounded like an unconquerable feat.

My hope with A Small Town Girl’s Guide is – in part – to challenge my readers to look at life differently and find the courage to try new things. I hope that my half marathon training helps you have faith in your own ability to achieve new goals.

Even as recently as Sunday morning, I wasn’t sure what to expect; Would I be able to run the full 13.2 miles without stopping to walk? Would I finish the race at all? Had I trained well enough? How tired would I feel after the race, and how sore would I feel at work on Monday?

Sure, I was a little bit sore on Monday at work, but on a whole, I feel great. Each time I look at the finisher’s medal that’s hanging beside my back door or at the racing bib number that’s taped to the office wall where only I can see it, I’m reminded that we’re all capable of more than we’ll ever know unless we try.

iluvlocalplaces.com and MilliGFunk, photo by MommaGFunk

A huge and heartfelt thank you goes to Janet and Wes Wade at iluvlocalplace.com for being my official City of Roses Half Marathon race sponsor. If you’re ever looking for suggestion of things to do, places to go, or sights to see in or near Cape Girardeau, Missouri, iluvlocalplaces.com is a great resource to familiarize yourself with.

Image courtesy of iluvlocalplace.com

Through my teens and twenties, I always respected and admired distance runners. When I turned twenty-eight, I started a new job that sometimes requires long hours. It’s not uncommon to see coworkers in the office at all hours of the day or night, on weekends and on holidays. When I picked up my half-marathon training schedule, my primary motivation was not to be a competitive half-marathoner, but to develop a fitness regimen that would inspire me to work more efficiently in the office so that I could run several nights a week after work.

Six months ago, I’d never run more than a 5K (3.1 miles for those of you who aren’t runners). Now, as the City of Roses Half Marathon is only a few days away, I can’t believe I’m really running in it. What a cool journey I’ve been on over the summer months, hitting pavement and trails in small towns all over Southeast Missouri and the St. Louis area as I’ve gradually increased my mileage from 3.1 to 13.1 miles.

Over the last two years, my writing and my blog have shown progress that’s on par with that 3.1 to 13.1 mile increase. In March of 2009, I hoped my writing would someday be published and that I’d eventually reach the point where my hiking, fitness and travel adventures would become sponsored by sporting goods stores, press outlets, and local businesses. Since then, my writing has been published on several websites, syndicated on two sites, and published in four magazines. I’m humbled to announce that this weekend I secured one of my first sponsorships.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri-based business i luv local places (www.iluvlocalplaces.com) will be my official race sponsor for the City of Roses Half Marathon. If you’re looking for things to do in Cape, Southern Illinois, or Southeast Missouri, iluvlocalplaces.com is a great website to become familiar with. From live music or wine tastings to ATV events and church events, iluvlocaplaces.com is Southeast Missouri’s online destination for music, events and food. Go, check them out. And when you’re looking for something to do next weekend, come to Cape for the City of Roses Half Marathon. Watch for the runner in the black iluvlocalplaces.com racing shirt, and cheer her on like mad.

Image borrowed from the Cape Girardeau Road Runners

The City of Roses Half Marathon is held in the town of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The route loops, with the race ending at same location as it starts (at Health Point Plaza, near the intersection of Independence and Clark Streets). The race will take us through historic Cape, along the Mississippi River and down the LaCroix Creek Bike Trail. Elevation for the course isn’t clear to me on the course map, but Cape has a few hills steep enough to keep any cockiness at bay.  The City of Roses Half Marathon is organized by the Cape Girardeau Road Runners, and registration is open through Thursday on Active.com.

Thanks so much to Small Town Girl’s official City of Roses Half Marathon sponsor iluvlocalplaces.com.

This is the second 5k race that I’ve run in that the Y has been a part of, and both have had clear focuses on fitness and community. There’s a community and a place for competitive road races, but I appreciate that the organizers of Partners in Wellness recognize Jefferson County’s need for wellness-focused events. The other race, sponsored by Get Fit Festus, was a smaller run and really embraced folks who are on the path to better health.

Today’s race drew more than 200 people ranging in age from small babies in strollers to a little (5’1″ maybe?) gray haired lady who zoomed past me even as I ran my personal best 5K time. There were walkers, runners, joggers and participants of the K9 variety. Truly, it was a nice race, and one I’ll be happy to run in again in the future.

For more information about this race, or if you live in Jefferson County and are interested in working towards a healthier lifestyle, visit the Y’s website.

As a case in point, here I am lacing my running shoes:

The morning brought 40 degree temps and a strong wind. Despite the cool air, I think I speak for most of the runners when I say that I was content with wind and low temps in exchange for a lack of rain (which was impending that day).

A very cold Small Town Girl, pre-race:

I’m infamous in my circle of friends for having cold hands no matter the outside temps, so forgetting to wear gloves wasn’t good for me. The windy 40-degree day in Cuba left my hands beet red.

2010 was only the second annual race, but already the race has grown in popularity. According to Big River Running’s race results, there were 155 finishers in 2009 and a whopping 433 in 2010 (JOG, Inc. had set its goal participation at 300 runners).

According to the Cuba Mural Project blog, the race raised $12,800 for the Cuba high school track program. In addition, 650 pair of shoes were donated for Shoes4Souls, a Nashville-based nonprofit supported locally in Cuba by Hayes Family Shoe Store.

Race to the Rocker is organized by JOG (Joggers of God), Inc. and proceeds benefit the Cuba High School Track team. To read more about my experiences with Race to the Rocker and the World’s Largest Rocking Chair, click on the following links:

Previous post on Race to the Rocker

Summer 2009 post on the World’s Largest Rocking Chair

Cuba Mural Project Post about my post about Race to the Rocker

Cuba Mural Project’s most recent post, including a photo of me (look for the royal blue sweatshirt).