Lake Tahoe Half

So I was running this one just for fun and I wasn't seriously racing it because I have my first marathon coming up in three weeks.<br><br>
On Friday afternoon we (a couple and I) left the Bay Area and fought the traffic heading to Tahoe. By the time we got into Tahoe it was 8:20 and they stopped handing out bibs at 8:30 so my friend and I were dropped off in the casino parking lot, ran through the casino, and ended up as the last people they let into the ballroom so we got our race bibs. We then proceeded to get lost heading to my aunt and uncles house but finally made it. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile"><br><br>
Saturday morning we awoke at 6:15 because my buddies were running the 10K and their shuttle left the casino (a 15 minute drive) at 7:20. We get ready and head outside to discover the car covered with snow. Now I knew this race was gonna be cold (for me) but I sure as heck was not expecting snow in Sept. We scraped the snow off the windshield and therefore were a little late in leaving. By the time we parked at the casino it was 7:20. My friends just made it onto the shuttle. That left me until 8:45 to hang around the casino waiting for my shuttle because for some reason this race starts the half at 10:40. Finally my shuttle comes and we head off to the start.<br>
The shuttle heads up the course that we will be running and I start to get scared as we climb and climb and then head down a huge hill (that I will later have to run back up). We pass a few walkers (I dont know which race they were doing...maybe walking the 10K which started at 9) and finally turn off the highway to head up to our start line. The buss has some issues getting up the hill though because it is a sheet of ice and starts slipping backwards. The driver finally gives up and parks the buss and we are left to hike it up the ice (or actually the snow on the side of the road) to the start line. This is where we are informed that we will be running back down the other side of the hill (also icy) in a little over an hour. We all huddle together in the patches of sun and talk while waiting for the race to start. I met a really nice girl my age who was running her first half ever and her mother, brother and sister were there to see her off at the start.<br>
Finally we dump our bags in the back of the pickup and head up to the start line (which was the marathon 1/2 way point). They start the race without the gun, which apparently wasnt working properly because a few minutes later we hear it go off. The trip down the hill was pretty icy and everyone was walking but soon we got out on the highway and the first two miles were nice and sunny and flat. I was running with and talking to the girl I had met at the start. As soon as my feet and hands thaw out, I realize I need to pee. The girl I am running with also has to pee so We take turns at the porto-o-let at mile two and head on up the hill from hell together. She is clearly more acclimated to the elevation than me because about 1.5 miles into the 2 mile hill she leaves me in her dust as I have to walk and catch my breath (I really felt like I was gonna pass out). Finally I crest the big ass hill and head down the other side. There is a nice downhill before another steep but not as long hill (this one was only about a mile). As I am nearing the top of this hill I see srlopez's pink shirt ahead of me so I speed up to catch up with him and see how he is doing. I talked to him for a few mins until he smokes me on a long downhill section. This downhill section is also where my achilles that was slightly bothering me on the last uphill section starts to really hurt. We finally enter a relatively flat section and it is hurting me. I end up having to walk some (only 3 miles from the finish) just because it hurts so bad but I finally suck it up and run on into the finish right behind a nice lady that I had a good conversation with who was running the marathon. I see my friends screaming go banana and then I am at the finish line and my aunt is handing me my medal and Sierra is pulling off the nasty ankle chip. I was so out of it that I barely recognized Sierra (I recognized her, but couldn't place her). I proceeded to the med tent for some ice and found my buddy from the start line in there white and shivering but proud of her fast finish. I then went and got a beer and a hot dog and sat in the sun with my buddies before heading back to my aunt and uncles house.<br><br>
I was cursing my friend who had the bright idea of signing up for this race and then switching to the 10K and leaving me to run the half by myself while I was running up those big ass hills, but I actually enjoyed it a lot despite the achilles issues. I even PRd with what I consider a pretty crappy time for me (based on my training runs) of 2:21:XX. I think I will be back next year, but will hope for better weather and a healthy body.