by milesflyby

Ann Arbor Half Marathon Recap

*This year’s medal for the Ann Arbor Marathon*

I debated whether it would be a good idea to run the Ann Arbor Half Marathon this year since it fell a week before the Detroit Free Press Marathon – my goal race this fall. My training schedule called for a 12-mile run with half of it at marathon pace that day anyway. It would just be an extra mile and I’d aim to be smart and not “race” it. Yeah right. I decided to sign up after I received a discount code from Epic Races for participating in one of their other races. I knew I really wanted to do it since I’ll take any excuse to get back to the land of the University of Michigan and because I’ve enjoyed the race so much the last three years in a row.

I basically cancelled out the discount by opting to pay a fee to have my bib and shirt mailed to me. The half marathon requires people to do that or to attend the expo the day before the race. I was able to make it to the expo last year because I had plans to catch a concert in town and stay overnight. Otherwise, it really doesn’t make sense for me to drive an hour out to Ann Arbor then an hour back home on Saturday, then do it all over again on Sunday. I’m thankful I had the option to have my packet mailed to me.

Just like last year, I went to a concert the night before the race. This time it was in Detroit rather than Ann Arbor so I drove home afterward and probably got around 4.5 hours of sleep since I left the house by 6:00 the morning of the race. It’s the sacrifice I’m willing to make when I love both music and running and want to do it all!

One bonus for having the race on a Sunday is that street parking is free. I got to town an hour before the race started and was able to find a spot a couple blocks away. I made a bathroom stop, did a half mile jog to warm up, then dropped warm clothes at gear check about 20 minutes before the 8:00 start. It was in the high 40s and I was concerned I might be cold standing around in a t-shirt while I waited, but between my jog and the anticipation of the race, I was fine. I lined up in the corral early enough to situate myself right by the pace group I hoped to follow. Last year I hit gear check later and faced a line, then it was hard to get where I wanted to be in the corral and I started farther back than I should have. I learned my lesson for this year.

I knew I should be disciplined with my pace since I was in taper mode for the marathon. My goal marathon pace is around 8:00/mile so I figured I could stay behind the 1:45:00 pacer for at least half of the race and maybe go ahead after that if I felt good.

We started in small waves every few minutes to help ease congestion and I went off near the front of the second wave. The wave start was especially helpful for coping with a tight spot around road construction in the first mile.

*If you look closely enough you can spot me, always smiling for photographer Greg Sadler!*

I’ve only had success sticking with a pace group a couple of times but this wasn’t one of those times. Despite being a couple people behind the pacer in the corral, I lost him immediately in the bustle of the start. I was able to get moving at my ideal pace fairly easily and ran the first mile in 7:51 yet I still couldn’t catch the pacer.

Last year we started an hour earlier in the dark which I believe was due to a request from the city so the roads could open up earlier. It also rained during that race so I didn’t take photos along the course. I made up for that this year by taking tons of photos of the scenic route. Fog kept us from seeing much of a sunrise but it was still pretty running past the Michigan and State Theatres through downtown Ann Arbor.

Prior to the start, race director Eva Solomon made an announcement about a narrow spot due to construction. Unfortunately I didn’t realize that until later because the guys next to me in the corral were talking so loudly I couldn’t hear anything she said. As we ran down State Street, we shifted to the sidewalk to get around the torn-up portion of the street. It didn’t get too clogged thanks to the wave start staggering runners every few minutes.

*The course narrowed for a brief stretch on State Street*

The inconvenience was fairly brief. We crossed over by the art museum and soon enough we were back out on the road running past the scenic law quad.

*Another perspective of the law quad, thanks to Greg Sadler Photography*

One of the perks of this race is getting to run around the campus of the University of Michigan, my alma mater. The only running I did during my time there was around the indoor track at the gym so I enjoy getting to run around a little chunk of campus now that I’m a “real” runner.

*Running past a building that didn’t exist when I went to school there!*

After a couple miles we worked our way out to Geddes Ave. which has some rolling hills. One of my fastest miles of the race was the fourth mile when I gained a lot of momentum running downhill. Each time I run that stretch I think about how I ought to get out there when I’m training for the Boston Marathon because it can help simulate the quad-pounding downhills of that race.

*Rounding a corner on Geddes, about to head down a hill*

*The map and elevation, which shows the drop a few miles into the race*

The foggy scenery was kind of nice as we ran past a golf course.

We ran along Huron River Dr. for a stretch before heading down to a path that runs along the river.

I have run this race four times and have experienced a slightly different course each time. The core of it has been the same but there have been tweaks every year – probably because of construction in a different spot each time. We didn’t run on as much of the Border to Border (B2B) trail last year so I was thankful this stretch was a part of the course again this year because it’s especially scenic.

*A little taste of fall colors along the B2B trail*

I was halfway through the race when I finally caught up to the pace group. Does it mean I was technically disciplined since I didn’t pass the 8:01 pace group until halfway through the race as planned…even though my watch said I was averaging 7:45/mile at that point? Early on I heard some guys speculate that the pacer might be going out fast to help bank time for the hilly section that would come later. When the course ended up running extra long for me, I realized it was necessary to go faster than 8:01 to actually hit that 1:45:00 time successfully.

*I couldn’t resist taking a bunch of pictures here*

By the time I was halfway through the race the fog had broken and it turned into a pretty day. Thankfully it was in the low 50s which felt perfect to me.

I know things get tough when we approach the hospital 10 miles into the race. There’s a good uphill climb at that point. I had actually been there a couple weeks earlier because my niece Zoe was born there!

A major change to the course this year came when we got to the Arboretum – aka “the Arb” segment. We entered the Arb where we usually exit. Once again, thanks to construction! It got a little congested at this point because the marathon and half marathon runners started to share the course with people doing the 10K.

*Another perspective of the entrance to the Arb*

Taking a set of stairs down to the trail was something new this year. I’m thankful that Epic Races keeps finding ways to adapt each year so we can keep running the race even as construction pops up all over. I’m sure it creates challenges with mapping out the course.

*A blurry action shot flying down the stairs*

The Arb is such a gorgeous part of the race. It was nice to run along a trail through the woods for a bit. The Arb hill is known as the toughest part of the race. Even though we ran a completely different route through the Arb, we definitely still got a hill! It wasn’t one steep climb like we’ve had in the past but rather a longer climb that just kept going. I ran 8:26 for the eleventh mile which was 30 seconds slower than my second slowest mile. It sure was pretty though!

*It was a pretty day for some trail running*

*The climbing helped space people out and I was on my own for a brief moment*

Once I came out of the Arb I had a couple miles to go and got my pace back to where it had been prior to that mile. I had to do a little more weaving around some of the 10K people, and as I got closer to the finish, some 5K people as well.

*Thanks to Greg Sadler’s team for some great photos!*

During the last couple miles I also saw some of the fastest marathon runners going out for a second loop of the course.

*Heading toward the finish on one side of the road as marathoners went back out on the other*

The inconvenience of the construction on State Street was more noticeable on the way back simply because people running each of the races were on the same narrow stretch of sidewalk with a variety of paces. I was able to get by on the left well enough and it didn’t seem to slow me down.

Things opened back up soon enough and I knew I’d get a nice long stretch along Liberty to let loose with a downhill segment helping me out by the end.

*It’s so cool getting to run through this town*

I managed to run a 7:01 pace for the thirteenth mile, then instead of having .1 left, I still had .43 more according to my watch. That was nearly half a mile at a 6:40 pace. So much for being disciplined and taking it “easy.”

*Around the corner to the final stretch*

My official time was 1:43:21 which averaged out to 7:53/mile. Since my watch claims I did quite a bit more, it had me down for a 7:42 pace.

I know well enough that it’s rare for me to actually run the shortest possible distance on a race course even when I aim to run the tangents. My watch is not always reliable either and it showed me running through buildings rather than on the street when we were downtown. It’s typical for me to end up with 13.2 miles in a race rather than 13.1, but going over 13.4 was a bit more extreme. I’m sure construction along the course and a different route through the Arb could have contributed to some of that. It’s just nice to know that I would have been even closer to 1:40:00 minus some of the extra distance.

Mile six is when I found myself actually by the pace group and when I kept it the most under control. I’d been in a rhythm of going faster though, so when someone else broke around them on the left to pass, I took that chance to follow. I was actually fairly consistent for most of the race. That just meant I was consistently faster than I had intended to be on this day! I felt good and it can be hard to hold back.

*A closer look at the medal, which came with a little charm that can be detached*

I went to the post-race celebration area and saw my friend Angie who was helping Epic Races at the merch tent and talked to her for a few minutes. Standing around there only tempted me to buy something, of course.

*I didn’t really NEED another hoodie but couldn’t resist this cozy one in UofM’s colors*

Then it was time to get my warmer clothes from gear check and walk through the food line. I got some of my favorites that Epic always has to offer – pancakes, an egg and cheese wrap, and a cookie.

*Another place to pose – after I got some warm clothes*

I stopped by the awards table and found that I was first in my age group! I could pick a coaster or a keychain and opted for the keychain.

I thought about going to treat myself to some donuts from Washtenaw Dairy and sent a text to my friend Beth to see if she was around. She lives right by the dairy and I stopped to visit her after the race the first year I did it. I lucked out and was able to see her and her family for a little bit before their day got busy.

*Running a half marathon is a perfect excuse to enjoy some donuts from Washtenaw Dairy*

I walked back by the finish line on my way out, thinking about how the marathon finishers at that point were probably around the pace that I would run for the marathon. Now I’ll see how that pans out for me on October 19 when I get my shot. I ran easy the day after the race and felt fine so I don’t think I beat myself up too much. Between the 20-miler at the Fox Valley Marathon at the end of September, this solid half marathon, and some good training, I should be in good shape and will hope everything comes together on race day.

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

08.12.25

by milesflyby

Bridge to Brew Half Marathon Recap

It looks like this August’s race schedule is going to play out exactly like 2023’s – the Bridge to Brew half marathon this past weekend, the Swim to the Moon 5K this upcoming weekend, and the 10-mile race at Crim the following weekend. Just like 2023, I signed up for Bridge to Brew a couple days before the race. I originally had other plans for the weekend so the race was not on my radar this year. I caught up with my friend Amy during a run earlier in the week and when she mentioned that she had registered for it, I realized I was actually free because my plans had changed. I hesitated to register because I knew it would be warm and humid and it could be a tough day for racing. I still had to run 18 miles for marathon training either way and it would be very helpful to have water stops every couple miles at the race. I enjoyed the scenery while running through Port Huron a couple years ago and knew it would be nice to hang out with Amy too so I finally went for it. It certainly helped that it only cost $50, even at the last minute. That’s a bargain compared to most half marathons.

My routine in 2023 worked so well that I basically did the same thing this year. The race took place at 7am on Sunday, August 10 and I arrived in Port Huron at 5:30 to allow myself time to run five miles before the race. I wore my headlamp and light-up vest because I started in the dark. I wasn’t the only one out by the water that early though – plenty of people had their fishing rods set up already.

*The sun starting to rise by the Blue Water Bridge*

I was a bit early for the full-blown sunrise but still got to see some nice colors and enjoyed the view as I ran up past the Blue Water Bridge.

These views were part of my motivation for signing up for the race. It also made it much more tolerable to add five extra miles beforehand.

It’s pretty cool to run under one of the major crossings between the U.S. and Canada.

*A view that makes it worth waking up early*

Although I enjoyed the views, I knew I couldn’t stay there to observe very long because I still had to pick up my packet and get ready for the race with about half an hour to spare.

Like the first year I ran this race, I came back to find a ridiculously long line for the few porta potties they had. There were four together and one slightly further down the road. Based on the line, they really ought to add a few more. Fortunately there was no line for packet pickup so I got my bib and shirt easily.

Since it was already extremely gross with the humidity nearly maxed out and temps around 70°, I changed into a fresh hat and shirt following my warm up and swapped a bottle of water for a fresh bottle with my Skratch electrolyte drink. I also ate half of a Picky Bar figuring I needed something after running five miles while also not eating too much 20 minutes before the race.

Because I had scoped out some other porta potties during my pre-race run, I knew that I could jog out to one by the water about a quarter mile away that wouldn’t have a line. That also allowed me to get one more glimpse of the sunrise over the St. Clair River.

I still had a good 10 minutes to spare by the time I got back to the starting line. I lingered a little bit behind the arch because I didn’t plan on being one of the leaders!

Eventually people were encouraged to move closer. I stayed where I was and hoped the truly speedy people would fill in the gap.

*I left some space in hopes that the fastest people would move up front*

The half marathon had 225 finishers so I still had plenty of people behind me!

The race started with a loop through the downtown area before we worked our way toward the water. The best parts of the race were the gorgeous views along the St. Clair River. I caught a few gnats on my face and neck during my warm up and during the race, but fortunately it wasn’t very buggy out there. Sunglasses were smart for trying to keep them out of my eyes though!

I took a couple photos as I approached the Blue Water Bridge then kept my phone away for the rest of the race. It didn’t take long before I was dripping with sweat, my shorts were drenched, and I didn’t need to screw around with trying to defog my camera lenses!

We caught a little glimpse of the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse and ran on sidewalks by some really nice waterfront homes. We turned away from the water for several miles and ran past a cemetery, Port Huron Northern High School, a golf course, then did a loop in a neighborhood. Since it was an out-and-back course it was fun to see the leaders of the race going by in the opposite direction. I was on the lookout for Amy and we gave each other a big high-five when we passed each other. I was able to gauge that I was probably among the top 10 or 11 women by the turnaround.

Because it was such a warm and gross morning I didn’t have big ambitions to run one of my faster times. My main goal was to see if I could aim for marathon pace – somewhere around an 8:00 average. I’m about 10 weeks out from the Detroit Free Press Marathon so if I could pull that off it would be a great training run for me. I started a little fast during the downtown stretch with a 7:49 first mile then settled into a good rhythm and consistently ran just above or below an 8:00 pace. I was thankful for the water stops every couple miles and grabbed a cup of water at nearly every one. After a couple sips I dumped the rest on my neck in hopes of cooling myself down a little bit. I ate a couple Clif Bloks during the run as well as a couple salt chews.

By the time I got back to the bridge and had a couple of miles to go, it was definitely getting harder to maintain my pace. I passed a woman somewhere around that point but then it seemed like there was a huge gap between me and other half marathon runners. It was hard not having anyone to chase or keep me in a rhythm. I often get some great race photos with a big smile but I couldn’t even fake that in the late miles of this race!

*I had to force my smile at this point!*

The 12th mile was my slowest of the race at an 8:12 pace. I did manage to drop below 8:00 for the rest of the race though. I passed a few 5K runners/walkers in the last mile or two, then gave what I had left at the finish. I thought I might manage to run 1:45:00 but I was a little over since I ended up running an extra tenth of a mile according to my Garmin. My official time was 1:45:38 which was good for first in my age group! I was especially happy when I saw that I managed to do so in a 10-year age group category rather than the more typical 5-year age groups.

There was a sprinkler after the finish line as well as bottles of water and Gatorade in a pool filled with ice. They knew people would be hot after this race so things like that were helpful. Although I had dumped some water on my neck, my shorts were completely drenched from the sweat, not from the cups of water. It was a warm and challenging day for running and I’m glad I held up so well.

Amy told me her goal pace for the day so I had a general idea when to watch for her. I was able to cheer her in by the finish.

Getting to hang out with Amy after the race was a major bonus!

Based on the first time I did this race I knew the post-race snacks might not be real substantial so I had a protein Picky Bar in the car. I also ate a couple of the granola bars, some fruit snacks, and a slice of watermelon provided by the race. There was also a place where people could purchase beer, thus the Bridge to Brew name of the race.

The awards ceremony for the half marathon runners took place an hour after I finished so I was glad to have Amy there as we waited. She was kind enough to take a little video and some photos as I collected my age group win – a hat from On Running and a Bridge to Brew glass.

Amy said she likes to take the scenic route home and make stops along the way so she inspired me. When I looked at the map to figure out what to aim for I saw Palmer Park and Boardwalk in St. Clair, about 20 minutes south. That sounded promising so I drove there and looked around for a few minutes. It was a beautiful spot!

By then I was ready to get home and get out of my shorts that were still soaking wet. It had been a pretty gross day for running but that’s been the case for a good chunk of this summer and I still need to get my runs in regardless. Even though the humidity is usually at its worst first thing in the morning it helped that the race started early enough to avoid some of the heat of the day – it climbed into the 90s later. I always seem to find some reason to neglect the speedwork in my marathon training plans and the heat has been my main excuse this summer. At least doing this race helped me pick up the pace so I can see that I’m already in shape enough to run half of a marathon at my goal pace. It gave me a nice change of scenery with a flat course plus an excuse to hang out with Amy at yet another race. It sure was a better option than slogging my way through a long run somewhere around home. I find that doing a bunch of races in the summer really helps me work on speed and gets me through those long run days. I have plans for several more as I keep working my way toward my next marathon in October!

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

05.12.25

by milesflyby

Pittsburgh Half Marathon Recap

The Pittsburgh Marathon wasn’t really on my radar as a race I should do until a year ago. I was in town the first weekend of May for a Matt Nathanson concert and visited my cousin Heather and her husband John for lunch the day of the show. They mentioned that it was marathon weekend and since the concert was in that area of downtown, I decided I’d check out the expo at the convention center prior to the show. Of course doing that just made me feel like I was missing out and nearly tempted me into sticking around the full weekend. I couldn’t pull that off last year but I decided then and there that I should sign up for the 2025 half marathon. Last year’s race fell three weeks after I ran the Boston Marathon and I figured maybe it would be just enough time for me to recover and get through it.

Fast forward a year to the spring of 2025. At some point I realized that because of Boston’s timing this year, I only had TWO weeks between the races. Oops. That felt a little ambitious considering how I usually take some time off post-marathon to recover then start a slow build back. I figured I’d have to play it by ear and if the choice seemed too questionable, maybe I’d just have to bail.

My run in Boston went really well this year and I was surprised how good I felt in the days following the race. I had a little stiffness and soreness for a few days but I never struggled with the stairs, which is usually a given after most of my marathons. I only took three days off after the race and ran four miles on both the Friday and Sunday following the race. I seemed to feel okay and when I ran seven miles later the next week at a good pace so I was hopeful that I could get through the half marathon.

The drive to Pittsburgh usually takes somewhere around 4.5 hours with no stops. I made a stop or two and had to cope with rain for much of the drive, but I had left early enough on Saturday morning to get to the expo by noon.

Like last year, I was impressed by the size and the variety of vendors at the expo. I believe Adidas has exclusive rights at the Boston expo now and it hasn’t been the same since I was there in 2019. Pittsburgh’s expo is more along the lines of what I hope for. They had a ton of merchandise and plenty of interesting booths to check out. Brooks Running was there and I picked up a sticker and a little bag. I managed to restrain myself from making any purchases, especially after having just bought a bunch of stuff in Boston.

The rain continued all day on Saturday so it seemed like a perfect time to check out the Heinz History Center. I’d been curious about it and had never been. There was quite a variety of stuff to browse and I especially enjoyed some of the sports displays, a Mister Rogers exhibit, and a bunch of Heinz items.

I was lucky that Heather and John were in town and I didn’t want to hassle them with my very early race morning wake-up, so I got a hotel a couple miles down the road from them. We met up and went out to dinner and it was really nice to catch up with them. They are great athletes themselves so we always have plenty to talk about!

I left the hotel just after 5:00 the next morning and made it downtown by 5:30. Although I basically had zero expectations for the race other than enjoying the scenery and getting through the distance, I still had some nerves. My biggest logistical concerns were finding a good place to park, wondering if it would rain, and battling bathroom lines.

John gave me some tips about where to park and I ended up in a garage for $10 near the baseball park on the North Shore. I had plenty of time to spare before the 7:00 start and took a nice walk across one of the bridges that looked extra pretty while lit up.

One stressful factor was eliminated, and another when it seemed like the rain was going to hold off. I’m okay with some rain while running but it’s less ideal while waiting around for the start of a race. After I crossed the bridge I came upon the road where we’d branch off to enter the corrals and saw plenty of porta potties with lines. I figured if I got farther away from the start the lines would lessen…and I was right. I made my way to the gear check area to drop my bag of clothes for after the race. They had several trucks with no lines and tons of porta potties with no wait at all.

It was around 60 degrees so I kept a heat sheet with me in case I got chilly before the start. After doing a warm up mile around Point State Park, the humidity really hit me and I didn’t have to worry about being cold. Now I was hoping the humidity wouldn’t get to me too much during the race.

It was nice having access to the porta potties with no lines by gear check, but then I had to battle my way through the very congested street to get up to my corral. With around 12,300 half marathon runners and 3,700 marathoners, this was a pretty large race. I was thankful that I was in the “A” corral and made it there with enough time to spare before the 7:00 start. Now that everything else was done, I “just” had to run!

As usual, the first mile or two was pretty congested. I saw the 1:50 pacer up ahead and thought that might be a good pace to aim for but I couldn’t work my way through people to get to them. Even with the crowd, I managed to run 8:00 for the first mile and 7:56 for the second. It’s probably good that it was congested so I didn’t get too out of control and go even faster. It’s easy to get into the rhythm of everyone around me while I’m fresh and running feels easy, but that can come back to bite me in the later miles.

While it had seemed like rain could be a concern, we actually ended up with sun and blue skies during the early miles of the race. The roads were wet so I had to be cautious around any painted lines on the roads because they were extra slick. I also kept wondering if the humidity would impact my race. I wasn’t acclimated to it at all and knew it could wear me down. I started to feel a little tired 5-6 miles into the race and questioned if I’d be able to maintain my pace. Although I started out feeling faster than I had expected, that post-marathon fatigue might be catching up with me. I noticed that I ran the sixth mile in 7:36 so maybe THAT was why things felt a little more challenging! I had figured an 8:00 average might be the most I could aim for if I felt good so that faster mile was pushing it a bit. The course was rolling though, so I may have hit a stretch with some downhills that helped speed me up some too.

One of my main goals for the race was to enjoy the scenery and I definitely did. It was fun to run through the streets of downtown Pittsburgh. We ran past the baseball park and football stadium. We ran past the Duquesne Incline, and we got some great views of the Pittsburgh skyline. I loved running across multiple bridges. Sometimes that meant a bit of a hill to climb as we started to cross over, but none of them were too taxing. Plus, any incline at the start of the bridge meant we’d get a nice decline at the end!

Somehow I managed to keep hovering somewhere around an 8:00 pace consistently through the race. I was thankful that I wasn’t too beat up from Boston and able to run a solid race. Whenever I mentioned my plans to run in Pittsburgh, the first response from people was, “It’s going to be hilly, isn’t it?” I can’t speak for the marathon course but the half really wasn’t too bad. I knew that I could expect a climb around 11-12 miles and that was my slowest part of the race. Still, I ran an 8:14 mile there so it didn’t bother me too much! It took a bit more work, and somewhere around that point I came across and passed the 1:45 pacer. That meant I was on track to come in under an 8:00 average!

Although a climb late in the race can be challenging, it was literally all downhill after that. I rolled with that momentum and flew through the 13th mile in 7:16. That helped make up for going a little slower during the previous mile and it made me feel extra strong through the end. I ended up breaking 1:45 with an official time of 1:44:36.

I worked my way through the finish line area and collected my medal, a heat sheet, food, and made a couple stops for photos.

I got my stuff from gear check and walked over to the celebration area at Point State Park. There were a bunch of booths and a tent with merch. I had resisted buying anything at the expo but I loved the race so much that I ended up caving. I got a Brooks Canopy Jacket which is one of my favorites to wear in the rain. I liked getting something that had the bridge design on it to help me remember the fun of running over a bunch of them. I also spotted a water bottle that doubles as a foam roller which I’d never seen before. It seemed like a genius idea that would be great for me while traveling so I had to get one of those too.

I had put in a hard enough effort that my stomach was pretty angry afterward. Sometimes it seems like my stomach takes a bigger beating than my legs lately. That’s not great when I still had to drive home. I had thoughts of stopping at Primanti Bros. to treat myself to a monster sandwich but that wasn’t going to work. Instead, I settled for a smoothie and muffin at a service center in Ohio. The drive home was manageable enough, but then the rain started again, I got stuck behind two separate flipped semi incidents within a mile of each other, and time just dragged. Still, the trip was definitely worthwhile.

I’ve been starting to question if I’ve reached a point where maintaining such a consistent and solid running base has allowed me to recover more easily. I haven’t felt too beat up after doing the 4-day Disney combo in January followed by Boston in April and this half a couple weeks later. I’ve always wondered how some people manage to run marathons so frequently. I never felt like my body was at a point where I could handle that until recently. It’s tricky finding a balance between pushing to another level and making sure I don’t get injured. I believe I’ll back off a bit until I start to prepare for a marathon in October. I’ll mix in at least a couple triathlons this summer. I’m heading into that training reluctantly right now because I just want to keep pushing my running! It’s probably wise to change things up a bit after going so hard for half a year though. I’m glad I committed to the Pittsburgh half and followed through with it. Everything worked out and I really loved this race. I might have to scope out the elevation before I’d consider the marathon there, but it was such a great experience that I’d definitely be interested in going back.

– Janet

Follow me on Instagram @janetboltz

Miles Fly By

Janet's training, racing & other stuff

Tag Archives: half marathon

Ann Arbor Half Marathon Recap

Bridge to Brew Half Marathon Recap

Pittsburgh Half Marathon Recap