Milwaukee Rock n Sole -Jul 10, 2011


The Milwaukee Rock n Sole Half Marathon is part of a 2 week long concert series event called Summerfest that takes place every summer with 12 stages and bands including both local and big headliner artists. This was the inaugural year for the half marathon and 10k. Approximately 6500 runners registered with proceeds benefitting the Ronald McDonald House and Milwaukee World Festival.

The race had great intentions providing not only the usual technical shirts, medals, and beer at the finish, but also 2 days worth of entry into the Summerfest festivities, which in my mind was more than enough to make up for the registration fee , especially since I was going to be able to see Sugarland for the first time!

I arrived into Milwaukee the morning before race day and of course had to explore the city. Luckily for me, I learned my lesson from the Chicago race trip, and decided to take the Trolley around the city to explore instead of walking too much. They have a great service where you can hop on and off and it takes you to pretty much the most popular areas of the city.

After exploring some markets, and enjoying some local music at the Summerfest, I made it an early night at the Intercontinental. Or what I thought was going to be an early night, until I realized the windows were so light that I could hear the seagulls squawking. But wait, wasn’t it 11pm??? Ive never heard of such of thing. Living at the beach, our seagulls like to go to bed at night! I made it to sleep, but not without a couple more interruptions from my friends throughout the night.

Morning came quick, but I was feeling good and rested. That is, until horrible cramps started coming and my visitor decided to make an appearance and join the race! Great! Good thing I came prepared!

The hotel was about a mile and quarter away from start, so I headed out early enough to get some rest in before lineup. Walking out the door, I was slammed in the face with hot, humid, thick, not so pleasant temperatures…and it was only 630A!!…an hour and half before the race to even begin! Was I back in Florida?!? It was a scary feeling thinking how hot it was going to be! And here I was thinking I was coming up north to get away from the heat!!

The pre start area was great. They had opened up the entrance to Summerfest, so we not only had the porta potties , but we had the large restrooms as well, so there wasn’t really any lines. I never found the water that they said they had. So I was to start the race at 8a with the last water I dran at 6a.

The half marathon was to start 15 minutes before the 10k. Line up involved self corralling, which is usually a good idea, but turns out the road was not wide enough, or the pace times were not spaced out enough. There were definitely more 10-14minute pacers than 6-8minute! So line up had the Elites in the front, and then major gaps until the back where all of us were crammed together. Nonetheless, we waited on the curb for the shotgun, and weeded our way onto the road eventually. While we were crammed together waiting for some sort of start, I met a lady doing her first half marathon. She was very nervous about running with so many people. I tried to reassure her it would be great and she would love it!....little did I know what she was about to endure, and I now hope this race does not discourage her from running again!

I knew there was a bridge involved in this race that people had been talking about for weeks, but I also knew that if I could survive the Savannah bridge every year, I wasn’t going to be nervous. Little did I know that the very first few steps we were to take on this race was going straight up the bridge. What? No warm up laps? The course took you out for 3 miles and over the Hoan Bridge (which is almost 2 miles itself), then a turn around to go back over the bridge to start area where the 10k runners were to stop. The half marathoners were then to do an out and back along the lakefront for the remainder of the 7miles.

There wasn’t much height to the bridge, but it was enough to slow you down when you are not warmed up. In previous races I always look forward to the bridges, usually finding a second wind and am able to push through and pass people. This time around I was being passed by everyone. I was probably in the 12min pace group even though I had placed myself in 10minute.

Water stops were set up about every mile on the bridge and then mile and half there after. Water stop number 1 came and it was slammed packed, cups not set up and people stopped and waiting to be served. Great, I thought, another under staffed race. I got only a swallows worth and ran on.

Then water stop 2 came….without cups…yes, that is right. No cups! Starting to panic a bit because I was already over heated so early in the race, I started getting upset thinking I would have to run by without any water. Instead, people started putting their hands together to cup a swallow worth of water. Ok, fine, I can deal...for now. I then ran by the Medics just standing there with a couple of volunteers and yelled to them to get ready, that they are about to have some serious injuries if this was the way the race was to go! The 10k runners had not even started yet. Where they going to have cups for them?? At least more than half the half marathoners got cups. I just happened to be in the back of the group, which I have found in previous races leaves you with the leftovers of everything.

Then water stop number 3 came….and NO WATER!...yes, the nightmare was getting worse! I was flabbergasted! I started wondering, are they holding the water back for the 10k runners, and just not giving us any in the back of the pack? Would they really do that? That doesn’t make sense, but I asked a volunteer anyways, and got yelled at! What was going on?! I found myself in an absolute horrible mood! What kind of hell was I trapped in? I just wanted to give up. But how was I to make it back? I don’t have a choice but to run, or at least walk to the start/10k finish. I just want to get off this bridge! But I still have to go back over it the second time!

Water stop number 4 came and I noticed people picking up the dirty cups off the ground and refilling those, or grabbing one of the empty water jugs and using that. I grabbed an empty bottle and got it filled a good portion. But then I started feeling bad I took so much water, so I drank what I thought I needed and then left the bottle on a cone for anyone that desperately needed it.

The elite 10k runners were already passing me at this point. Did they get any water? Are they really going to go 6 miles without a drop of water in this heat? They must be used to this, but what about all these non elite runners…these first time runners…are they going to get water and cups to them in time?

Then all of a sudden a truck comes driving up the bridge and a man runs out with a case of water…..and CUPS!! I grabbed a drink, stuck the cup inside my shirt, thinking this might be the only clean one I would have for the rest of the race, and started back on my track. I was getting a better state of mind. At least I had a cup. Worse comes to worse, I will beg the supporters on the sidelines for some liquid. I started to enjoy the scenery from the bridge, and realize the hard part is over, its all easy downhill from here, and the rest of the course would be flat. I told myself I would not continue to be in a bad mood. I would not let other peoples attitudes affect mine, nor the loud late night sea gulls, nor the pmsing cramps, nor the lack of water.

About mile number 5 I was already starting to feel the effects of dehydration, starting to get the chills even though I was soaked in sweat. I realized this was not going to be a race of time, but a race of survival. I was already a good 5 minutes behind my pace. Going down the bridge, I got some thumbs up and praises over my pink ribbon tutu. I faked a smile, and then remembered, the old theory that tells you to smile when you are sad and it will make you happy. From there forward I kept a smile on my face. Im not sure if I was becoming delirious from the heat exhaustion, but I found myself laughing hysterically, making jokes with the volunteers, doing high fives for other runners, and giving the thumbs up to all the photographers for the remainder of the race!

We finally made it off the bridge and there was a split for the 10k to head to the finish and the half marathoners to continue on. There were a set of cones set up along the middle of the road, and I weaved in and out of them, teasingly debating which way I would go. I knew in the back of my mind there was absolutely no way that I would sign up for a half marathon and not complete it. That is just not me. And the same time, were the conditions going to get any better? Where the stations going to have water? Cups? Gatorade? Where was the Gatorade they promised? I laughed to myself and continued on the right track.

Within the next mile, I realized we were about to have a long trek in the sun. No shade at all. That is when I saw some runners stopping and turning around. I didn’t blame them. It was a difficult run for the next few miles. It reminded me of the Tampa 3 Day….temperatures mid day raising in the upper 90s and we were in nothing but heat and sun. I think previous years of heat exhaustion at The 3 Day helped me through this race. I knew what symptoms to look for, and I knew if I was to complete this race I was going to continue to need to take it easy. That meant walking. A lot. I found myself surrounded by a lot of other smart runners that were taking their time. They too just wanting to cross the finish line, not be carried.

Water station number 7 I noticed they had raised the Race Flags to Yellow....a ‘warning’ to take it easy. This was not a surprise to me for it being so hot in a northern city. We were right in front of the lake, just inches away from the sand, and I seriously asked a volunteer how cold lake Michigan was. I was going to run right in, my full outfit and all, I was already soaked. But I was told it was too big of a difference in temperature change with my body being over heated. And this is why I love smart volunteers that keep us safe!

At this point of the race I finally found my pacer…I always try to find someone that runs about my same speed that I usually keep an eye to secretly keep me motivated and competitive with more than just myself. I realize I have my second wind and I am ready to get some serious running in. The problem is, as soon as I start getting some good distance, I either get chills, feel my fingers tingle, or start to pee my pants. There was still no Gatorade, but I finally found some bananas and stuffed my mouth. The Gu I brought (thank God!) and bananas kept me alive. That and the wonderful families that brought out their kids water guns and sprayed us in the face with Ice Cold water!!

About mile 8 or 9 I notice people on the sidelines with medics. Lots of them. Some on stretchers being put in the ambulance. Some on oxygen. Some with cooling packs. This is a serious reality and I must make sure I am being realistic on how I am feeling. At this point the water stations now had full bottles of water for us to take. It’s a little late I yelled laughing at one of the volunteers. But I grabbed one dumped it on my head and grabbed another and stuffed it down my shirt, since I had no way to carry it, and carrying it in your hands takes energy.

We run up a cliff, through rich neighborhoods, and get some good shade for a while. There are lots of volunteers just lining the street. Just standing there. That is weird I thought. Did all the volunteers from the bridge come over to the end of the race? That is when I hear someone on the megaphone yelling the race is Black Flagged. The clock is stopped. And they were suggesting us to walk, not run. Wow. So this is what its like. I think I definitely had an upper hand in this race, being from Florida, used to the heat, and also used to running and walking in these conditions. I actually was feeling pretty good. Not PR (personal record) good. Not even make my usual time good. But good enough to finish a half marathon in a decent time. I looked at my Garmin. I was about 8 minutes behind my pace.

Since everyone was walking it was a good time to talk with some people. I got a chance to remind some women to Feel their Boobies, I met a cancer survivor, and I got a chance to cheer some people up with some laughs. I also took the opportunity to take some pictures which I had yet to do because I was too busy worrying about the conditions.

The shade was brief and we were back in the sun, but we were also in the home stretch! We had survived this hot ordeal! In the distance I could see the finish, and also some firemen with the hydrant spraying over the course into the lake.

I finished the race 11 minutes slower than my slowest race. Not too shabby for a Black Flag race if I do say so myself. It was a true test of mental stamina as well as physical. And I feel good knowing that I past it all with a good attitude, having the most fun that I possibly could, and not giving up.

I finished the night with a Sugarland concert which made it a perfect ending! Jennifer Nettles has the absolute best attitude... Smiling the entire concert and sending off such awesome energy!. You can not only hear her emotion and passion, but you can see it in her face. It is so contagious you can feel it in your soul when she sings. She sends out such a good message of life….a Positive attitude keeps love in your life no matter what comes your way!

13.1 Finish Time -2:57:37-

Black Flag