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Officially, I ran the Rock n' Roll Half Marathon in 1:57:03.  And I do mean I ran it.  I walked through most of the water stations, and up a couple of hills toward the end, but I ran just about the entire 13 miles--with Catherine alongside me.  It was the slowest race I've ever run, yet the most satisfying.

I felt pretty lousy on Friday.  I had to get up early on Thursday and Friday, and my body didn't react well.  Despite the fact that for five years I got up at 3:15 a.m. to anchor a morning show, I much prefer to sleep late.  It's better on my consititution. 

Saturday morning, I wasn't thrilled with the prospect of having to get up at 5 a.m. to get to the starting line, but with some 30,000 people expected to run this thing, I knew it was gonna be a Gong Show at the start.  We needed to get there early.  We went to bed at about 8:30 the night before.  That was a great call.  My stomach was still bothering me a bit, but I was able to get enough sleep to feel a bit refreshed.  I told Catherine that if I made it through the race without anything coming up or coming out, that would be a victory in itself.

This was the inaugural Seattle Rock n' Roll Marathon, so we really didn't know what to expect.  The Rock n' Roll Marathon Series, as it is called, began in San Diego, and has now branched out to several other cities all over the country.  I will say this: they know how to host a great marathon.  They had it completely dialed in.

The starting staging area was as chaotic as we imagined.  It was at held at some random office park in Tukwila.  The traffic was pretty heavy coming in.  We had devised a brilliant transportation plan.  While most people parked near the finish line at Qwest Field and utilized the marathon's shuttle service to the starting line, we parked our car in Tukwila.  We had also parked a car at King Street Station to relay us back to Tukwila after the race, and we'd each drive a car home.  More on that brilliant plan later. 

The first thing Catherine wanted to do, was use the sani-can.  They can never have enough Honey Buckets at these things.  Everybody is hydrating before the race, so everybody has to to pee.  We got in line at about 6:15.  Catherine waited in line for the can until 6:59.  I dashed off and used the bushes in front of an office in the park.  A couple of times.  There were dozens of guys soiling other storefronts.  I can just see the marathon organizers selling the office park folks on the idea: "Think of all the great advertising you'll get with all of these runners here.  Of course, there will be pools of other people's urine on your property come Monday, but hey!  A small price to pay."  I've wondered why they had this marathon on Saturday rather than Sunday, and maybe I just figured it out.  An extra day for the area to dry out. 

With one minute until the start of the race, we ran to the starting gate, where they had runners bunched into over a dozen different "corrals".  I was supposed to be in corral one, but we got there far too late.  We ended up starting the race at about 7:20.  

During this marathon, there are stages set up every mile, where bands perform live, although towards the end of the half marathon, some of the bands were taking a break.  Two words for you: BAD FORM!  Do we get to take break during the race? No!  So, neither do you!  It's a marathon, and you're getting paid to rock.  So, keep on Rockin'!  And you don't stop!

The weather was perfect.  The course was fast and scenic.  It was a pretty brilliant course layout.  We travelled from Tukwila to Seward Park, along Lake Washington Boulevard to I-90 and the up to the viaduct to Qwest Field to finish.  I have to say, the race was one of the best I've ever taken part in, and I predict that with a dearth of summer marathons, folks will come to Seattle in droves to take part in this race.  We have a hit on our hands, and I hope Seafair and the city realize it.

About mile 12, Catherine says, "Oh no! You're not gonna believe this. I left the keys to my car in your car at the starting line." Our brilliant plan completely backfired.  We had to hitch a ride back to Tukwila to pick up my car at the pee-stained start, and then trek back to the finish line to pick up Catherine's van.  Oh well.  Gave us more time to relish the day, and enjoy the scenery.