Oktoberfest Meiler Vier Recap

Race: Oktoberfest Meiler Vier
Distance:  4 miles  
Date:  Sept. 23, 2011, 6:15pm start time
Finish time:  1:01:21, 15:21 min/mile
What sets this race apart:  Oktoberfest festivities post race


It rained most of the morning leading up to this race, which brought about nearly perfect race weather.  It was cool, but not cold.   Surprisingly, the humidity wasn't bad either.


The race itself was a two mile loop through the parking lot and fairgrounds of the Ohio Expo Center during Columbus Oktoberfest.  The fact that the race started and ended by the Schmidt's food tents was the best part of the race!!!!  A couple of my racing friends dressed up for the event - which made it infinitely more enjoyable - if I do this race again, I must dress appropriately!

The gang!

The course itself could win the "ugliest course I've ever run" award though.  It was essentially a bunch of loops and whirls (where you could see the other part of the course just a few yards away) through parking lots, marked off with orange construction cones.  The "best" part (sarcasm should be noted) was running near the overpass where the cows for the festival were stalled....and all the wonderful smells that come with stalling cows.   It was nice that for the entire course, all running was on pavement, but in several areas there were some dangerous holes and angles in that pavement.  There was one water station near the start/finish line - which was also the midpoint line.


It was cool to run through the section in the fair between the food tents though - and the smells there certainly inspired speed!  Another cool aspect of this race was that it was chip-timed and M3S sports had it set up that your split and final times could automatically post to your Facebook page (if you set it up to do so).  I did, and got my results immediately. Nice!


One downside/humorous aspect to the parking lot course.  At one point in the first 2 mile loop - a truck was driving through the course.  I saw a course official sprinting after him yelling "Get that truck off my course!".   He was FAST!  (the race official, not the truck).  In general, the volunteers and others were quick to instruct anyone attempting to drive in the course area to get away from the course.  


My goal for this race was not to PR, and not even to run my normal speed.  My goal was to take it slow and allow my body to run for a longer period of time.  A secondary goal was not to be lapped by Mark.  I also, secretly, wanted to finish in less than 1:15.  Success on all accounts.  I purposely started with the 14 min pacers (Hi Laurie!!!).  Unfortunately, it was an uncomfortable pace for me.  I'm not good enough to walk at their walk speed...and it's a weird stride physically for me to run at.  So, my friend Deb and I sped up a bit, and did most of the first mile at a 13:20 min pace.  I was able to keep running with her until 1.3 miles, when I walked for a bit to keep my calves in control.  I was then able to run/walk most of mile 2.  I walked quite a bit in mile 3 - again as a preventative.  I then ran the last 0.5 miles.  Bottom line:  I ran more than I walked for the 4 miles - and was NOT in pain afterwards.  By far, the best "run" post-birth.  YAY!


Splits: Mile 1: 13:14, mile 2: 15:25, mile 3: 17:20, mile 4: 14:43


I ran across the finish line - to the cheers of my awesome running friends who waited for me to finish - and see Mark holding a giant beer.  LOL.  (Thank you LeDawn, who brought me a bottle of water instead!)  

Me and Mark post-race.  Mark with his beer, me with my water. 

Yes, the best part of this race was it's location....and the company.   We celebrated post-race with brats and cream-puffs...and many of the others also had beer.  

Post-race rewards.  I'm so good...I can float the beer I didn't drink...while holding my cream puff and brat!