Half Marathon 100?! What?! 😲
Wyoming was one of the difficult states to chose a race because I had already been to Yellowstone and Jackson Hole on vacation when I ran Idaho. Wanting to see something different, but also with limited races in the state already, I settled on Cody which has access to 'beyond' Yellowstone. It was good to see Wyoming is more than that a tourist factory!
The race was much smaller than anticipated. So much so one would wonder why I chose it for such a lofty celebration🤔 But the small town friendly vibe and big views made up for it all!
The race starts at the City Park in downtown Cody which basically just consists of a small strip of shops and restaurants and dont forget infamous Buffalo Bill's Irma hotel named after his daughter. If you dont know Buffalo Bill, you will after you leave Cody! Visiting Old Trail Town is highly recommended as a first stop on your Cody tour to get an understanding of the areas history.
Anyways back to the race, a field of only about 50 doing the half and 50 doing the 10k, i was a little nervous lining up. Not only to be last, but to get lost on the open to traffic streets! But the support was top notch. They had people not only directing traffic but held flags to wave you in the right direction in case you missed the ground markings at the turns.
The race does a loop of the city with distant views of the surrounding mountains. Cody sits at an elevation of about 5,000. There were a few hills to keep the race challenging enough. Right when this Florida gal was about to complain, i thought, 'who wants an Easy race for their 100th half marathon?!'
The day started cool but warmed quickly, or maybe i just didnt run fast enough. My breath escaped me around halfway and I never fully recovered.
I had a good pace in the beginning, I even stayed ahead of this couple that I just knew were going to beat me, but in the moment they were my motivation to make sure I was giving it my all. We chatted a minute as they passed and asked about my 50 states, saying how beautiful Florida was and me saying how beautiful Cody was. He simply said 'I guess its all about perspective.' And Im not sure why but that hit hard because it is so true. Yall running has never been easy for me. Its just plain hard. 100 half marathons (and 9 full and many smaller) and amazingly its still hard! But every race I still get out there and try to find the best of each one. There is always something good in a race whether it be the views, the support, the comradery; and if you look hard enough, you will find life lessons in every race. Maybe thats why i continue to run. I could focus on the pain or i could smile at the beautiful opportunities I have been given to be able to endure such pain and come out stronger every time!
As I approached the last hill which went on for what seemed a mile, a guy at the top said to me "no one said it would be easy!" I laughed out loud and said "Ive GOT this!" as I took his words to reference my entire 100 half marathon, 9 full marathon, and 46 state journey with the next 3 races coming up back to back! Nope, this hasnt been easy and I wouldnt change a damn thing!
The last aid station with 1 mile left handed me bacon and beer-I took it for my 'victory lap' and headed to the Finish.
The Finish consisted of a well enjoyed freshly made milkshake. They also had local beer and couple of food trucks to purchase lunch. I cheered and congratulated the 2 guys who completed their 50th state and could only think how that is going to be me in just 4 more states!
The night before the race I stayed at Cody Trout Ranch Camp in a tipi along the Shoshone River for a unique experience. The bonfire at night next to the water under the stars was amazing. After the race I headed to a spa Airbnb called Japanese Cabin at Heart Mountain that was on an organic farm; the Big Quiet. It was a magical experience and i got to recover with a soaking tub and sauna and a homemade Cowboy pancake breakfast with the farmers sausage.
Ventures in the area included driving thru Buffalo Bill State Park to Waipiti Lodge for homemade meatloaf and live music with a sunset view, driving to Red Lodge MT for the Beartooth Hwy to Cooke City, and then Chief Joseph Hwy for Dead Indian Pass. All of this completed the circle around Heart Mountain which also has its own history lesson. Wyoming was a nice escape from reality to the peaceful Cowboy outdoor living.
Half Marathon 100
State 46
13.1-2:51
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