BLOGS: Jim takes on Soda Springs half-marathon

This weekend's running adventure: the Wild West Half Marathon in Soda Springs! OMG, what a challenge! Big John, fellow RTO and regular running buddy, and I drove up to Soda Springs for the annual half marathon and 10k.

The event website said: Out and back on fairly level streets, fire trails, and single track trails, rolling, no major hills! Magnificent High Sierra scenery. Four aid stations on course.

In my book "no major hills" means no major hills. And Half Marathon means 13.1 miles.

The description should have said: Out and back on streets, fire trails with consistent, and at times significant, elevation gains. Entire 13.94 mile course ranges from 6,000 to 7,000 feet elevation.

And I'd change the name from Wild West to Butt Kicking Half Marathon. Seriously.

Big John and I thought we'd try to maintain an 8 minute mile pace. That didn't last long. But the event organizers were correct about the magnificent scenery.

The race started at the Summit Restaurant near the Soda Springs/highway 80 off ramp. The course was a "Y" configuration with three out-and-backs. They did a nice job fitting 14 miles into the Soda Springs area. The first out-and-back ran on paved roads and turned to dirt continuing out into the Sierra mountains full of granite and pine trees. Heading back to the second out-and-back, we ran along Soda Spring's big lake, Van Norden, where I noticed a bunch of these tiny frogs. I tried really hard not to step on them (tall order!).

I ended up with a 2:07:26 time (Nike SportsBand time) which averaged 9:09 minute mile pace. Not the time I hoped for but, considering the hills, I'm happy.

John and I ate some burgers at the Summit Restaurant after the run wondering if this could have been our toughest race to date.

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Jim Hemig blogs on his running adventures in the Reno, Tahoe, Truckee and Carson City area. Follow him on Run, Jim, Run: Go to nevadaappeal.com, opinion tab and click on blogs.