Syracuse Half Recap! 2025

Our tenth half marathon and 6th Syracuse Half Marathon is in the books. Spoiler alert- I had a blast and finished feeling happy and proud!

I was disheartened last week to start coming down with a cold and spent most of the week feeling tired and blah. I was really hoping it would be out of my system by Sunday, it wasn't. I felt pretty grumpy Friday night to be heading into race/my birthday weekend feeling sub par.

I rallied a little when I met my sister (& nephew) for packet pickup.  Looking at my bib made me feel happy and excited. We snapped some pics and found or names on the wall.

Evan had to get in on the action too.

We parted ways in the parking lot.  Evan was apparently less than thrilled with the idea.

I headed to get groceries and then home to take it easy and hydrate.

Before bed I carefully planned and laid out my race gear. It was to be around 21 degrees at start time (brrrrr) I decided on a long sleeve and jacket, hat, fleece lined leggings.  Wearing my old running shoes because I did not get my new ones properly broken in and had not worn them for a run longer than two miles. Fruit snacks for fuel. I hoped my Stronger by the Mile shirt and Run Happy hat would inspire me 😉 And a previous Syracuse Half jacket to remind me, I could do this, I have done this! I did add a short sleeve top into the mix in the morning.

I went to bed early, hoping to wake up feeling halfway decent. But Bruno woke me up three times to go outside through out the night. After the last time just before 4 am, I just crashed on the couch and stayed there as long as possible before getting up to get ready.  I had a cup of coffee, and English muffin with peanut butter and honey. Rhett got up to wish me luck and pray over me before I headed off in the morning dark to Laura's house.

In only takes minutes to get to the race site from Laura's house and we arrived quickly and fairly easily.  We parked and made our way into the convention center. The line to the restroom was quite long so we decided to hop right in line and ended up waiting almost half an hour.

We waited until almost the last possible minute before heading out into the cold.

Start Line Selfie!

all the runners ahead of us at the start line

And then we were off! I was still feeling apprehensive as we began our first mile and it was so cold!

As we neared the Mile 1 marker Laura said she was going to take off, I waved my blessing, promising to listen to my tunes and enjoy the run. Although I felt pretty skeptical at that point still.  Mind you this is in the midst of probably the biggest hill on the course.  As soon as Laura pulled away, I slowed to a walk for the rest of the hill.  

A few texts from Laura, as well as getting her status updates helped me still feel connected to her.

This guy carrying the US flag passed me pretty early on. It always impresses me, these guys running with the flag for 13 miles!

In the beginning of mile two I noticed these two ladies and we kept playing cat and mouse as I'd pass them and then a little while later they'd pass me. I quickly realized they were doing a run/walk cycle and decided to just tuck in behind them and follow as long as possible running when they ran and walking when they walked. I soon realized it was working! I was feeling good, and knowing a short walk break was coming helped me keep me going. I followed them for probably 2/3rds of the race and was astounded how good I felt and how quickly the time and miles were rolling by.

Side note: my watch never linked up.  So the only indicator I had of how I was doing time wise was the updates I got from the race app at every mile. I found these so helpful and encouraging! 

Mile 7 I texted a selfie to Rhett telling him I was doing good!

In mile 8 a squirrel dashed across the street in front of me, it cracked me and the police officer at the intersection up. Looks like he wants to run the race too! He quipped. We shared a laugh as I trudged past.

I am so thankful for all the police officers and volunteers and spectators on the course.

Mile 9 I started to struggle to keep up with my unknowing pacers. By mile 10 they were long gone. Coincidently unbeknownst to me, my tracking also stopped working.

In mile 11 I was thinking about my sister and wondering if she'd finished. I pulled out my phone to see a notification at the tops of the screen saying she'd crossed mile 13 and then her FINISH notification popped up on my screen! I felt so happy to know she had finished and sent a quick text.

I kept running, I was next to another couple ladies and trying to stay with them to the finish. I was enjoying my music and continually telling myself I was almost there!

A few minutes later my phone started ringing in my earbud, I pulled it out of my pocket to see my sister's face on the screen.  After I answered her first questions was "Are you OK?!" 

"Yeah I'm fine I answered, I'm crossing mile 12". 

"Rhett and I were so worried! Your dot stopped moving!" 

She told me she was headed to where they last saw my dot moving. I'm at Salt City Market, she said Did you pass it yet?  No but I could see it! We met up moments later and she  texted Rhett to let him know I was alive and well.  After running with me a couple blocks she cut back to the finish line to wait for me.

I made that final turn and I could see the blue and green finish in the distance. I wanted to go faster but felt like I just couldn't.  Just keep moving, you'll get there! I told myself. 

Soon I saw Laura and grinned and waved as she snapped pictures of me heading into the finishers chute. I felt so triumphant crossing that finish line!

I texted Rhett and saw his distress text from a couple miles back.

Laura and I headed inside for post race snacks. We were severely disappointed to find out there were no pancakes this year and they had baked ziti instead. What?!? We wanted our pancakes, bacon and frozen syrup 😂  We did find the chocolate milk though.

We headed home feeling tired and cold but HAPPY!

Home I pulled in the drive way as Ryan was also arriving. We were celebrating my birthday, all the kids were coming and we were having pizza and wings YUM! I took a delightfully hot shower and donned my new race shirt for my birthday celebration.

Hannah made this exquisite cake

We sat at the table all afternoon, played games and chatted.

The kids gave me this painting of Bruno and Chance 💖

It was a spectacular day filled with delight!

Seeking Delight.... my Syracuse Half Race Recap

Saturday morning brought another winter storm.  I was sad our brunch was canceled but happy to stay home and cozy. 

My sister and I made plans to meet up at packet pick up later in the afternoon- once the weather had abated.

We were in and out in moments which felt a little anti-climatic.  We made plans to meet at her house in the morning and then said our good byes.  Only to bump into each other at Aldi minutes later.  So we did our grocery shopping together. 😂

In the evening Rhett and I went to the high school production of Les Misérables.... Hannah was on stage crew and all the kids did a phenomenal job.  I'm not even a big fan of Les Mis and was having a hard time following but I can appreciate the hard work and passion that went into it.  And three days later I'm still humming the songs :P

Finally home for the evening I set about deciding what to wear for the Half in the morning. The weather app was projecting about 14 degrees at start time much to my chagrin.  After much debate I decided on a long sleeve top, my jacket, my birthday T on top. Fleece lined black running leggings. A fleece head band and hat and gloves.

Immediately after snapping this picture Bruno snatched my socks and ran away.  Chance and I gave chase and cornered him in the living room after running upstairs, downstairs and all around the house.

I piled all my race stuff on the kitchen table. Set my alarm for 5 am and went to bed.

Bruno woke me up at 4 am to be let out. I laid on the couch for as long as possible afterword until I finally had to get ready to leave.  I choked down half a bagel with peanut butter and honey- feeling nauseously anxious.

I drove to Laura's in the early morning dark. The moon was huge and bright. I wish I had been able to take a picture. I arrived at Laura's hung out with the nephews for a few minutes while she finished getting ready and then we anxiously headed into Syracuse. There was a pretty long line of cars arriving at the race and it took awhile but we made it. We didn't remember having to wait so long before.  Once inside the convention center we quickly found our brother and sister in law. Chatted for a bit, made one last stop at the restroom and headed out into the cold to line up at the start.

Laura planned to run with me the whole time and be my dedicated race photographer. Our goal to have fun and enjoy the day.

We were on our way.  In the first mile Laura told me about a book she had just listened too The Power of Fun- somewhere in this book it talked about seeking Delight and recognizing things that sparked delight by pointing at them as declaring "Delight!"  She said we were going to do that on our run.  Keep our eyes open for all the little things that brought us JOY and declare them out loud.  So we did.  And it was pretty fun.

The roads were not good.  There were lots that were ice/snow covered and/or slushy.  Our feet were soaked. Some where around 5K I gave up on my glasses- they fogged up and even though I can barely see without them- I could see better than with them.

It felt so, so hard given the condition of the roads.  The sun was out and felt glorious.  I took delight in that. But over all I was starting to feel discouraged. 

Approaching a corner there was a car playing the Rocky theme.  This song now always reminds me of my first half in Pittsburgh.  This song was playing as I ran across one of the bridges and I vividly remember it.  The music, feeling happy and strong running across that bridge. Unbeknownst to me- my family was also at that spot and saw me.  My Dad told me later how impressed he was by how strong I looked.  

I did not feel strong, I felt tired and discouraged and started struggling to not burst into tears. 

I felt disheartened as we crossed the 10K timing mat knowing we were going much slower than I hoped. Knowing there was no chance of a PR and a pretty good chance it was going to be closing in on 3 hours before we finished.

My sister tried to bolster me. We found some more moments of delight. 

We were over halfway! 

She took my picture running under the 7 mile marker.

One such moment of delight was a lady running near us who stopped and came back to pet a dog, the dog rolled over in the snow for belly rubs. DELIGHT! We also were so thankful and took such delight in the race volunteers, police officers who kept us safe and spectators. One group jumped up and down a SCREAMED HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY!!!

One lady who we played cat and mouse with for a few miles, as we passed her yet again said you girls are crushing it!  I did not feel I was crushing anything. I wanted to be having fun but I so was not. I was tired, my hips hurt. My right baby toe hurt. My shoes felt wet and squishy.  I just wanted it to be over. 

Mile 10 actually felt like it went by pretty quickly weirdly.  I felt like were in the final stretch and focused on just moving forward. 

Then we made that final right turn. I could see a blue and green haze that I was fairly confident was the finish line.  I could hear the announcer and pushed speeding up, just wanting to be across that finish line.

The lady who handed me my medal grinned and said "Happy Birthday and Congratulations!" 🎉

We had done it!

We finished!

My finish line chocolate milk. 💖
Perfection and Delight!

Here's my final results. I'm still working on feeling happy and proud. It was a hard run. I did it. I completed 13.1 miles on my 44 birthday with one of my favorite people in the whole world. So that is something to be happy and proud of.  I finished running 13 miles before my youngest child was even out of bed :P

Back home the kids were all there to celebrate my birthday. We had pizza and wings for dinner and it hit the spot. My birthday cake even matched my race medal!

 We then spent the afternoon playing a game with much laughter. (Delight!) My heart was filled to overflowing.

Syracuse Half Recap

Well, I'm still alive and completed the Syracuse Half Marathon.  Lack of training coupled with unseasonably high temps made for a pretty miserable morning.

Saturday night I got all my gear together.

Bruno was less than pleased.  But I had two big cookies left from Bruno's birthday box, so in the morning I gave the boys each one as I was leaving.  You know, to smooth things over. We resumed our morning walk this morning.

I left home before 6 am to go pick up my sister and then we drove to the race together.

Start line selfie

And then we were off.  My anxiety started to fade as we crossed the start line.

Much of the first mile is up hill.  Overall I forgot how much uphill there is in this course.  It seemed disproportionate how many uphills there were as opposed to down but then.... I don't know, it could've just been my perception.

My sister ran with me the first mile or so then took off to run at her own pace.

It was warm at the beginning but not uncomfortably so.  That didn't last long however as the sun continued to rise- full sunshine- along with the temps.  There wasn't much shade but I reveled in it when ever there was. Once in a while there was a cool breeze that was a Godsend.

I ran near this person for a while who ran with the flag for the entire 13.1 miles!

Mile 5 and feeling pretty good.

Texts with my mom and sister helped too.

I actually rather enjoyed the first half of the race or so.  

At mile 7 aid station I scored a chocolate Gu.

After that things began to get bad.  I struggled through the whole rest of the race.  I cried a bit in miles 8 and 9.  It was so hot. 

This was just before mile 10.  The flowering trees were so pretty. And as you can see, by then I was back of the pack and very much alone.  I pushed myself to catch up to the girl ahead of me so I wouldn't be totally alone.

At the last aid station a kid handed me a cup of Gatorade with ice in it.  "This'll be the best thing you have all day!" he said.  He was right.  It felt heavenly, I stood still and drank the whole thing before continuing on.

In mile 12 I had to move to the side walks as the road was re-opening.  I cried some more.

I walked by the library and took another library selfie for my collection.  Because what did it matter at this point.  I was well beyond my goal.

Then Parthenon Books... I wanted to quit so bad and just go inside have an iced coffee, look at books and forget about stupid half marathons.  But I kept on.

Another couple blocks and I was in the home stretch.  I tried to run some more and just couldn't.  I was crying again.  It was close and I just wanted it to be over.  A girl from Fleet Feet came running over to.  "Hey, hey! It's ok!" she said "I'm gonna run with you through this light" she said nodding to the traffic light ahead.  "Have you ever run a half before?" I answered affirmatively.  "Has it ever been this sh**ty before?" I laugh sobbed and said "No." "It's ok" she said.  "I cried in my last race too.... Just two more traffic lights and your done!" The finish line was with in sight.  I started looking for my sister as I entered the finishers chute and heard her yell my name.  

And then it was done! I had my medal and someone handed me a bottle of water which I promptly drained.  I was just happy it was over.

The chocolate milk at the finish line was the 2nd best thing I had all day! I live for chocolate milk at the finish line.  I also had a slice of mediocre pizza which did not satisfy my craving.

Overall I am proud to have finished. It was so hot and long and felt brutal 2/3's of the way.  I'm embarrassed by how I looked. I'm embarrassed by my time.  I'm embarrassed I didn't follow through on my training and do what I set out to do.

But I still did it.  I moved forward for 13.1 miles. So there's that.