In addition to running Disney races, I’ve had a great time running the Hershey 10k the past couple of years. Â Now that I have two Disney half marathons under my belt, I decided to give the Hershey Half Marathon a try! Â The race took place yesterday: Sunday, October 18th.
We went up the day before to pick up my race stuff and visit the expo. Â It was a small expo but some cute things. Â I didn’t buy anything but I really liked the long sleeve tech shirt we got, plus a 13.1 magnet and some other little goodies! Â We spent the day at Hershey Park doing some roller coasters, and then went to dinner at Fenicci’s of Hershey for some Italian. Â The food was quite good!
The morning of the race it was cold. Â I woke up around 6am to get ready and it was 28 degrees out. Â 28 degrees in mid-October! Â I really, really do not like the cold so I was already a little grumpy. Â We drove from our hotel to Hershey Stadium, parked, and I stayed in the warm car as long as possible before getting out. Â I got to the start line only about 15 minutes beforehand so I wouldn’t have to be out in the cold too long.
The beginning started out a little slow because there were so many people. Â There aren’t corrals, but there were over 4,000 runners so it got a little congested, even with the wide roads, until about 2-3 miles in. Â Once I started running I got warmer from that, and the sun came out so I dropped off my sweatshirt with my husband at his spectator spot around mile 2.
We ran through the parks around miles 3-4, which is always a fun and exciting time. Â Even some of the Hershey characters were on the sidelines cheering us on! Â After that it was around the town of Hershey, passing the country club amongst other things. Â In between miles 11 and 12 there was even a “chocolate aid” station where they handed out mini Hershey bars! Â Then we race back toward the theme park and back to Hershey Stadium, where the finish line was!
Once my body warmed up a bit I actually felt quite good during this run. Â I didn’t feel as painfully sore by the end. Â And I got a new PR (personal record!). Â I finished the race in 2 hours, 26 minutes, and 41 seconds, with a pace of 11:11 min/mile. Â For comparison, my time for the Disneyland Half marathon last month was 2:31, and my first half marathon in February was 2:43. Â It’s so great to see improvement!
I always enjoy running in Hershey and despite the cold it was enjoyable again this time around! Â If my schedule permits I hope I will be back for 2016!
Congrats on another successful marathon! You did fantastic my dear! I wish they had more marathons like this around me. I think a lot more people would participate!
Thank you! I really enjoy interesting/unique races, I try to find the most interesting ones I can to keep me entertained!
You did so awesome!! And it was a great run!!
I was out there an hour before the race…and it was SOOO cold the whole time!! I did get to talking to some people that have run it before, and they said this was the first year they didn’t have corrals. They don’t normally assign people a corral, but they have markers for people to stand near their pace so they are with people who run the same pace…and they didn’t do that this year. The people I was talking to seemed surprised.
I don’t like the beginning of the race slow down, so I go up to the front and let everyone pass me. Also helps remind me right from the beginning that it’s my run, no one else’s..and it’s ok if people pass me.
I am so excited for your PR!! That’s so awesome!! And I an bummed we didn’t get to meet up…we’ll have to make extra sure next year…I’m hoping to do the 10k and the 1/2 next year 🙂
I’m thinking of doing the Rutgers 1/2 marathon in April too…so exciting!!!
Thank you, and same to you!! I had read the packet they gave out ahead of time and it did say there would be pace markers to start by but then I didn’t see anything. Seems strange they didn’t do it this year.
I wish I was brave enough to start at the front! I don’t mind people passing me but I do a run/walk approach and I feel like if people saw me in the front and then I was walking after a minute of running they might get annoyed by that.
I’ll definitely be doing the Hershey 10k again, and hopefully the half as well next year!
Congratulations! That is a HUGE accomplishment!! And what a fun place to race; I love the “chocolate aid” station!!
Thank you! The chocolate aid station was definitely something to look forward to! The thought of chocolate seriously kept me going haha.
Great job improving and I’m guessing there were plenty of hills. I have to put this on my to-do list!
Thank you! There were definitely some hills – it’s pretty difficult to find a spot in PA without them! Though I will never complain after the 5k I did last month which was pretty much just one giant hill 😉
I’d do anything for chocolate 🙂 lol! Sounds like a cool race! Congrats!
Haha I know, chocolate is a good motivator! 😉 Thanks!
HUGE accomplishment. I’m so happy for you! Gosh, you are really motivating me today to get out and go for my run!
Aww, thank you so much! I hope you got a run in!
Congrats on your PR! That medal is so cute, I love it! If I ever decide to travel out of state for a half, this is definitely one I’d consider.
Thanks! The medal is awesome, and if you came for the half you’d get the opportunity to visit Hershey Park too – which if you like roller coasters is a pretty awesome theme park!
Look at your PR! THAT’S AMAZING! You go girl!!!
Thanks so much!!
Congrats! It’s a great feeling improving your PR time. I LOVE the medal – I may have to add this race to my list!
It really is a great feeling – totally turned a bad week around. And the medal is so fun!
What a fun race! I love the “run for chocolate” shirt! Perfect! And, yikes!! 28 degrees! Holy Cow! I hate the cold too and would have been super grumpy also. Great PB! It’s always awesome to see improvement on your races! I will be heading across the pond to the London Marathon in April ’16 but hope to get a 1/2 marathon in sometime in Jan-Feb. I expect my times to be about the same as yours. Great job on your race! Keep up the hard work!
I get so grumpy when it’s cold it’s not even funny. How exciting that you’re going to London – I hope to hear all about that race! I’ll actually be doing the Disneyland Paris in Sept 2016 🙂
Congrats! Having trained like mad for ONE half marathon I have so much respect for people who do more than one!!! It sounds like a fun one though, and I’m jealous of your chocolate hardware. You earned it!!!!!
It was definitely a fun one! And that’s how I feel about marathons – I would like to do one full marathon but after that I’ll go back to my halfs!
Great job! That’s awesome that you’ve improved! It’s getting pretty cold here in WI too, which I’m not too happy about. Why can’t it just stay nice and Fall-like for a month or two more?! Even though I probably wouldn’t run the race, I’d love to visit Hershey someday. I have a bit of a chocolate obsession 🙂
Hershey is a wonderful place to visit! We go at least once a year since we’re pretty close. The chocolate and the rides are great!
Congratulations! I love that red tech shirt. I would love to do the 10k, thanks for reminding me to add this to the bucket list. Only 2 weeks until we are in Disney 😉
2 weeks, that’s so exciting!! Definitely do the 10k at Hershey if you can – hopefully I’ll be there every year so maybe we can meet up if you ever do it 🙂
You go girl! I’d run for chocolate too! It’s one of my dreams to complete a half marathon one day. Super proud of you!
Aww thanks! I’m sure you can get a half marathon someday – it’s extra motivating to pick a fun one! 😉