I did It!



October 23, at 10:23 I became a half marathoner. I made that word up, I really don't know what you call it. All I can say is that it was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be.

 The night before the race I went and picked up my packet and got my number. I was 146 and what  glorious first number it was! We then went to an Italian food restaurant for my carbo loading! I wasn't very impressed with my pasta, but Audra's pizza was out of this world. We then headed to our hotel so that I could go to bed early. I quickly got my PJs on and waited for sleep to come but it didn't come for a long time. When I finally did fall asleep, I woke up every hour to two hours thinking I was going to miss the start of the race. I got up and started getting ready for the race at 6. I drank some honey milk and ate a banana and waited somewhat patiently, mostly anxiously and nervously to head over to the college and get things rolling. 

My little cheerleader!

When we got to the starting line, people were everywhere stretching and running. I was just staring at the first thing I was going to have to conquer... I huge mountain (well it was a hill but to me it looked like a mountain). In my training I did a lot of exercise besides running, but I was not prepared for this type of terrain. 

This was the first hill... a little bit scary just looking at the picture again.

I quickly started stretching and telling myself that this course was going to be a piece of cake. When they called us to the starting line all I could do was pray and tell myself I could do this. I don't even remember really hearing the gun go off or anything about the first few seconds other than everyone had started moving and I ended up being half way up the hill. When I finally came to my senses I was starting to be a little out of breath and I tried to focus on pace and no one else around me. I got into the groove fast and the first few miles were quite pleasant. I was singing along to my tunes, but pretty soon the going up and down of hills was wearing on me. I felt like giving up almost, but at the half way mark I got to see Ryan and Audra. They both were cheering and smiling and I knew I could do it. They gave me the little drive I needed to keep going.

This is when I saw Audra and Ryan. My face tells everything I was feeling at that moment...Love and encouragement! 

second lap I wasn't smiling I was just trying to keep moving

The second lap a lot of people started dropping further and further behind me to where there was only a few people I could see around me. I guess a few others were not prepared for the hills. When I got to the last stretch my legs were rubber, but I found the strength to push it and I finished only about 2 minutes off my usual pace. Although it wasn't what I was hoping, I am proud of it. I am excited about beating my time in the next half marathon. Today I am taking my five Fingers off their lonely pedestal and am beginning to train in them for my next run. I am excited to see the difference these shoes will make.

Pure Bliss and excitement crossing the finish line!

While I was running My two cheerleaders had their own adventures. Ryan and Audra congratulated runners and Audra gave everyone thumbs up! The best part is that Audra told Ryan she wanted to run a half marathon. We are planning on having a family 5k sometime in the future. It really makes me excited when Audra wants to do something like me. In the end this was a great first experience and I can't wait to run more, and hopefully one day Audra and I will be running half marathons together.