Half Marathon - Check!

My first Half Marathon is finally over and I can check it off my bucket list! I'm so glad I did it and so glad it's over.

I completed the 13.1 miles in 2:18:46 and was able to run the whole thing, so I acheived both of my goals of coming in under 2:20 and not having to walk.

I have to admit that I was Negative Nelly the whole week before the race and was just sure that I was going to blow it and let myself and everyone who was rooting for me down - even up to the minute I was standing in the crowd waiting to start. But, the weather was perfect and my first mile was nice and easy which really gave me the boost I needed to kick into gear.

The first 5 miles absolutely flew by but then my left knee started to hurt. It never got bad enough for me to walk, but it bothered me the rest of the race. I tried not to think about the pain and instead read the signs of the spectators on the road, listened in on the conversations of those running around me, sang along to my music, and thanked God for the breezes to cool me down. There was a dad/daughter pair that I stayed right behind for the first 8 miles until they pulled off to stretch. I quickly found another person to replace them as the "carrot" I was chasing.

I did stop three different times to down my GU packet and a cup of water, but each stop was less than a minute. For some reason, it is easier for me mentally to come to a complete stop rather than just walk through the water stations. For me, if I let myself start walking, then it gives me permission to walk whenever I feel like it. If I only let myself stop when I'm taking an energy gel, then it gives me something to look forward to every 3 or so miles but forces me to keep running in between!

At mile 11 I hit the wall but knew I was close enough that I could keep running, even if at a slower pace. The biggest bummer was that I assumed we went in the first stadium entrance and I was so excited when I saw it. But, in reality it was the entrance on the other side of the stadium which meant I had to run nearly half a mile further (and that's a lot when you've hit the wall!).

Entering Memorial Stadium and finishing at the 50-yard line was a rush and an experience I won't soon forget! Here is a video clip of my finish. I am in the aqua blue tank top that starts at the top middle of the screen and ends up at the bottom right (look for my big sunglasses). I should have pushed that big girl in the white tank top out of my way :) This site also has professional pics taken during the race.

http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event_video.asp?EVENTID=75593&BIB=6178&LNSEARCH=1.

I read somewhere that these long races are like child birth. When you are in the middle of one you are exhausted and weak, but shortly after the finish you think, "Well that wasn't so bad. I think I could do another!" The girls and I are still riding the high of a great finish and are already making plans to do it again next year!

I didn't take my camera to the race, but Deb did. I'll post pics as she sends them.