Yesterday I finished my first half marathon, 13.1 miles, in 2 hours and 18 minutes! I am still in amazement that I did this. I have never been an elite athlete - you know, the type of people that do this sort of thing. I have off and on run for fitness my whole adult life, but usually just a couple miles at a time. And 4 mile races for the Trolley Run were my BIG races. And those were HARD. The reason they were hard, is I didn't train for them. Some years I was in better shape than others, but it was never with ease that I ran it.
Last summer I started the Couch to 5K Program. It is designed for complete couch potatoes not used to any physical activity to get to a 5K in 9 weeks. I wasn't a total couch potato, but I wasn't a runner either. So I started it. It began with intervals, only running a minute at a time. I remember when I first had to run 20 straight minutes and how proud I was of that. I couldn't believe when I finally worked up a 5K. I ran the Race for the Cure in August of 2010. I remember the feeling of accomplishment. It was brutally hot and a hilly course. I felt so proud of finishing in sub-10 minute miles. In September I ran a 4 mile Run for the Zoo. It was pretty hard for me. Paul was pushing me to run fast and at that point I was just starting to increase mileage on my runs from 3 miles. In October I ran another 5K on a relay team for the Kansas City Marathon. Seeing so many people running marathons kind of inspired me to keep adding the mileage.
By Thanksgiving break I ran my first 10k (not a race, just around the 'hood) and slowly began increasing it with the intentions of doing this half marathon. I was doing good in the cold weather layering up to stay warm. Then the snow started. And ice. And some bitter cold temps mixed in. I'm not that hardcore. I kept up basic running during those times on the treadmill of 3 miles or so, but my training fell behind. I didn't know if I could make it up to run this half, but I did it!
What a great feeling of accomplishment. I DID IT!!!!!! Not only did I finish, but I finished at a great pace. It's not just the fact that I ran 13.1 miles, but it's the realization I can do anything if I just decide to do it. And train for it.
I was disappointed Paul couldn't run with me due to some injuries. He was too. But, the good part was that he was able to cheer me on all over the course. It's in our neighborhood, so it was easy for him to go all over, with both kids at one point, and just Noah at most of the others. He was there at 3 miles into the race, 4 miles, 6 miles (with the boys), 9 ish miles, 11ish miles and at the finish line. Seeing him and Noah cheer me on and getting high fives from Noah really kept me going. And I love having all these pictures to remember my first half marathon.
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| Just before the race. I was SO NERVOUS! |
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| Ready to get running! |
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| This was about 4 miles into the race, just a couple blocks from our house |
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| They were at the top of a hill waiting for me |
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| Getting some high five encouragement from my main 4 year old man |
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| Meyer Circle - sad the race is before they turn on the fountains |
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| high atop Meyer Circle ready to cheer me on about 9 1/2 miles into the race |
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| Noah: "Mom, is your race over?" |
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| almost there, one foot in front of the other |
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| HOLLA!!! (the time posted above is gun time, not my actual running time) |
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| I did it! |
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| I couldn't bend my knees to give him a proper hug at this time :D |
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