13.1 Miles

It has been one week since I did my first half marathon and I thought I needed to write something down to remember for posterity's sake.

Jan. 14, 2010.

All the training came down to this one day. Unfortunately I came down with a crappy cold. I woke up the Wednesday before feeling like crud. I tried a few runs and had I hard time even getting through 2.5 miles. Royal asked if I was still going to despite feeling as badly as I did. My answer, "I spend the money and have been running for months there is no way I am not running."

Jan. 17 2010

The night before I set my alarm to get up earlier than I have in months. 4:30 am to be exact. Before the ass crack of dawn as Royal informed me. We were all set to have my in laws watch the kids. Royal and I went to bed around 10 and slept very soundly (Tylenol PM will do that). The next thing I know I am being shaken awake by Royal telling me that his parents were here. Oops I set my alarm for the PM not AM. We fly to get dressed and out the door. On the way into town we picked up my friend Michele who was also running the half marathon.

We got into down parked and walked over to the GRB where we were meeting my brother and mother. Anthony ran his first full marathon (Go Him!) By this time we had to potty and get to our corrals. Royal and my mom wished us luck and headed to find a place for breakfast. We walked out Anthony went to his start and Michele and I went to ours. I was in the second wave (slow runners) and Michele was in the first, but she decided to start with me. From where we were standing we couldn't here anything. Finially we heard the gun for the first wave and everyone cheered. We walked up to the start. Stood around for 10 minutes and waited for the second gun. It went off and it was actually another 5 minutes before we made it to the start line.

Off we went! Now Michele had warned me that she would weeve in and out...well she did not disappoint. I had a hard time weeving and keeping her pace. I lost her after the first half mile or so. The first mile is up and over the aquducts which is very cool because you can see the sea of people ahead of you. It was so cool. I stayed with the pack and at mile 2 we merged with the full marathon people and we ran with them until mile nine. Around mile 4 I began to realize how much being sick had affected me. Normally by them I would have found a rytham and would be doing great. That day I was huffing and puffing and all I could think was "how do I still have 9 miles to go???CRAP!" I kept going. Then I saw Pecore and realized that I was in the Heights and needed to start looking for my friends. I spotted Viula out of the corner of my eye, but she was across the street, so I didn't get to say hi. This was around mile 5. I perked up because I remember Carrie said she would be at mile 6 with oranges. She did not dissapoint. They were deliscious. Then at mile 6.2 we sae the Conoco Phillips Biker Chicks with a sign that said if you were running the 10k you would be done by now. I wanted so badly to be done. I kept going. Around mile 8 we passed a donought shop and thought for sure there would be doughnuts being passed out. No such luck. Because I was running the half we u-turned around at mile 9, so I got to smell the doughnuts twice. Not Cool doughnut people! At mile 10 I called Royal to let him know were I was. He and my mom headed out to the finish line to watch for me.

This is where I hit a wall. I walked so much at the end. I finially reached the 1.5 to go mark and I honestly didn't think it would ever end. This is where the mental game comes it. unfortuanlly I gave up and gave into the pain. I walked quite a while. I picked it up at the last mile. I ran the last mile, but I was numb. I hurt! I couldn't hear anything and actually missed Royal and my mom at the end. I crossed the finish line at 2:41:06. Eleven minutes slower than my goal time. Oh well I did finish! I got my medal and finisher shirt. I met up with Michele and Royal and my mom and got congratulations from everyone. I am proud that I finished and next year I am going to run with my friend Sarah and hopefully not be sick!