13.1

I did it!! I ran my first half marathon.

When this whole thing began a few months ago I had the notion that I would complete the half marathon with no intentions of running the whole thing, just completing it. Well I guess I am too competitive for that. I started out with all my training on the treadmill. I still remember the day when I ran 5 miles and thinking what an accomplishment it was. I was just thinking holy cow I ran for an hour straight and I actually ran 5 miles! Then I moved to the medical center, an area more conducive to outside running. With the move, about half of my excuses for not running very much went out the window. I still continued to run completely on the treadmill and I remember the day I did 8 miles it was such a great feeling, I got in my zone, I was focused and I actually enjoyed it! After that I realized this half marathon is real and I liked how running made me feel, it was an escape I could clear my mind and I prayed alot.

My mom told me about and then everything changed, I started to run outside and OHHH EEEEM GEEE running outside is so much harder than running on the treadmill. I mapped out my course and took off. I set out the first day to do my 10 mile run. Being new to the area I made a wrong turn and ended up running about 11 miles on accident, The next week I did 11 on purpose and that was the longest I ran....Until Sunday...Race Day

I was so psyched, My uncle who I would consider an expert gave my mom and me a pep-talk the friday before and I couldn't wait till sunday. On saturday we went to the Expo to pick up our race packets and tons of free goodies, tasted several samples of milks, protein drinks, goos and bars of all sorts. It was so fun almost a whole new world I never knew existed, or I did but didn't care because it never pertained to me but now that "I AM A RUNNER" it was enthralling.

Sunday morning although I woke at 4AM I was pumped not tired in the slightest. We got to the parking lot and had to walk what seemed to be about a mile to the gear check where I had to part with all my belongings, including my jacket...it was a teensy bit chilly. We got into our corral and waited to get to the start line after about 38 minutes or so we started.

Two hours and twenty seven minutes and a potty break later (So mad that I had to stop and pee at mile 0.1) I finished. It was so exhilirating!! People cheering you on passing up people and at about mile 7 thinking oh seriously I have a long way to go still!! At mile 11 it got real tough I could see the alamodome but new I was still 2.1 miles away!! I kept telling myself I had already come this far whats two more miles!! Before I knew it I was crossing the finish line and being handed my shiny new medal!!


I did it and I kind of still cant believe it, I enjoyed myself and had fun. I am most certainly doing more and I must have got the crazy bug or something because I want to do a full marathon next year. I hope to stay inspired and not let the novelty of it wear off. Once the wedding is over and I can stop working so much I can start to train more seriously, and I should probably buy some "real" running shoes not my $30 New Balance from the discount store.

I saw in March there is a Disney Princess Half Marathon I thought would be cute and in Sept I want to do the Virginia Beach Rock aand Roll with my Family but those are just a few beacons I look to for the future. I will be doing some more close to home and if Im really really lucky I will get picked for the Nike Womens Marathon in San Francisco but its by lottery only so like I said only if Im really really lucky but who knows.