Sorry, I'm a day late posting this! Sometimes, life gets away with you!! ; ) Where to begin.... I picked this Half Marathon months and months ago but then injured my hips and thought I wouldn't be able to run in it. But after 2 months of physical therapy, I hoped I could still make it. I mentioned my desires to a friend of mine, and she decided to start training for it too! A running partner! And then, I teasingly told Lybi that she should join me and actually James, her husband DID! So, I had a partner to train with and a sister and brother-in-law coming up for it! So exciting!!!! We had fun on Saturday and Sunday with Lybi and her family, my parents, and Rebecca, my older sister, and her family. A household with 20 people is always fun - and crazy! But, Monday morning was the day of reckoning! I got up at 5:00 and started getting ready. The funny thing is, I think I got more nauseous nervous with my 10k than for my half marathon. Weird. We got to the starting area at about 6:00. When we lined up at 6:30 (James at the front, and me ... not so much in the front. ha!) I kept waiting for someone with a loud speaker to tell us when we were beginning. But finally, after a few minutes delay, I realized the people ahead of me were starting. Well, that was anti-climatic!! But, here we go! My pace is always the best way to tell my story, so let me add those now: mile 1 - 10:03 mile 2 - 10:17 mile 3 - 10:22 mile 4 - 10:48 mile 5 - 10:50 mile 6 - 10:09 mile 7 - 10:11 mile 8 - 9:53 mile 9 - 10:29 mile 10 - 10:47 mile 11 - 11:01 mile 12 - 10:32 mile 13 - 10:59 last .24 - 2:22 (a little long according to my garmin) At around mile 5 or so, I saw James walking ahead of me. He had felt some pain in his calf on Saturday and I was worried it would get in the way today. So, I felt really sad to see him, but then very grateful as he paced me until the finish line! And then, Lybi, who was strategically at a park along the way, joined me at mile 8.5, so I had 2 pacers!!!! Is that lucky or what!?!?! An interesting sensation happened around mile 11. My arms began to feel like they didn't belong to my body. They felt bloated and unnatural and I kept looking down at them to make sure they were still my arms. Very bizarre. Luckily that sensation passed and I could just concentrate on finishing.
During mile 12, there were runners right behind me and I was trying to stay ahead of them. I did NOT want someone to pass me so close to the finish line. But I was exhausted and when they finally passed me, I think I got a little de-moralized. When we got to the park and I knew the finish line was within view, I was able to pass my last roadkill - 2 men. So, even though I was dying at this point, at least I still had that much effort left. When I crossed the finish line, my husband was there; and I all but fell into his arms. Once I started walking, everything started hurting more and I began limping. But after about 10 minutes, that began subsiding and I was able to go get some food and drink without looking like I was on death's door. ; )
Lybi convinced me that I should take an ice bath - a horrific experience, I should add. And after that and a warm shower, I crashed on the bed. Happy to be horizontal finally, but also profoundly happy to have raced my first half marathon and been somewhat consistent and strong to the finish. I DID IT!!!
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