Huntsville Half Marathon Sept. 29, 2012

     For the past six years I have talked about running a half marathon.  That has been all I have done-talk about it!  Well, this summer I decided that this was the year.  After I ran the 10K at the Pioneer Day celebration in St. Anthony, I decided that I might as well use that base and go for the entire 13.1!!
 
     So, the Saturday after the 10K I decided I would run 8 miles.  I was slow but I finished it!  After that, I convinced my friend Tina Spens to run some of the long runs with me.  She had already finished two halfs so I knew she could help me. I also finally convinced her to run the race with me!  I helped with some of the fee so that she would run with me as my supporter! We got up early most Saturdays through August and September and ran our long distances.  I remember the first time we did 11 miles!  It was tough!  However, I felt so proud of myself.  The farthest distance we ran in training was 12.  It was hard!  The last mile was brutal.  However, I knew I could finish the half marathon if I could run twelve miles!

     The morning of the race I was so nervous.  My stomach had butterflies! Dave drove us over to Huntsville in the motor home(so he had somewhere to hang out for 2+ hours).   We got to the start and waited in line for the port a potties.  I was so glad that I had made my little arm warmers!  It was cold, but within one mile I pulled them off!  I heat up when I run!

   The first 6-8 miles really went well.  It was downhill and very beautiful.   At around 8-9 miles it really became a flat, hot course.  The race started at 10:00 am, so by the time we were at mile 9 it was quite hot.  Probably around 75-which when running is HOT.   Mile 9 started getting hard.  My brain just didn't want to make my body go. I used some energy jelly beans and they were awful!  I will never use them again!  They also didn't help!! Tina was such a good sport.  She just kept encouraging me, even when her stomach started to really bother her. I am so grateful for Tina, I know that those last miles would have been much worse if she hadn't been with me!

   The last 1.5 miles was brutal.  I should have used another GU gel pack but my brain just couldn't think straight.  I had wanted to make the finish in under 2hours and forty minutes-faster would have been nice!  The last mile I kept looking at my watch and knew that I was barely going to make that time.  I had to keep moving.  Well, I was barely moving!  The last .5 mile felt like 5 full miles! 

    When we finally got to the finish line shoot I was so relieved!  I am certain that I was not a happy looking runner at that point!  Dave, Kyle and Jessie Gold were there hollering for us!  When I crossed the finish line I stopped my watch and it said 2:40:20!   I did it!  I was very emotional at the end!  I started hyperventilating!  I had three volunteers ask me if I was OK.  It took me a few minutes to get a hold of myself.  

    I am so glad that I finally worked hard and completed this goal.  It was a ton of work.  I had one twisted ankle(beginning of 12 miler-made it) and two ugly toes!  Lots of talking and obsessing about running.  I am so grateful that Dave supported me.  I know that I did not talk about much else except running all summer!

     I am planning to continue running along with crossfit.  I need both-I really lost a lot of strength mainly running.   I hope that I can run another 1/2 next summer and finish with a little better time.  I also really want to get to where the last 1.5 miles is not an emotional breakdown!  So, lots more training to get myself there!!!