Ready to Run

Well, friends, I finally did it!

After months of talking about it and hoping I could make it through 13.1 miles, I ran my first half-marathon this past Sunday morning. Back in February I began training and running in preparation for a half-marathon in Chicago in September. Then I had the FREAK reaction to a tetanus shot and basically could not run for about five weeks. I wasn't ready for Chicago. So I went and watched my husband and some of our friends run. Truthfully, I was a little jealous of them. I also began to question if I was ever really going to be able to do this.

My friend, Tara, found a half marathon in Louisville online and we discussed signing up to run in it. It was about a month after Chicago. Greg signed me up for it before I could think about it too much!

I ran about 4 times a week the three weeks leading up to the race. I even ran three times on vacation! I had run 10 miles 3 or 4 times before in the past few months, but never a full 13. I was a little nervous.

Since the tetanus reaction, my times have TANKED. It has only been in the past two -three weeks that my times have been getting a little better, but they are still not where I want them to be. I decided my goal for this race was TO FINISH without stopping. I could worry about times during the next race.

Sunday morning, the alarm went off at 5:30 am. Tara picked me up at 6 and we headed to the 'ville. We got our packet, pinned our numbers on and strapped on our ankle chip bracelets so they could record our times. We stretched and walked, trying to warm up. It was probably less than 50 degrees at the start of the race. The race began at 8 am.
We set off and immediately I held myself back. It is very easy at the start of a race to start off too fast and try to run like everyone around me. I knew that I had to pace myself realistically or I would not have any steam left by the end of the race.
It was a beautiful morning. We were running along the river and through several park areas. I opted against wearing my headphones, so I just took in all the scenes around me. I took the race ONE MILE AT A TIME. I tried to tune out who was running behind me or beside me. I would pick a person in front of me and focus on passing that person. First it was the girl in the hot pink hoodie. Then it was a guy in a red under armor shirt. Later it was an older gentleman and his younger companion and then a group of three running together.
I ran exactly at the pace I wanted to run for the first 10 miles. I drank water at each water stop. I even tried one of the gel packs (espresso is NOT the best taste) and kept moving. As I hit 10 miles, I started having pains in my left calf. I kept going. At 11 miles, there was one last water stop. I took a cup and drank it in. I kept moving, not willing to stop for a second in fear that I would not start back running! the last two miles, my legs were like tree trunks. It was so hard to move and my mind was willing them to move faster and they simply were not following those commands.
As I wound around the final curve, there was my husband and my three boys - cheering. My friend Tara was there - she had already finished. My son Noah wanted to run with me. So the last .2 of the race, he ran beside me and crossed the finish line with me. The lady put the medal on me and I think he thought he was going to get one too! It was a great feeling and I could say with confidence the bible verse I had repeated to myself throughout the race - "I have fought the fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith".
I came home after a celebratory meal of pancakes with the boys and I took a three hour nap! I could hardly keep my eyes open on the way home.
I am now thinking ahead to the spring. I plan to run the Derby Mini-Marathon. I know that is a much bigger race with a LOT more people. Maybe this time, I can not only finish the race, but have a time I am happy with as well!