I signed up for this...

No really, I did, of course I can't really say it was all my idea, or even that I knew what I was doing, but I did in fact sign up to run a half marathon. Let me just take you back, I had just finished a Tri, and was still riding the post race high, when my sister suggested that I run a half marathon with her, I knew just the one, but it was only 6 weeks away, can it even be done? Yes, there was a training program to increase your mileage in that short a time, but hey, I figured I was strong, healthy and didn't really care how well I did, so why not go for it. I began training for it, I love having something to work towards, and I love a plan. I signed up! I mentioned that I was going to do it and my friend Kelli (who was already training for a half marathon) and she signed up too. Kelli, the total stud, did 2 half marathons 3 weeks apart!

Race day: I was fine, I was calm, I didn't really care how I did, I didn't mind if I walked or came in dead last (okay, I would have minded that a bit).

The race: I was SLOW!!! Wow, I didn't know I was that slow of a runner. I didn't come in dead last (whew!) but I could never ever ever be like those ladies that finished first. No amount of training could get my little legs to move that fast for that long! That's okay though, I ran; I enjoyed the beautiful scenery, the good company, the friendly people, and the event as a whole. It was cold, but not bad for running, but it was WINDY, it's always hard to run in the wind (there was a picture, where it looks like we are running really fast, but it's just the wind blowing our hair). I probably ran slower then I could have (I still had quite a bit of get up and go at the end) but I never hit the "wall" or felt the pain and despair of the dreaded mile 11. I just kept running, in my head Dory's song from Finding Nemo "Just keep Swimming, Just keep swimming, swimming swimming, what do we do we swim swim swim" And I just kept going, but I was running rather then swimming. For those of you keeping tabs on my bad knee, it started to hurt right at mile 1 (nice 12 more to go), but it was never so painful to want to stop. But with some Muse in my ears, and a friend right beside me (who never left me despite my sluggish ways) it was a fun experience. Thanks Kelli, for hanging in there with me, and letting me shout slogans at you (and my unrelenting support for the other runners!) Thanks Em, for making me sign up, I wish you could have made it... It was awesome. Thanks legs for and brain for getting me to the finish. Thanks knee for holding out... wait, no, I hate you right knee, you suck! Thanks Matt for being my cheering squad, babysitter, my financier, my training buddy and my moral support, I couldn't do any of my crazy half brained ideas without you. I may have the desire to try and achieve many things, but I'm so glad that I have you as the backbone and brains to get me there. So, what's next...? Olympic distance Tri! Then who knows... another 13.1a full Marathon, a half Iron Man?



Kelli said I could only put pictures of her from far away...but I cheated! :)