Half Marathons

So I have a friend that talked me into doing a half marathon this year. I cant believe I of all people actually signed up for this. I was actually pretty excited. It was the first time EVER that I have done anything like this. Sure I have ran 5K's and I did a couple of Triathlons but a Half Marathon, never and I swore I would never do one. I trained and trained for this, I bought the latest shoes, clothes, and of course GU packs. I tried them all, ones with caffeine, ones with honey, the shot blocks, the GU packs, the ones that look like waffles you name it I tried it. I had my schedule of how far to run everyday and what days to take off. I would map out my runs the night before so that I would get the exact mileage in. I am not a fast runner and I new that. I was not in this to win, just to finish and accomplish something. I read all the blogs on what to eat the morning of a run. Everything said "bagel with peanut butter, banana and a coffee. Well I don't drink coffee, and I am deathly allergic to bananas so I figured that the bagel with peanut butter would be enough. Our race started at 5:40 am which meant I had to be up at 3:00 to be ready to leave my house by 4:00 and be to the parking lot to get on a bus and up the canyon so that we could start at 5:40. I got up and took a shower, I know a shower before a run, but it helped to wake me up. I got my clothes on everything ready had my breakfast and out the door I went. We got to the starting line and I took my first GU pack, now I like the one with 2X the caffeine. You take them 15-30 minutes before you start your race and every 45 minutes after. I was ready, well the race didn't start until 6:00. So by the time I hit mile 3 I was ready for another GU pack. So I took one. By mile 5 I figured I better take another on so I don't get tired. I was feeling great, Crystal and I were 3 minutes a head of our normal time coming out of the canyon. Just then at mile 7 I hit a brick wall. My heart was racing funny, I had the chills and I felt like every bit of energy I had was at the start line and I still had 6 miles to go. I pushed the best I could, I had to walk. Then I would try and run and not make it to far then I would have to walk again. By mile 9 our friend Amanda had been running up the trail to find us and there I was in tears feeling like this was the end. No energy, no will to go on but I new I couldn't give up. Amanda ran with Crystal and I the rest of the way. Honestly I felt like crawling the rest of the way. I felt horrible, there was nothing left in me. Amanda and Crystal were great, they kept pushing me. I finally got to the main road and Amanda said I am going to run up and let everyone know that you are coming. I had asked the family to meet me at the corner so they could watch. All of a sudden I see Addie running towards me, yelling at me to encourage me to keep going. Then I notice this lady waving her arms running towards us. I thought for sure she was running towards the group behind me. Nope, it was my sister Erica she had flown in from Texas just to watch and cheer me on. What an awesome surprise. I was in tears, and now I knew I had to finish, there was no getting out of this at all. I made it, but it wasn't easy. I pushed as hard as I could and I crossed the finish line at 2:21 right about the time I had wanted to finish. I wasn't feeling real well, I was exhausted physically and mentally. Crystal and Amanda took one look at me and said "you don't look well, lets find a medic to take you blood pressure. Long story short I ended up in an Ambulance for 45 minutes getting an IV because I was so extremely dehydrated. Not the most exciting way to finish a race. But I did it....

Then crazy me signed up the next day to do another race just 2 weeks later. This was a moonlight race. Obviously you run at night, the idea is to start when you think you will cross the finish line at midnight. There are no timing devices, no watches etc. Again Crystal and I set out for yet another accomplishment. We started at 9:30 pm this time I was prepared. I had a good dinner, I had my water belt, GU packs, I was set. I have had a injury from the first run so I knew I wanted to take this one easy. I had never run this course before so I had no idea where I was going. You run in the dark and I had no light with me. But honestly it was a ton of fun. I still had to walk a bit, not as much as my first race but for some reason I was a little slower that night. I crossed the finish line at 12:01. 1 minute shy of the goal. unfortunately I didn't win, at least not a prize. I won with myself. I finished yet another half marathon, and this one I felt GREAT at the end. No ambulance, no feeling sick, just sure excitement that I did it. But I am now done for a while. I am good with 2 in 2 weeks. I encourage everyone of you to do a half marathon. And yes I am considering doing a full marathon next year, CONSIDERING IT!!!