Well, after a year of thinking about the Half Marathon, it has come and gone. My friends and I have discussed how it's like a wedding. It started in my head with the Richmond 8K last November, that maybe, just maybe, I would do the half marathon this year. A little more time went by and I trained for the 10K in the spring. Then, before I even knew it, an email went around. Sign up for the Half now - before prices go up. And with a few clicks of a button, I'd signed up.
All summer, we ran every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. We talked about the half marathon a lot. What will it be like, will we be ready?
Yes, we'll be ready.
This fall, I ran a 10K at the beach and the Capital 10 Miler Race. Then I started having a weird feeling in my leg and decided I better get it checked out. The doctor said - no more running. You're going to run the race, but no more running until then. Just cross training. So, then came the G-Trainer, the elliptical and the running in the pool. Another check up- wait, let's do a bone scan at the eleventh hour. Finally, Thursday before the race.
Yes, you're clear.
So, race day came. It was so exciting. All my running friends were there. Race time came and Amy, Angie and I lined up with Angie's husband. We were in the back. The first mile or two, I thought how heavy my feet were. I hadn't run in nearly a month with full body weight. But I got in the groove. It was pretty and the spectators were great. I kept thinking, I'll see Jon at mile 7. Amy's husband would be there. Lisa was going to join us at mile 7 and finish with us. We made it there and were doing ok. I hit mile 9 and I think dehydration started hitting me. I'd been so worried about my leg, I forgot to really hydrate especially with the head cold I had. That's right about where Kay joined us for the last 4 miles. Between Kay & Lisa, they joined with Amy and I and alternated back and forth. A little good cop, bad cop to get us going. At mile 12, I knew I could do it. I had about 10 more minutes. And I made it. So sweet. A couple of times along the way, I could've thought about stopping, but kept it going.
After the race, I said that raising a "Runner" is a lot like the philosophy that it takes a village to raise a child. I couldn't have done it without the support of the girls out there with me, Jon taking the kids so I could run and the people that were constantly cheering for me and asking about my running,
so Thank you!
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| Can't believe that "Joan Rivers" was beating me. I kept trying to get around her so she wouldn't block my picture. Ha! |
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| Mile 7: Seeing Jon |
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| My honking medal |
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| Me & Amy |
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| The Mother Runners (1/2 Marathon Team) |
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| Katie, Joanna, Amy and I pre race. This is not my pink snuggie! I was merely holding for someone else. |
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