Half Marathon adventure: part 2

The sun wasn't even up. The bus ride seemed so long and these girls sitting by me would not stop talking, obviously they were runners and this was not their first race. Finally at the top of the canyon the sun begins to come out and the race is about to begin. It was pretty cold, so cold I swear some people could have cut glass with their unmentionables. The race was supposed to start at 7am but for whatever reason it didn't. I was getting so nervous just standing there. They began to count down from 10 but nothing happened nobody ran or anything. That was when my stomach turned in knots. A few minutes later they counted down again only this time the herd of people slowly began moving. People were pushing their way through the crowd. It was insane. There were over 1200 runners.

The start of the run was great. My IPod music play list began with Avril Lavigne, "girlfriend". Maybe it was a little too early for that. But I ran. Tawna and I were the same pace and we stayed pretty steady throughout the race. Caitlin is the veteran of our group. She has done a few other half marathons and started out slightly slower than us but by mile 4 she took off and left us in the back with the slow fatties and oldies. At mile 6 I was feeling pretty good. We had run all the way without stopping. At mile 7 we stopped to stretch and might have walked for two minutes. To get started again became a problem but we were already more than half way done and I just wanted to finish. My legs were numb and I felt like they were just moving because they were used to the motion, not because I was controlling them to. I was hoping for some great motivational music to come on but for whatever reason the music was not helping. At mile 9 I took some orange slices and they have never tasted so good.

At mile 10 I thought I was going to die. I wanted to just walk the rest of the way or hop on the back of a car. But thankfully Tawna stayed by me and we pushed each other through it. The bad part was when Tawna pulled her hip muscle just after that and had to run through it. I was not so lucky to avoid injury either; my knee started popping at mile 11 and didn't stop. I slowed down to work through my knee pain. Tawna and I had made a pact that we would not stop or walk the rest of the race so at mile 12 she picked up the pace but I could not keep up. I was passed by many fatties and oldies. It was so frustrating when they would pass me and then start walking and then I would catch up and then they would run and pass me. Finally I found enough energy to pass them and not let them pass me again.

Mile 13: Ben, Keith and Caitlin were waiting for me. And this time I made sure Ben was wearing a bright shirt so I wouldn't miss him. Keith said that he was tired and thirsty just watching all of us run in. Caitlin ran in with me that last tenth and encouraged me to sprint. I apparently thought it was the Olympics because when I crossed the finish line I even leaned my upper body forward a little just to get ahead of another runner. Hooray! I finished the race!!! That was my only goal. I came in at 2 hours and 33 minutes. Which was just about the time I predicted.

For all you haters that didn't think I could or would do the race this video is for you!
The aftermath includes: feeling cross eyed due to lack of oxygen, wanting to fall over but knowing that I needed to keep moving, eating oranges and bananas, not being able to think straight and oh the muscle pain.

Things I learned from running a half marathon (AKA things people don't tell you about doing a half marathon).

1. you will chafe in places you didn't know were possible.

2. Wear two sports bras.

3. You may not be able to walk for a few days after.

4. Stairs are an obstacle that should only be used if absolutley necessary for the next week.

5. It's not easy and you won't surprise yourself with your running skill.

6. People spit while they run and they don't care if you are behind them.

7. watch out for people who push and pull because they are faster than you.

8. Some people fart when they run and also don't care you are behind them.

9. There are some fast old people. Don't feel bad when they pass you and are holding a conversation with their equally old spouse.

10. Races are addicting. There is a possibility you will want to do another one (NOT a full Marathon).