Half Marathon!

Yep.

Call me crazy!
Or stupid. Or insane.

At the ripe old age of 35, I signed myself up for a half marathon.

The girl who had never ran more than 3 consecutive miles without stopping.

And it taking 2 hours to boot.

And losing a lung and hip behind on the street.

I don't know what got in me.

It was never a bucket list item.
The thought had crossed my mind briefly prior.
Maybe it was because I was in a fitness slump..

The moment of clarity was on a jog on the canal.

I was DYING and hadn't been going very long.

As I was lugging my lifeless body along,

what looked to be an 80 year old man ran briskly passed me.

Done.

I came home and signed myself right up for the Phoenix Half.

Then text Stephanie and pleaded with her to do it with me!

 I needed a support and accountability partner. 

She was reluctant, but in the end did her sister a favor!

And somewhere along the line, I roped Casey into running, too. Ha!

We didn't get too serious into training until a month out.

Some how between busy schedules and sports games for the kids,
Stephanie and I would meet on Saturdays to put
 some miles on our feet.
We started out little with a 5 mile run.

Then the next week bumped it to 8.

I think the most we did was 10 or 11 miles.

Then we were out of time!

Race day was here!

We got up at the crack of dawn and drove

to Riverview to get on the buses to take us to the start line.

I was doing pretty good on nerves.

The whole drive I was noticing how long it seemed to take.

Which meant I would be running this distance back, yikes!

We got off the buses to blaring music and masses of people!

We squeezed our way into some heaters.

We learned some tips from the pros to buy cheap sweaters and blankets

from Goodwill to keep warm in until the start. 

Then as you start running, you  shed layers onto the street

and volunteers come around and pick up the thrown jackets and re-donate to thrift stores.

We waited in LONG lines for port a potties.
Stretched. Then it was go time!!

The first half I was feeling pretty good.

I really paced myself so I wouldn't poop out too quickly.

I had never done the full 13 miles, so I didn't know exactly how
 I would feel and didn't want to rock the boat.
Plus, I didn't have a specific time in mind to run it in.

I was just there for the experience.

Stephanie and I stayed together for the first few miles, then

she took off. Casey was in front of me as well.

I didn't realize how my emotions were so ramped up!

I was loving the energy of the runners and the by -standers.
At the drink stations they had music blaring and each person handing

out cups were so great to keep you pumped up.

Running is really a mental thing, so I was grateful for the positive 

atmosphere!

They had an app that friends and family could follow runners on.

It was awesome for them to be able to track you so could map

out different cheering spots along the trail.

I was SO grateful to know I had some cheerleaders to look for.

At first I told them not to come because it was early and cold.

But deep down I know I couldn't have done it with out them.

Cheesy, I know. 
Just knowing they were there supporting  and rooting us on was huge!

Once again, it kept your mind of the pain.

Big shout out to our cheering section!!!

Another big shout out to Offerpad.

They had signs all along the route the were HILARIOUS!

I was surprising myself with my stamina.
I was fist pumping that I only stopped a few seconds to drink
some Gatorade or water so it wouldn't splash all over me.
If I stopped too long, I knew I would never get my groove again.

Then my self esteem came crashing down when the motorcycle brigade came with lights and
 horns beeping for us peons to move out of the way.
  The lead marathoner (who started the
same time as the halfers) came running by like a gazelle.,
leaving us in the dust.
It was amazing.

Mile 12 was finally here and I was feeling gased.

I turned to my left and low and behold, I saw my cousin Molly!
She hopped in the last couple of miles to run with her daughter
who was also running her first half marathon. 
Only, her daughter wanted to concentrate and not talk.
So I took her place:)

She was a blessing in disguise because without her to talk to,
I would have for sure stopped to walk for a bit.
She kept my pace up, if not faster than I would have
been able to go on my own.

In the meantime, Casey had finished his race!!
He ran it in 2:21:03
Not bad for no training! 

Stephanie finished as well.

Then the slow poke came in!
I couldn't believe how long that last leg felt.

But I did it!!

2:31:35 was my time.

What a rush!

Jeanette.
One of my very best friends.
She came and cheered us on the whole time.

They found us at the finish line!
And were more excited about our free loot than seeing us.

An up close picture of Jeanette's hilarious sign.

Then we hobbled ourselves in line for the free massage!

 

Would I do it again?
I signed up for 2021 the very next day. LOL!

It might be in my blood now.