Almost there

Okay...so its been some time since I have posted. Nothing I can do about that. We are having A LOT of problems with our computer. Sending it to get fixed, but until it is, my posts might be far and few in between. ! Joanne and I ran 12.1 miles on Saturday. In the rain...not a drizzle or a shower, but rain. The entire 12 miles. Ugh! But I'm definitely prepared if it should rain on race day. We didn't do too bad that day, considering the sheer number of hills that were in our route plus the weather. I think we finished in 2:16. I'll take it! At least we got it done. We have one more long run of 8 miles on Saturday and then it should be it. Taper week is next week and then...the race!! So excited, but I know I'll be incredibly nervous! I can't believe there is only 10 days to go! Woo-hoo! Now let's talk nutrition. I have totally been lacking in the good nutrition category. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I need to do better for my body. The exercise is definitely there, but the eating is not. I am going to focus on what my body really needs before this race. I'll let you know how that goes. Until then...

Family Runs

I realize I haven't written in a long time.  I'll try to be better about that.  Life sometimes gets in the way of blogging.  OK...it doesn't, but I spend too much time doing things that don't matter and I really need to focus on what needs done.  But that's a whole other blog.  Today I want to talk about family runs.

Last Wednesday, I recruited my 9 year old son, Brady to go out on a 4 mile trail run with me.  He was so excited to go.  He is very athletic and loves to test himself, so this was good for him.  He has run a couple of 5Ks with me, but that is the furthest he had ever gone.  We headed out the door and made our way down to the trail...it's about 4/10s of a mile from my house.  He didn't really like running on the street because I kept having to call out car!  car!  and made sure he moved over to the grass.  He did enjoy the trail though.  He did really well.  I could tell he was getting a bit tired, so I said that we can stop at the end of the trail, it would be 3.6 miles and then just walk back up to the house, but he didn't want to do that.  He said "no, I want to finish."  There is a hill to go back up the the house from the trail.  It's a decent hill.  I coached him up it and he ran the whole thing.  When we got to the house, he was beat!  We ran 4 miles in 41:59.  I was so pleased with that time for us!  I had told him prior to running that I'd play catch with him when we got back.  After the run, he said he didn't want to play catch (surprising for him!) because he was done.  Several hours later, my daughter said "Is Brady sleeping?"  Sure enough, I went upstairs to check on him, and he was sound asleep...for 2 1/2 hours!  That run certainly wore him out!  But I was so proud of him!

Then on Saturday, I was supposed to run 5-6 miles.  I asked Brady if he wanted to come with me and he said he would as long as it was later in the day.  So I waited and waited...finally I said at close to 4pm...you're not coming with me, are you?  He said "No...sorry Momma."  I wasn't mad, just disappointed.  I was looking forward to a trail run, but don't go there alone, so I guess it was hitting the streets!  When I went to leave, I saw Kip and he asked where I was running.  I kind of whined about the streets and he told me to wait, he'd change and come with me.  Yippee!  We headed off to the trail.  We started off good, but about 2 miles in, Kip's hip flexor was hurting...changed our plan and slowed down, but it didn't help.  He told me to go ahead and he'd keep me in sight.  So I did.  We got in 4.45 miles.  He felt bad that he slowed me down, but I didn't care.  I was glad he offered to come with me so I could run the trail.

I love that my family comes with me.  Sometimes,  I just don't want to run alone.  It's nice to have company.  I often run around the culdesac when Nicholas is home because I can't leave him alone.  It gets boring.  So to change from the trail to the hilly streets to the treadmill to the flat culdesac, that's a good thing!  I love family runs!

My first half marathon!

I did it!  I completed a half marathon and I truly can't believe it!  I'm here to tell you all about it.

Woke up at 5:30 and I was so nervous my knees were shaking.  Oh my!  Took a look at the weather and it said 41.  I thought ok, I'll wear capris, a running tank and a jacket.  Headed out the door at 6:20 to pick up my friend Beth.  Got to her house and waited a few minutes then went and knocked on the door.  Her hubby answered and said he didn't think she was ready yet.  She set her alarm to pm instead of am and just woke up!  She screamed down to me "I don't want to stress you, but I just woke up.  I have everything layed out and will be ready in a bit."  I told her it was no big deal.  I was just glad to have someone to go down with.

So on our way we went.  Made it there early and found parking, hopped on the shuttle and there we were in the excitement of it all!  Found our other friends, made our bag drop and realized it was VERY cold!  Holy cow was I cold!  Luckily, my experienced running buddy Beth brought garbage bags to put over us to keep warm until the beginning of the race.  Got where we needed to be and waited for the countdown.

Once we started, my nerves disappeared.  Our first mile was VERY slow due to the sheer congestion at the start.  Made it through the first 3.1 no problems.  Our split on that was 33:54.  Then came the first of two 5 mile loops around the lake.  Man, it seemed so long to get around it!  At about mile 7 1/2 or so, Beth stopped to use a portapotty so told me to go ahead and "run like the wind"!  So I kept going...my split at 8.1 was 1:27:44.  Mile 8 and 9 seemed ok, but at mile 10 I realized I had a blister under my right big toe and it hurt every time my foot hit the ground.  Then I could tell on my left foot that a toe nail was digging into another toe.  I guess it balanced me out since now I had pain in both feet!

Mile 11 was a killer.  It was really tough.  I was getting tired.  My legs were sore and it just seemed like I had forever to go yet.  Mile 12 was a little bit better.  I started to remind myself that I was close to the finish and my legs weren't going to give out on me.  I could see that the finish line was close and found my friend and training buddy, Joanne, waiting for me and screaming me on!  I was so happy to see her and gave her a high five as I passed her.  Crossed the finish line in 2:20:48!  I cried before I reached the medals.  I was so overwhelmed that I did it!  Got my medal, hugged and cried to Joanne and then we went to cheer Beth on.  She wasn't too far behind me and I was able to get a great picture of her.

What an accomplishment!  I would not have been able to do this without Joanne and Beth.  I was inspired and encouraged by them for the last year.  They are great running partners, women and friends!  I can't believe I did it!  I finished a half marathon!  WOO-HOO!