Sorry i couldn't update yesterday - i didn't get home until 5 and pretty much went to bed after that. :)
Well ladies & gentleman - i did it. I completed my first 1/2 marathon!! (and i have the sore muscles and blisters to prove it - ha!)
Where to start? Surprisingly, i was able to sleep fine the night before. I woke up one minute before my alarm was supposed to go off and got going. I had pinned my bib number and laced my d-tag the night before, so i just ate breakfast, got dressed, said a prayer, and waited for Cheryl & her friend to show up at my place. Thankfully, Tom was able to drop us off so we didn't have to mess with the crowds & shuttles & stuff.
6:45 am - ready to go!
Our group was supposed to meet Coach Dave at 8, so we had a little time to relax and just take in the scene. There were people
everywhere. I got in line for the rancid port-a-potty and surprisingly, that was the only time i had to use it. Coach Dave gave us some last minute tips and words of support, and it was off to our corrals.
I was in one of the last corrals, which i will know not to make that mistake for the next race. My corral was mostly made up of walkers and i spent a good portion of the race weaving in & out of them. Frustrating, but what can you do?
I sent a mass text to my friends letting them know i wouldn't cross the start line until 9:15 & i got several texts back of places they were going to be. (God bless the iPhone!) I got my playlist geared up and we slowly inched forth. Finally, our corral was up to the start line & we were off!
My friend Angela and her boyfriend were the first people i saw. They had their fancy cameras & were able to snap a few shots. It was so nice to see them out there! :)
ipod, check. fuel belt, check. calf wraps, check!
I felt really, really good starting off! I kept my pace slow so i wouldn't tire out and tried to just zone out and think about how far i've come. I walked through the first water stop and then picked up my jogging again. I actually didn't take my first walk break until mile 6, which is really awesome for me!
Around mile 5, i saw Tom and my friends Dena, Ben & Corey. I can't describe the rush you get when you see someone you know cheering you on out there. It's definitely a high!
Still smiling! But Lord, those pants are unforgiving.
And off to mile 6.
Some more friends from work were supposed to be at mile 6, but somehow i didn't see them. So i texted Marissa and they were able to get up a few blocks and let me know their new location. Marissa & Caryn had awesome signs and cheered as loud as they could. It felt great to see them!
I saw Tom and the rest of the gang around mile 8 and then it was up to me to finish the rest of the race. Around mile 10 & 11, i started to hit my "wall". Cruely, the course started to go uphill & the sun was out shining down on us. I was hot, tired and just wanted to finish! My pace slowed down considerably and i had to keep telling myself that i was "almost there."
Finally, mile 13 came into view and i knew i could do it. I took all the energy i could muster and crossed the finish line with a smile on my face and my arms in the air. I had did it. 5 & 1/2 months of hard work, times were i just wanted to give up, plagued with calf problems, tears shed - it was all worth it in the end.
I got my medal, had my picture taken, snagged a bottle of sports drink and headed to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters tent to see the gang. I somehow missed Coach out on the race, but Jessica was there to give me a big hug & congratulations.
My friend Chris was out of town, so my friends made a "makeshift" Chris. It was hilarious.
Giving "Chris" a high five.
Ben, Corey, me, Dena & Tom.
And that's all she wrote. My official finish time was 3:03:48. I had wanted to finish in under 3 hours, but hey. There's always next time. :)
Posts
