Let me rewind back to January 2011. I had decided that I was going to train for a 5k in March 2011. I was not a runner, I could not run more than 5 minutes without almost dying. I didn't follow a couch to 5k plan, I just built up my level of comfortability when it came to running until I could run 20 minutes straight, then 30 minutes... you get the point. I would have conversations with my friend Stacy about how I didn't think I could do it, that there was NO way I could run a 5k race. I'm naturally athletic, but I'm not naturally a runner. I'm not a fast runner, and I probably will never get below a 10 minute mile in a race but I'm okay with that.
I ran a few 5k races over the course of 5 months or so, then I ran a couple of 10k races here and there. In June 2011, I decided I wanted to train and run my first half marathon in November. 13.1 miles. This girl who started out almost passing out after running 2 minutes, is going to try to run a half marathon? I must have gone insane.
The summer months were hard to train, in which I rarely ran since I DESPISE the treadmill. I did some long runs, my highest being 11 miles. It's funny that I now see 3 -6 miles as "short and easy runs".
The Route 66 Half Marathon in Tulsa started out as a cold and windy morning, and it ended that way.
My friend Stacy and I stayed at a hotel in Tulsa the night before, and maybe slept for 2 good hours, if that. Stacy is a natural runner, and she is faster than I am and probably ever will be.
There were so many people there racing, and a lot of supporters along the road. Total strangers cheering on other strangers as they ran. Some of my favorite signs I saw were, "Be a honey badger, Don't give a S&*#" "Run complete stranger that I don't know, Run" and at the end "You're almost there" with a sign beside it that said, "That's what she said"
The first 6 miles were pretty hilly, and I have to say that I am never prepared for hills. Mainly because I rarely train on them. I've learned my lesson though, I have to get over my hill phobia. The last 7 miles were pretty much a straight, flat way. After mile 9 or so, you had a straight, VERY cold wind coming at you. In my experience, between mile 10 and mile 11 was the longest mile of my life. My legs could not go any faster, my hips were getting incredibly tight, and my energy was depleting.
I took some Clif Shotbloks along the way and drank Gatorade every now and then.
I ended up finishing in 2 hours 32 minutes and 40 seconds. It was a 13.3 mile course, which ends up being an 11:29 pace. I am pleased with that considering I didn't train for 2 weeks prior due to life. My goal was to finish and now I have a PR to build off of.
Right before we faced the cold weather.
All the people behind us that were racing.
Me and Stacy at the end. 13.1 finishers!
I have a marathon relay coming up in December at White Rock Marathon in Dallas.
I plan on running the half marathon in Ardmore and the half marathon for the OKC Memorial.
I have a goal to run a marathon in 2012. I never thought I'd want to, and I never thought I'd say those words. I may be crazy, but why not I say, why not?!
