The half and full marathoners started at the same place. We all got there with plenty of time to go to the bathroom a million times, get super nervous, take a few pictures and freeze our little hineys off. Jenica started a half an hour before us, and I am so glad that we all got to be there to cheer her off! Then by the time all the half marathoners had to line up the sun started to poke out from behind the cloud and the wind decided to slow down and by the start of our race, the weather couldn't have been more perfect.
I started training in January and just a couple of weeks before the race Connor decides that maybe he wanted to join in on the fun. He ran a total of three times and called the training complete. One of those times he ran a 9 mile run with me and Tyleen. And instead of just running one or two miles with me then taking off (like the other times he ran), he decided to do it all with us at OUR pace. Before this, he said he'd just run the half with me, thinking that it'd be fun to just do it together. AFTER the run, he then decided that he's not going to be able to go as slow as me and he probably wont run with me. I knew that would happen even when he said he was going to run with me. Anyway, we're all huddled together and as soon as that gun went off to begin the race, Connor was OUT OF THERE! He immediately started weaving through everybody to get to the front. He didn't want to get stuck on the trail we'd soon be getting on behind a bunch of slow pokes. sooooo off he went! And what do ya know?! The kid that ran three times for his training ran the half in about 1:35 and got 3rd in his division and 49th overall. This kid is a freak of nature and it makes me sick! :) but because he ran so fast they gave him a ribbon and a little stuffed potato as a prize!
Kendra was another one of those freaks of nature that only ran a few times before the race and still was able to rock it. I am so glad she was there. She ran with me for the first 9 miles. While we were running we'd sing the songs on our ipods to each other or tell stories to the point we were laughing WHILE running! You're probably thinking, well that doesn't sound like you were trying very hard. But we were! We'd keep checking our time and we were still a little ahead of our normal and were still going strong so we kept it up. This picture was at about mile 6 I think when we spotted Cortney at the park! Boy were we happy to see her! The picture is blurry probably because we were running so fast! :) At about mile nine though, kendra decided if she was going to beat 2 hours she had better pick up the pace and leave me behind. I was still on track for my goal of 10 minute miles so I just stayed at my pace and watched her go.
But for all of those that are trying to decide if they should do a race. Let me just tell you one thing, DOOOOOOOO IT!!!!! I knew it'd be so fulfilling, but it was SO fun!
We did it!!!!!!! The Full and Half Marathoners got medals as soon as they crossed the finish line. I was the last half marathoner from my family to cross the line, so I had a good size cheering squad as I came into the end. And let me tell ya what, it was AWESOME! The whole race I was rockin it, but by mile 11 I was feeling pretty tired. I had made it that far without walking so I knew I'd be mad at myself if I did when I only had a little ways to go. So, I just told my legs to just keep running! And by the end to have my family screaming and cheering for me, some how I was able to finish the last bit strong! Nothing felt better than crossing that finish line! All that hard work and time, had paid off!!
We had to take a picture of how we REALLY felt after the race. EXHAUSTED! But seriously, how awesome to be part of a family that is all healthy and active enough to participate in such a cool thing! Even my mom was running around all day trying to catch us along the trails to cheer us on! I am so glad that Devin convinced all of us to participate in this! I don't think we could have asked for a better route, better weather, or better people to do it with! IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!
Oh! I almost forgot to mention how well I did!!! My finishing time was 2:10 (exactly 10 minute miles), I got 597th out of 1046 (doesn't sound very impressive i know), and 29th in my division! I know it sounds crappy compared to Connor's stats. But it was my goal to finish with 10 minute mile pace so I am happy!!!!!
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