Run my first Half Marathon

I put my money down, so now, if I don’t run it I blew a wad of cash. Incentive enough? We’ll see.

I am running my first half marathon in the OKC memorial marathon on April 27th, 2008! I have the training program and am ready to go though I am nervous because the most I have ever run at the point without stopping is 3.5 miles! So it will be a stretch but I just want to be able to say I have done it and get in shape at the same time.

That was amazing! For possibly the first time in my life, I set myself a game plan, stuck with it and achieved my goal!!! I am so so happy.

The plan was to run 8min/ walk 2min all the way round, keep the first half really slow then speed it up in the second half to finish within 2h 30. All of this I did (although sometimes I ran over the 8min because I was so busy talking to people). I even bumped into a friend from school who I haven’t seen since I was 18 and ran a couple of miles with her.

In the end I finished with a bit of a sprint in 2h 27min. The Queen of Self Sabotage has quit her throne!!!

OK – this one has come around a little quickly and I have been very lax in keeping posted on this one. Am intending to run 8 min/ walk 2 all the way round. I did a 10 mile run last week like that and although it nearly killed me due to the heat I could have gone an extra 3 miles so I figure I am ready.

Have rested all this week and so am dying to get back out there and run tomorrow. Aiming to complete it in 2h 30min.

Wish me luck – I think I’m going to need it!!!

It was so overwhelmingly awesome! It was one of THE MOST fun things I’ve ever done! My friend, Sue, and I were planning to do the 5K, but in the car, on the way to OKC we got to discussing the half marathon and somehow we just KNEW it was really going to be okay to do it; better than okay, really great – and it was! The furthest she’d ever run at once was five miles. Having fallen off my training schedule and gained a few pounds I wasn’t ready either, BUT, we figured we could always walk if need be.

THAT was what made it so awesome. We focused more on having a good time than on having a “good time.” We talked and sang and laughed the whole way. It was actually over too soon! It flew by! It took us 3 hours and 21 minutes to run/walk 13.1 miles.

Not an impressive time by any means, but I truly don’t care! What made it so incredible were the people. They actually cheered for us and encouraged us all the way. I got a really beautiful medal, a t-shirt, and even better – beautiful memories of a sunny spring day with friends celebrating our abilities and each other.

It’s called A Run to Remember because it commemorates the OKC Murrah Building Explosion. I got to know this sweet lady at the Expo last night and she asked me to run in Honor of her 24-yr-old nephew who’d died in the blast – Scott Williams. So Sue and I had his name on our backs and his story in our hearts as we ran. I felt him with us all along. Helping us. It was very amazing.

My husband ran his first marathon. He hadn’t really prepared as he should have either, but he did great – 4 and 1/2 hours to run 26.2 miles! I am so darn proud of him! Cheering him in was such a thrill. He ran to where I was watching and planted a big ol’ kiss on me and everyone cheered. It was so great!

Thank you 43T-ers! You make it so much more enjoyable and you give me so much encouragement!

Baloo and I took our first run together in a long time and it was just great! We only went 2.2 miles and I was only able to run about 1/2 of it, but – once again – I am re- re- re- resuming my running!

I’m doing the 5K (I hope, anyway)at the OKC Marathon instead of my first Half Marathon. :-(

I got sick again this week (more yucky lung stuff) and haven’t run at all since Tuesday before last.

I’ve been having a slight pity-party and have manged to eat my way through a lot of bad-for-me-junk, as a result.

I KNOW it’s not the last 1/2 Marathon ever, and that I can jump right back up on that wagon I fell off of, but I’m feeling like a big LOSER right now!!!! My friends are all doing either the Half or Full Marathon. I feel like they’re progressing as runners and I’m not.

Wah, wah, wah… I can hardly stand my own terrible attitude right now. I’ll get over it.

Thursday night’s run turned into a short walk after the pain and soreness returned, then worsened, in my groin/thigh area agan.

I don’t understand how to prevent this? Maybe I overdid it on Tuesday evening…?

Oh well, Taco Bell!! Trying another, longer run tomorrow morning.

I ran 5 miles tonight (only walked a little, periodically) and it was great! A very Bee-A-Yootiful day today so I ran at the river, with friends…. Ran, talked, laughed…. Life is good!

Oh, yeah, no pain this time – I am so thankful!

:-)

On February 19, 2006, I ran the Hypothermic Half Marathon in Edmonton, Alberta. It was tough, but I did it and I’m running another one in September.