Nookachamps Winter Runs: Half Marathon

This race was awesome! We got there early so we could get Lindsay(sister in law) started at 9am with the walkers. She was running, but has a slow pace and didn't want to be the last one finishing for her very first half. (She did amazing by the way and totally could have started at 10 with us) The start for me was just a little bit rushed and crazy. Jordan and I got into the gym as everyone was just exiting for the start line! We hadn't stretched or anything. Luckily, my friend Kelly was still in the gym and we went to the start together. It was the first time we have ever met in person. She is a fellow Mommy Marathon Member, actually she is one of the founders.

We were chit chatting in the street and all of a sudden everyone was running. I wasn't ready. My Garmin forerunner watch was on a weird screen, I didn't even have my ipod turned on, or my gum in my mouth. I was kind of freaking out about the watch, but Kelly was telling me,"you're Ok, you're Ok." :) I got the watch figured out, turned the ipod on, but couldn't find my gum in my pocket. Oh well, we were off. I had decided to dedicate each mile to a special person, and I had synchronized my song on my ipod so that I would hear a special song that would remind me of that person sometime during that mile. This was such a good plan! The race flew by for me and it was so enjoyable to keep my mind on other things. The dedications went like this.

Mile 1: Braddy- He ran the last half marathon with me without any training. I would have been absolutely by myself that day if it weren't for him.
Mile 2: Kelly- I was so happy to have running buddies at the race with me! She drove all the way from Portland to do this race!!!!! She answers all my race questions. :)We will be doing a marathon together very soon.
Mile 3: Debbie- She is another girl that was at the race with me. I actually caught up with Debbie right at the start of mile three, it was perfect timing. She is running the SLC marathon in April too.
Mile 4: Jana- Jana and I talk running all the time. I love her! We will be taking on a marathon together very soon! About 13 and a half weeks soon. :)
Mile 5: I ran my very first 10 mile run with Jeff. We talk running together too.
Mile 6: Rainier to Ruston Relay Team- This is what got me back into running/racing. Two years ago my friend Kim asked me to do this relay race. I did it without any training and loved it, but vowed to be in better shape the next year and I was.
Mile 7: Jordan- I was so happy to have Jordan at the race with me this time. I caught up to Jordan right at the beginning of mile 7. Perfect timing again. We ran it together.
Mile 8: Marathon Mommies- These ladies are so awesome. We blog together and support each other in our endeavors. A lot of the mommies are doing the SLC marathon together in a few months and are virtually training together. It's so great.
Mile 9: Lindsay: Once again, I was so happy to have her there doing the race with me. She's awesome. She is also going to SLC. She is going to do the half.
Mile 10: Kyah- How could I not dedicate a mile to my little princess. She called me before the race to tell me good luck.
Mile 11: Gage- Of course Gage got a mile. He is so funny. The day before the race he asked me what place I would come in. I told him about 100th. He didn't believe me and thought for sure I was getting 1st. I told him I would do my best and he seemed to be happy about that. But then he added, "Momma, try really hard to at least get 10th, OK?"
Mile 12: Nate- I certainly couldn't have trained the way I did without the support of my husband. He brought the kids to the finish line too. That was fun. :)
Mile 13: Me! I actually found myself quickly turning my thoughts to God at this mile and being grateful for what an amazing body I have been given.

Here's more of a report about the actual running. I started out the first mile just kind of going with the pack. About mile 2 I got into a good pace at about 8 and a half minute miles. My goal was to do 9 min. mile the whole time and that way I would break the 2 hour mark, but this pace felt good so I decided to go for it. I was worried that I would crash pretty early. Jordan had gone ahead of me about 100 yards at about the mile and a half mark, but I could always see him. Like I said, the race flew by. Right around mile 4 1/2 I noticed all of the swans. (The race website advertises trumpeter swans) Then I caught up to Jordan just before we reached mile six. It was almost distracting to run with him because I could tell he was hurting and I was worried about him. At mile seven there was an aid station and he stopped to walk for a second and get a drink. There was a turn around here too and I saw Kelly right after I turned around. She told me I was doing awesome and we gave a high five. That was fun. Then I saw my friend Debbie and gave her a high five too. Right after the 8 mile mark, there was a steep hill. It didn't look very long, so I decided to bust up the hill. I got my arms going and really went after it. When I got closer to the top, I realized that at the bottom, I couldn't see the rest of the hill and it seemed huge! I thought I was in big trouble as I had just used up all my strength! I slowed down and worked my way up the hill not looking ahead, just at the road. To my delight, about three quarters of the way up, we took a right hand turn and got to go down hill. HALLELUJAH! I got back into my groove of going between 8:30 miles and 8:50 miles. Then I hit mile 10. I hit the biggest wall! Between miles 10 and 11 was by far my hardest mile! It seemed to be a gradual incline the whole way. My legs did not want to move anymore. I kept telling myself I could not ruin my race now. I was on track to break 2 hours. I had a pretty slow mile, but luckily there was an aide station at mile 11. I took a gel pack and got a drink and was a new woman! I felt pretty good my last two miles. I has slowed my pace to about a 9:05 mile, but I knew I was still on par to reach my goal. As I saw the finish line, I also saw Lindsay and she started cheering for me. I got a little teary eyed seeing her and realizing that I had done it! My time was 1 hour 56 minutes flat. Yeah for me. I really did amaze myself and I felt 100 times better after this race than I did 4 months ago when I ran my first one. I love the accomplishment I feel after every race. There really is such a thing as a runner's high. I can't wait for my next race!
This is just before the finish line. A thanks to Kelly's aunt for taking this!

I waited at the finish line for my friends and brother to finish. Kelly came in right after me, then Jordan came in. The first words out of Jordan's mouth were, "That was so not worth it!" Apparently he had troubles with his legs cramping really bad. Then Debbie finished. I took pics with all these fun people of course, except there isn't one with Nate in it. Bummer.


Post race pic with Linser.

Me and the babies after the race.


Post race pic with Debbie.



Post race pic with Kelly.

Post race pics with Jordy.



EDIT:
I forgot to mention that I wrote on my feet. This was inspired by a fellow Marathon Mommy. My left one said, "Go feet!" and my right one said,"sub-2," as in sub 2 hour time.


Also, I wanted to mention that during the race, I high fived as many race workers as I could. It was fun for me, and I like to think it was fun for them too. :)