13.1 Miles!

Growing up I HATED running. My dad was a track star in high school. He would run 10 miles a day, 5 days a week or something crazy like that. I remember in Jr. High and High School my Dad telling me that I should go out for track because I had "such a natural stride." I figured he just wanted me to follow in his footsteps because until recently NOTHING about running felt natural to me!

At family dinner at the beginning of February, my brother in law Keith invited me to run with him and some co-workers in the half marathon in April. "Since you have already been running it will be easy to train" he said... (I had done a couple of 5K's and ran 3 miles or so 3-4 times a week...but I mixed running with other cardio stuff so was FAR from considering myself a runner)... I agreed to start training, but told him I wouldn't register for the race until after I ran the 12 miles that was part of the training leading up to race day...I honestly didn't know if I could work up to that kind of mileage and didn't want to waste money.

And so it started...I ran 3 times a week, and each week I got better and my times were improving. Strangely enough, I was actually enjoying myself! Each week was a new challenge, a new distance to accomplish..first 4 miles, 6 miles, then 8 miles! The first time I ran 10 miles was the BIGGEST confidence booster...and I think that is when I truly "became" a runner. (ya, I know that sounds dumb...) I was always so excited to call and tell my Dad how I had done on my long runs and how I was actually starting to crave running. If i missed a day I felt like there was really something missing. Two weeks before the scheduled race day I was supposed to do my 12 mile run. I had ran 10 miles 3 times by that point and so I was confident it would go well...and it did...the biggest challenge was having my pace ruined by busy intersections!

After finishing my 12 mile run, as promised, I registered for the Salt Lake City Half Marathon...and this past Saturday I finished it! Our goal at the starting line was to finish in under 2 hours 20 minutes.

The first 10 miles went really quickly...the adrenaline from everyone around us was truly contagious! The only part of the race I didn't enjoy was between mile 11 and mile 12 where it was up hill...I really had to tell myself to keep pace and to not give up and walk. We had great support of friends and family at the finish line and our official time was 2:05:58...much better then either one of us expected to do!

I still can't believe that I ran a half marathon. Just to remind myself I have my finisher's medal hanging up on our TV! (I am sure eventually Trav will ask me nicely to put it somewhere else, but for now he is letting me have my moment) Not only did I finish the half marathon, but I did better than I thought I was capable of doing. Maybe my Dad was right all along, maybe I do have it in me to be a good runner...it was an AMAZING feeling to cross that finish line Saturday morning and I can't wait for my next race... I have already been looking online at what other races are happening around the state this year...who knows, maybe someday I will even do a full marathon?!