If you had told me a year ago I was going to run a half-marathon…13.1 miles. I would have told you that you were crazy. I would have been lucky to have been able to run a mile then!
Fast-forward to November when my friend Carrie asked if I would run the Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon with her. For some crazy reason, I said yes. I had just finished my longest run ever…3.5 miles and was feeling good. It was 6 months away…I had plenty of time to train.
Oh, how those six months went by so fast. I ran more 3 mile runs than I can remember. Then they started getting to 4 and 5 mile runs. And in the last few months I ran my longest ever 8 miles, 10 miles, and 10.5 miles in the wind, on hills, with a jogging stroller.
That was the longest I’d ever run…until today.
13.1 miles in 2 hours, 39 minutes, and 59 seconds
The day started with rain and the forecast predicted heavy rain and thunderstorms. But God heard our prayers and we only had light rain for the first hour or so.
Heading out at 5:30am. I ended up not wearing the headband and keeping with the hat. But I have to tell you what it says, I run so I can eat. 100 calories burned for each mile!
My friend, Carrie, and I waiting to start. We split after the first mile…she finished just over 2 hours!
We didn’t actually get to start running until 10 minutes after the “official” race start. But our racing bibs had a timing mechanism that started when we went over the start line.
Oh, did I mention there were 15,000 people!
My family came to cheer me on at a few different mile markers. The first time they almost didn’t see me….
even though I ran right in front of them. I think this was around mile five.
And then they met me again coming out of Churchill Downs around 8 or 8.5 miles, which was not very impressive at all. Especially when you compare it to the Del Mar race track in San Diego.
After 6 or 7 miles I started walking some. I was getting tired and my knees and hips ached. I asked Joe when I saw them before to bring the Excedrin next time. Then I had one of those Cliff energy gels. Completely nasty. I almost had to throw up. I know you wanted to know that.
After 8 miles, I kept trying to think only 5.1 miles to go…that’s just a regular run. Of course, it didn’t feel like a regular run. I kept with one of the pace runners (about 11:30 pace) until one of the water stops…where I stepped to walk as I drank the water. The pace runners can’t stop for anything. Not water (they carry it) or the bathroom…and they run the full marathon!
The course was straight and flat after 4 miles, but after the 10 or 11 mile markers (which there was some good music) the crowds cheering grew sparse. We were getting closer to downtown and more roads were blocked off making it harder for spectators to park and walk to the course.
My only complaints about the race were between miles 11 and the finish there was only one water stop and there had been one for every mile. And then in the LAST MILE we had to run uphill. Seriously? I really wanted to only run the last 2 miles, but it hurt and the hill did not help. After mile 11, I didn’t see anymore mile makers and I think they police were telling us where we were at. But I passed two officers at least a few 10 tenths of a mile apart that said we were passing 12 miles…so that didn’t help. I do wish we had been able to see the finish line for a few blocks. We made a left and then it was only about 1/10th of a mile to the finish. I definitely picked up my pace, but I probably could have run faster longer if I had seen the finish line. Oh well. I still finished.
I didn’t see my family again until after the finish line. Both my parents were at different spots along the finish line and we didn’t see each other…so, sadly, no picture. Crazy thing is looking at the pictures my mom took I walked right past her! She did get a little distracted with the old man who collapsed in front of her….
When we finally met up this was how they found me. Exhausted. Nauseous. Aching.
I finished.
I have no plans to run a full marathon. Another half? Maybe. A 5k or 10k will be a breeze after this.
It wasn’t as hard as I expected, but it was hard. Originally, I thought I’d run it in 2.5 hours and a few months into training I decided I’d be happy with a 3-3.5hr time. So, I’m very happy with my time. But more importantly, I did it.
I challenged myself and accomplished a goal.
Me. The daughter of two Marines…
…who has always hated running herself.
Me. Who before 6 months ago had never run over 4 miles. Today I did it.
Me. Something I never would have dreamed.
It hurt and I’m sure I’ll feel it tomorrow, but now I can always say,
“I ran a half-marathon!”
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