My first half-marathon...

It was freezing out... barely 30 degrees when we started! Kevin started in corral #9 and when his corral started to go, I chickened out and moved back to #13 (out of 15). It was perfect for me! Kevin started with the "professional runners" and I was with the "professional speed walkers." I started at a great pace and at mile 2 was wanting to jog a bit but held back so I would have energy come mile 12. Miles 2-3 were along the river & it was an amazing view... and a lot of fun to look at all the clothes the runners had taken off and thrown on the side of the road, in the bushes & even in the trees! I had to stop to pee at mile 3, 4, and 6. I was also given 1 packet of energy jelly beans (that's all Kevin could spare!) and those were gone by mile 5. Mile 4 has an awesome drum band from a Methodist Church in front of the Convention Center. Between Mile 5-6, we ran past St. Jude's and that was a great reminder of why we were doing this. There was this little boy, Luke, who did not survive his battle with cancer but his family placed about a dozen signs around the course thanking us, motivating us, and inspriring us (with some great bible verses related to running). I kept going for Luke and so there doesn't have to be any more Luke's! Mile 6 had a sign stapled to a tree saying "Ashley, will you marry me? Tell me at the finish line!" Mile 7 we cut through the zoo (but it was wooded so we couldn't see any of it!). It was boring and I had to listen to some music (Ice, Ice, Baby- It's Tricky- TLC). I also started feeling a bit weird, like something was off in my body. I drank some nasty powerade at mile 8 but then God sent me 2 angels at the end of the zoo in the form of 2 girls cheering & offering up candy & granola bars. That granola bar was the best I've ever eaten!!! Miles 9 and 10 were kind of a blur. Mile 10 did have a DJ and I got to hear the Rocky theme and "Push It" by Salt-n-Peppa. Great tunes! Mile 11 was the killer for me. At that aide station, there was this group of women rapping and it was hylarious & put a big smile on my face. Then came the longest mile ever... even another group of women walking agreed. Just as I thought "are we ever going to get to mile 12?" another woman said it out loud! My leg also started hurting. When I finally got to mile 12 all I could think of "please let this end soon." I thought it never would. The people cheering were saying, "you're almost there" and I just keep going with a spuratic pace. I kept passing these 2 women who clearly kept the same pace the entire time. Finally came the home stretch and I could see Autozone park and where we entered in. I started to run and that lady who was also suffering through mile 11 yelled "you go girl! It's all you!" I replied "I'm going to finish and soon if it kills me!" I ran in the stadium and got excited, then some guy told me "just a little more to go!" and I saw the finish. They made us run on gravel (which is idiotic since you feel like crap by then & you can barely run as it is). I got to the finish and put my arms in the air and tears welled up in my eyes as I said "I did it!" I so wish somebody I knew would have been there waiting for me. I felt a little alone for a moment but then a man said, "that way to the runners food area." The dumbass race people made us walk up the steps from the field to the top of the 1st level to go eat. Yeah, walking those steps were a breeze!

But oh, the reward... the food area! As I stated earlier, at mile 8 I got hungry. Lord did I eat! Screw WW points!! I had a cup of McAlister's broccoli & cheese soup, 2 slices of cheese pizza, a Krispy Kreme donut (heaven on my lips!), an orange, banana and some Nutter Butter cookies (to go!). I waited on Kevin who was about an hour & 20 minutes behind me.

We kept texting each other throughout the race. Here's what he wrote & my reply:
K> mile 6...ok?
H>@ mile 3...wanting to run but taking it easy! go marathon!
H>@ high point pinch! doing a 15 minute pace =)
H>1:55 @ mile 6... started 18 minutes after start time. does that mean I'm @ 1:38??? a 2:00 marathoner just ran by...looking 4 u! LOL
K>19.5...hurting
H>you can do... stay strong! More prayers coming your way! (I had just finished the half at this point)
K>25...
K>26...

I got a spot on the deck where all the marathoners came into the park. I saw him & yelled "Yea Kevin! You rock!" He smiled & the look on his face said "I'm glad I'm almost done & glad to see you!" When he got in the food tent (because I wasn't leaving the area since you couldn't get back in!) we hugged and it became a battle of who was prouder of who. We declared a tie- equally as proud of the other for achieving more than we imagined we could! Then I went in Mom-mode... making him rest while I got hot cocoa or whatever else he needed. He admitted he was worried about me (as he should have been) and I admitted that I never doubted him finishing! He said he may stick to half marathons and just work on getting faster. I declared I was going to take up running and run an entire half marathon. I think he's shocked & impressed with my enthusiasm. I don't think he ever imagined he would be married to a runner. Maybe we'll have a family of runners!?!?!

That night we went to Neely's where I ate more (believe it or not!). I had a BBQ bologna sandwich, part of a sausage and cheese plate, some of Kevin's BBQ spaghetti and pulled pork. I also ordered sweet tea as my reward but an odd thing occurred... I haven't had it in so long (b/c of WW) that when I drank it I said, "oh this is too sweet." Kevin said it was great & the best he's had in a while. I was a little happy for my change in my taste buds and when the waitress came for a refill I got a Diet Pepsi instead.

Kevin was hurting (as he should be!) so he stayed in that night. I went to visit with Carrie- my college roommate, dear friend, and personal "e-trainer and cheerleader" as I named her. We sat and chatted for over 4 hours. It was great to catch up and I got some advice on how to start running regularly. I also informed her that her job as my "e-trainer" had only begun!

It was a great race & I'm so proud of Kevin but more importantly, myself. I doubted if I could even finish and my goal was under 3:45... I did both! I can't wait to keep on this... I've discovered a good thing =)

I ROCK!!!!

Well, I did it... I finished a half-marathon... and under 3.5 hours! 3:26:01 and a 15:44 pace =) I felt so empowered and so proud of myself. I had a sense of pride I haven't had for myself in ages. Yeah I'm proud that I've lost all this weight but to set a goal and achieve it with such definitive results was amazing. Carrie was also right... it's easy to get addicted. I'm a bit sore but ready to begin running. I'm going to start running so the next half-marathon I do, I can run it... well, at least 90% of it! I NEVER thought I would consider myself a runner but am excited to. That's a great way to define myself!!! Kevin wants me to do the Nashville half in April but I'm sure I won't be ready. I can't commit to that extensive of training plus too, I have no intention of training out in the cold any time soon! I'll start on the treadmill but I can never do more than 3 miles without getting bored to tears. Hopefully by the time I can actually run all 3 miles it will be warmer out!

I still have another 4 pounds to go until I can reach WW Lifetime status (i.e. pay $100 and I can go free as long as I don't gain more than 2 pounds) but another 9 until I reach my own goal. I'm a bit pumped & now that I'm officially a "future runner" it should be easier for me to do it!!! Kevin said I'm not allowed to walk/run for 2 weeks so my body can "recover" so I guess I'll just stick to the Wii fit for a week (maybe 2)!!!

I'm going to do another post and journal my Half-Marathon mile by mile!

**love & skinny hugs**