Back in May I finished my 1st 12K race (see the “proof” here). After the race I got the crazy idea to run a Half-Marathon. With some encouragement from my running pal and best amiga Lara. I decided that it just might be possible.
So I trained. I ran up mountains, and hills, through trails, and parks I even had a run-in with a black bear. The funny thing about distance running is that you have to allot for a significant amount of time if you going to run a significant amount of miles. Between moving into a new house, traveling, work, and a number of other time zappers my running schedule was mediocre at best. Despite my best efforts I was never able to free up more than an hour and a half to run and the longest I ever made time to run was 10 miles.
The morning of race day I was apprehensive. I wasn’t even sure I could run 13.1 miles, much less run the infamous hills of the Asheville Citizen-Times Half Marathon.
My only goal: to finish the race, and not to stop running.
My company was a sponsor of the race so I proudly sported our shirts!
Matthew came as my biggest fan, and documented the entire event.
I ran with a water fueling belt so that I wouldn’t have to stop for water at the water stations. It worked really well and helped me not to slow down. I also filled it up with jelly beans and energy fruit snacks for a quick power boost. Thanks mom and Bekah!
The race was huge. Over 1,200 people ran the half marathon.
But despite the turn out there could only be ONE PERSON to finish in 710th place and that person was ME!
Ok, the number might not sound impressive to you but what it means to me is that I finished a Half Marathon in 2 hours and 4 minutes. That’s 9.27 minute miles! A personal best!
As impressed as I was with my own results my friend Lara’s race results tops it all.
She finished the 5K in under 40 minutes 9 months pregnant and greeted me at the finish line.
And there you have it—I reach the finish line and more importantly reached a goal that I wasn’t even sure was attainable. I am thankful for the ability to run and the support and encouragement that I had the whole way through.
Mission Accomplished.
2 comments:
Caroline! Way to run!!! I just found your blog, and I am really impressed by how grown up your life is. A husband, house, job, and a half marathon? You've got your stuff together.
Congratulations girl! Toby says he wants to do this too! His competitive self is dying to do something like a triathalon or i think 5K. anyway, he said you made great time, too. One of my friends just did a triathalon and he was getting itchy for something like it.
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