[post slightly edited...forgot that Renee also got her medal!]
So I haven't posted a blog in ages. I have buckets full of excuses for why I haven't posted: I'm busy with family, I'm busy at work, I'm busy volunteering, I've been traveling, etc. But my top excuse is this: I've been busy running. And running some more. And still running more...
You see, I signed up last summer to run a HALF MARATHON. 13.1 miles, that's an insanely long distance to run! Why did I sign up to do this? Because I'm an idiot. And the peer pressure got to me. But really, it was because I needed to achieve an un-reachable goal. Why set the bar where you can reach it, eh?
After running my first race in March 2012 (a 10K or 6.22 miles) in Hawaii, I didn't really have anything to run for or to reach for. My "official" running buddy, Jennifer, and I have been running 5K races (or 3.1 miles) each month since March 2012 for "fun" (note the quotes...this is our joke. Running is "fun."). So we decided that together we would train and run our first half marathon. Apparently we're BOTH idiots!
My other pal, Renee, does ridiculous amounts of running in half marathons, triathlons (run, bike, and swim events), Ironman competitions, and all sorts of 5 to 10K races. She's a haus. She's also like a super crazy inspiration for me to keep this running thing up. I love that like me, she's not one of those uber-fit women that you see in the magazines. She's a normal girl that works full time, volunteers, and has a busy life with her hubby. Just like me. If she can do all of that, why couldn't I?
Last summer Renee convinced me (and also Jennifer) to come over to Phoenix and run in the PF Chang's "Rock and Roll Half Marathon" in January. Renee went on and on about how much "fun" it would be...she'd done it 5 times previously and well, I thought, she'd survived it, so we could too. She told us there would be tons of people (of all fitness levels), bands along the race course, and most importantly, BEER at the finish line.
So I signed up. Jennifer did too. Then my co-worker, Rochelle, signed up. While it wouldn't be Rochelle's first (she's also a haus; she runs up 14'ers for "fun" and crazy stuff like that in between all of her half marathon runs), she would be there to inspire us to run, run, run.
I paid my fee. I made my hotel reservations. And I trained. I had a 29-week training program that started with "Run 1 mile" all the way to "Run 13.1 miles."
I ran. I ran. I ran some more. By the time New Year's hit, I was running about 25+ miles a week and could comfortably run for 3 straight hours. Add to it that I had snazzy new [yellow] shoes, fun neon gear to wear, a loaded iPod with a slew of techno music, I pretty much had the running thing down. I thought, "Whoa, I think I can actually do this!"
Fast-forward to January 2013: I hauled the boys out to Phoenix to share in the glory with me. All through my training, I knew that I wanted to see Matt and Carter at the finish line. They say running is 90% mental and they're right. While training, I continuously envisioned seeing them at the end and hearing them tell me how proud they were of me. And, frankly, I wanted to brag to someone, anyone, that I did it. Who better than family?!
But first, I had to actually run it on race day. 13.1 miles to go until I could see my boys and get my "attagirls."
Renee, Jennifer, and Rochelle met me at my starting corral (yes, they put you in corrals...how else can you contain 20,000 runners?!). Jennifer missed our quick photo (because she started in a "faster" corral than I did), but here we are shivering in the 45 degree Tempe weather at our corral (Renee in pink on left, Rochelle in middle, and that's me in green):
Then Rochelle moved up to her "faster" corral to get ready to run. Renee continued to psyche me up for the race. She reminded me that bragging about it on Facebook is something that MUST be done, so here we are again (that's me on the left):
Then the count down started and I started running. And kept running. I got in the groove and ran past the 5K sign. I kept running and passed the 10K sign. Holy moly, I thought, I'd never run further than that in a competitive setting. Before long, I saw the 15K sign. Then I started to freak out because I knew there was still a 20K sign up ahead and I was TIRED.
I drank my gatorade. I ate my energy chews. I listened to the bands and sang along with my tunes. I chuckled at the cheerleaders holding the "Worst parade ever!" and "Chuck Norris never ran a half marathon" signs. And I kept running.
Before long, I checked my GPS watch and I was at mile 12. I knew I wanted to finish strong and I promised myself I would run the entire last mile. I owed that to myself and I had to get over that mental thing. I soon passed the 20K sign and kept on going. Before I knew it, I was at the finish line. I could finally STOP running.
I did it. Officially, it took me 2 hours, 46 minutes, and 5 seconds. Not worthy of any records, by any means, but I did it. I walked about 3/4 of a mile through the whole course (there was a steep hill along the back...good time to rest my legs) and I ran the rest. I set my "goal" time for under 3 hours and I did it.
I soon found my boys in the family meeting area, I got my kisses and pats on the back, and I got my MEDAL. My first one ever. And dangit, I earned it!
Here, let me show you just how awesome it was to be finished with a HALF MARATHON and check out that fine piece of metal (that's Jennifer in the middle):
That's right, Rochelle got a medal (2:17 was her time!!), Jennifer got her medal (2:35!!), and I got mine. We did it. [Renee ALSO got her medal, but she came in about 15 minutes after Carter went nuts, so we didn't get her in our photo.]
And holy moly am I proud of myself. I've told everyone about my half marathon and now I've put it in black and white. Now I'm going to write up my bucket list just so I can go check this half marathon thing off!
A few days of sore legs and wobbly knees, but call me crazy, but I just might do this again. Please, please, someone stop me before I really do sign up...
~kerrie
PS Before I sign off, I want to say another THANK YOU to my pals Renee, Rochelle, and especially Jennifer for inspiring me to do this. I hate you.
PPS Biggest THANK YOU actually goes to Matt, my darling husband, for standing by my side and supporting me through this. You are by far the most Super Husband and Father Extraordinaire in my book and I can't even express just how much I love you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me do something this idiotic!
