1/2 Marathon Mommy, 13.1 Miles of Peace & Quiet

I did it! 13.1 miles. After 4 months of training I finally did my first 1/2 marathon. Here's a recap...

The night before I went to a Carb party with some of my fantastic and inspiring Girls In Training ladies. My goal was to be in bed by 8pm but I made it by 9pm. It usually takes me a while to fall asleep but the minute my head hit the pillow I was out. Woke up at 4am feeling refreshed and nervous. My friend Shelly picked me up and some other friends around 5am and off we went to the race. Man was it busy! People were everywhere. We got a parking spot, stretched, prayed together.

Down to the corral we went. It was so crowded that all of us from G.I.T. couldn't find one another. 168 sec of silence for those lost in the bombing. It was very emotional and reflective. The national anthem. That one always gets me, probably because Isaac is in the military. Then it was time. The gun went off. We walked to the line for 6 min, then we were off. My stomach had all sorts of knots and butterflies and there were so many people to run with and around, plus there was the roar of the people cheering. It was very motivating.

For about 1/2 a mile I could see Shelly and then I lost her in the crowd. Shelly is my running partner and my motivator. It was up to me now. I had set three goals for myself.

1.Don't ever stop running

2.Don't stop to use the bathroom

3. To make it on time to see little Isaac run the kids marathon

I try to find a good pace but it's hard with such a big crowd to run in. Speed up to get past people. Slow down because you can't find a hole to maneuver through. Which is how I hurt my foot around mile 3. I sped up to pass someone and saw another runner do the same. To avoid hitting the other runner I took a side step and almost ate the asphalt. My first thought was, "wow, that was so embarrassing. Thank you Jesus for not letting me fall". My second thought was, "my foot kinda hurts". I ignore the pain and keep running. I was feeling great. Even the hills were not that bad. At mile 6 my foot started to throb. I kept ignoring it. My only thought was, " Isaac is counting on you. Don't you dare let him down". I actually do Gorilla hill without even knowing I did till I get to the top. Miles 7-10 I still feel great, minus my foot. At mile 11 I wanted to quit and walk. I thought about Little Isaac and picked up the pace the best I could. Mile 12 seemed like forever. People were beginning to pass me and I look far a head and see the finish line. I pick up the pace a little more. The last 100 yards I sprint as fast as I can. I was done! I was so relieved, happy, and proud. I grab my medal and ask where the kids marathon is and start to run as fast as I can through the crowd. I hear a man say, "Dang, look at her, she's still running". I make it to where they told me it would be and I don't see any kids. I ask a lady about it and she says, "The finish line is a block up but the race is all ready over." My heart fell into my stomach and the feeling of disappointment washed over me. Disappointment that I miss the race. Disappointment that I didn't push myself harder. I call Isaac and begin the walk back 2 blocks. It felt longer and harder than the whole 13 miles. I see little Isaac in the distance and I start to tear up. However, when I walk up he excitedly says, " Look mom! Look at my medal! Hey! You have a medal too! Way to go mom!". All is right in the world again. It's drizzling and we decide to head home. Then it hits me. I am so thirsty and my foot is killing me.

Isaac went and got the car and picked Israel and myself up. Not before I snapped at him a few times on the phone because I had to bring Israel in a nasty port a potty with me. Poor guy. He is an amazingly patient husband and fantastic father. He ran the 1.2 mile with Israel in the back pack carrier and took pictures just for me. I am so blessed to have him. Anywhoo, he tried to take me to Cheesecake Factory to celebrate but I was  so sick I just want to go home. About an hr later I took myself to the ER hoping they would give me an IV but they said I was not dehydrated enough. They did ask about my foot though and checked it out. Turns out I had a sprain so I got some meds for that.

All in all it was a great experience. I want to do another but this time I won't schedule a run for anyone else in the family but myself :)

My Results

OKC 1/2 Marathon
3,868/8,138- Over all
386/851-age division (25-29)
1834/4985-out of the females
2:23:50-my time



10min after the race holding my little inspirations. Wish I would have moved my cell phone so that the medal would be showing.

 Don't know what I would do without my guys!

SO PROUD OF MY BOY!