Challenge Me.

What a journey! I did it, I ran my first half. The whole reason I started this blog was to write about my transformation into a runner. I started out full of doubt…I didn’t even think I’d stick to the training much less become a *gulp* runner. I thought God just didn’t build me to be a runner. I guess that’s what I get for questioning God’s plan for me. 

I started out with the Couch to 5k plan in my new snazzy Vibrams. So the beginning of December I was running 90 seconds and walking 2 minutes for 25 minutes. In February I ran my first 5k. That’s also when I started officially training for my half. Late March I ran my first 10k and place 2nd my age group (blew my mind). After that point, half training kicked in to high gear and got challenging but I was loving it. I’ve fought through learning about aches and pain and self diagnosing…just to realize that what I’m doing isn’t easy and my body isn’t always going to like it. The best medicine is rest, ice, and Advil. 

And it all came down to this…
The Diva Half Marathon in North Myrtle Beach

So the morning started off pretty well…but I was a little nervous because despite my rest days leading up to the race, I still had some stiffness in my joints and tightness in my calves, ankles and arches. But breakfast and all that went just as planned. But of course I needed to go to the bathroom ONE MORE TIME before the race started. Just imagine what the porta potty line must look like 30 minutes before a race with over 4,000 women. Yeah, not happening. So I took matters in to my own hands. I owe a huge thanks to the owners of the large SUVs parked closely together…Then I had to run through a dirt/grass parking lot to get the starting line. While doing this I twinged my ankle…not a full out roll or twist, just a little stun. Whatever.

So the race starts and what seemed like 20 minutes later I cross the start line. Trying to navigate the crowd was insane. I immediately start battling side stitches because I can’t get my normal steady cadence and breathing down as I wind through the crowd…oh and my ankle really kinda hurts. So at the first water stop, I pop 1 Advil…not only can I drink water and run at the same time, apparently I can pop pills too.

I will survive!

…and fist pump…a lot.
 

Finally after pushing through a not so fun 3 miles or so, the Advil kicks in and I feel better, but my legs still feel so heavy and I know I’m not hitting my goal of ~9:40 min/miles anymore. Then I see my hubs holding a sign that says Fear the Turtle and it makes me smile. I get to see him 2 more times after that, but then after mile 7 I’m on my own until the end.

Hitting the wall?? Nooooo, instead I took a pic and tweeted my way right over that wall and before I knew it, I was at mile 9.

Thank you old man at mile 10 with the water hose. I don’t know if you were  being pervy as you stood in your driveway smoking a cigarette and hosing off hot lady runners, but I sure do appreciate you. 

I had to stop a few times and stretch out my calves, then I realized I had to stop stopping! …so any time I felt my legs tighten up I would do a few hopping high kicks and butt kicks. Waste of energy? Perhaps. Helped my legs? Yes.

By this point my new app I was trying out (Nike+GPS) was a full mile ahead of the actual race…SUCKED! So I took out my headphones just in time to hear a jerk cab driver honk at me. Hello! I’m running a race here!…and so are the other 3000 women behind me. So you’re going to have to wait a while Mr. Cab Driver. Road’s closed!

Then a group of volunteers gave me my feather boa and tiara, which means I’m getting close to the end. Another quarter mile and I was RUNNING across the finish line!

My time was 2:30…Turtle Pace, but I was running when I crossed that finish line and that’s all that matters to me!

Fear the turtle.

Overall, I can’t wait for my ankle to feel better so I can start training for my next one! I’m hooked. The race was fun and well organized and my frantic start didn’t get me down.

This experience has been amazing. It started out as a project, but now it’s a lifestyle. I AM A RUNNER.