Update! Update!

I successfully completed my first half marathon at a very slow time of 2:31:26! It gives me a time to beat, right?

I had some issues with my training. 

I got an infection in my toe (don't ask, I don't know) right after my 9 mile run 5 weeks before the race. My toe would not fit comfortably in my shoe (okay, not at all) so I went to the doc and got an antibiotic. The doc suggested I lay off the running for a bit. After a brief breakdown I conceded that may be a fine idea. 

The toe felt great in a few days so I was ready to lace up and go...to the bathroom that is. I'm sorry that is so gross but the antibiotic really did a number on my stomach. I seriously took the next three weeks off from running. It was stressful and scary and I actually considered backing out of the run all together. 

The week leading up to the race I ran a couple of miles everyday and felt really good. I started getting anxious Wednesday night and couldn't catch my breath until Friday right before Nick and I had our homemade breakfast burritos for dinner. 

Nick spent several hours making the perfect running mix and laughing at me for liking some Pop Hits and songs that are more than a decade old and I happen to know every word. 


Race Day:


I woke up at 3:50AM, my alarm was set for 4AM... I ate some oatmeal and a banana and drank some water and off we went to Provo. 


I boarded the bus at 5AM and headed up the south fork of Provo canyon. 


It was cold. 


There isn't much fun about standing around by myself trying to keep warm and hoping going to the bathroom twice is good enough. 


We started the race at 7:15AM and I felt great, except for all the runners passing me by! 


The first 8 miles was awesome! The scenery was beautiful down the canyon, I don't know why I don't run in the canyon all the time.

Then mile 9 came. It was uphill. 9 miles is the most I have ever run before. The mental game had begun. I just had to do this. 


Mile 12. I hated mile 12. Mile 12 was the longest mile of my life. I felt like I was moving at a snails pace and had lost all form and movement. I couldn't feel my legs so it wasn't as if I were in pain, I was just tired (I know, that means I'm completely out of shape, I'll work on it.) Then came mile 13 and I only had .1 miles to go... I saw Nick. Straight Outta Compton came on my iPod (don't judge me, you have to do what you have to do) and I ran... I ran faster than I had run the whole race and I FINISHED! 


I felt great! It was awesome. Then I got sick, not, "oh, I'm tired and sore". I got, "I'm going to puke and I did sick". 

Things that will prevent this next time. 
A) Not taking 4 weeks off training. 
B) stopping at ALL (most) of the water stops. I may have stopped at 3. 
C) recovering with a banana, Gatorade, and Power bar instead of an orange, water, and banana flavored Creamie. 


Once I was able to replenish a bit I was good to go. Sure I was sore on Sunday, Monday and today but I'm ready to do this again and better than 2:31:26 this time. 


Let the training begin...again!