I finished a Half Marathon

I did it - finished my first half marathon. It was definitely rough, but I am pleased with my time. 2:05:20. Yes, that's a long time to be running!!! I heard someone say there were 22 hills. That is probably not far from the truth. Several of them kicked my butt (I walked a short stretch 3 times). I had updated my music from Hubby's collection and that helped power me through. I really felt like I had trained well for the hills, there were just a lot of them.

Still a little sore today but thanks to a post race massage, it's probably less than it could have been. The only lingering marks are the blisters on the tips of about four toes.  I am not sure if it was the shoes, the hills, or both.  No chafing anywhere else though, so that's a bonus.  One other side effect - an appetite of a teenage boy. I think I'm either going to have to rein that in or get back in the running program. (probably a little of both.).

Notice I said my first half marathon. I do believe another is in my future. Not very near future, but somewhere in the future!!


(the picture is terrible but the only one I have right now to document the moment......hopefully the one from the race is much better.)
(thanks Mom for my awesome running outfit - it was perfect!)




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Running

I've been doing a lot of running lately, especially since I finally committed to running my first Half Marathon (in 3 weeks).  Here are some thoughts/updates:

- running hills is tough - running hills in high humidity, even tougher - BUT by the third run, I conquered the big hill (but I might have walked the next little hill).
- I do most of my running by myself.  It's kind of soothing.  But not as motivating as having a running partner.  I was lucky to have a running partner in the Bahamas (oh yeah, we were on vacation - recap coming).  Otherwise there was at least one morning I would not have made it.  And she helped push me up the big hill!  And I feel like my pace is faster, so that's a bonus.
- My first really long run (8 miles) was this weekend.  Hubby needed to run 4.5 to get his 15/week in (Lent) so he went with me.  It was a family run.  We took turns pushing JW in the stroller.  Solid 10 minute miles for the whole run!  (And he says he'll do 9 with me this weekend!!)
- Hills are tough - but what's tougher - pushing a 25 pound stroller with a 25 pound kid up those hills.
- Music is key to a good run.  I need some new music - any suggestions?
- I got some training advice from my sister - who knew you needed to get some fuel during the big runs.  Good thing I signed up for the Brooks Run Happy University and they sent me a welcome packet (I have only run in Brooks Adrenaline for the last 8 years).  There were some Chump bites in there.  Pretty good, though hard to chew and run.  I need to run to Dick's or somewhere and try some other options.  But the Blueberry Pomegranate flavor was yummy.

I'm pretty happy with my running over the last few weeks.  I haven't set any time goals for the race (the course is pretty hilly).  I'd just like to finish my first one.  Maybe if I like it enough, I'll set some goals for the next one ;)

To Do or not To Do - That is the question

Remember when I posted about the things I was looking forward to in 2012?  And I didn't really come back and give you any details.......

One of those things was "Running a Half Marathon"

This has been a goal of mine for several years.  Awhile ago I actually started training for the Derby Half in Louisville, KY but ended up with a stress fracture in my foot - not fun.  I've been a fairly inconsistent runner since then.  When doing it regularly, I would do about 3 miles two or three times a week.  I stopped running around 16 weeks pregnant with JW - it was too much pressure on the organs.  After JW, I have been wanting to get back into it.  If you remember my hips were pretty whacked after pregnancy and childbirth (or maybe I never got time to write that post).  I was slow to get back into things.  I focused mainly on tennis through the summer, but by late summer I really wanted to start running again.  To help that, my sister signed us up for a Turkey Trot.  This one is not a 5K, but actually a 5 mile race.  I was a bit nervous, but went for it.  I needed to get in gear.  So I ran 2 times a week and some weeks 3.  And come race day, I killed it - 5 miles in 48 something....I was feeling pretty good.  So I started thinking about that Half Marathon goal again.  And found a race in Lexington, KY (I'll have a place to stay, friends are running it, etc) and said I'd do it.  Well, truth be told, I haven't actually signed up for the race yet.  I'm nervous.  I have started the Hal Higdon Training guide (did great weeks 1&2 - this week not so much).  I am doing pretty well with the running piece but have trouble getting the lifting and cross training in.  (Tennis is starting back up so that should help.)  This race we're talking about.....MARCH 31. Yep - 9 weeks away.  The registration fee goes up $10 on Wednesday.... I am pretty sure I can do this - and I've asked several friends and a lot of them say that as long as I am running an hour and a half straight before the race I'll be good...And one off week isn't going to kill me (this week had just been bad for some reason - sleepy, scratchy throat, nights out, travel).  So.....I'm putting it out there - what do you think?

Go for it???  Or wait for another race???

(In my mind this is the year - JW will be wanting a sibling soon - and I'd like to do it before I can't if you catch my drift)