13.1

I did it!

I finished my first half marathon yesterday.
I haven't gotten my official time yet, but it's somewhere around 2:17. Just over a 10 minute mile, which is what I was planning on. What I wasn't planning on were all the uphills along the course! The race went through Hobble Creek Canyon and ended in Springville. I was thinking (and hoping) it would be mostly downhill. I was wrong. The whole course was up and down hills. Yes, there were stretches of downhill, but I would not say the majority was downhill. It was a challenging course, but it was awesome. SO beautiful and peaceful through that canyon.

At about mile 8 the whole thing hit me. I kept saying to myself, "I'm doing it! I'm actually doing it! This is what I've been training for." It gave me the extra boost I needed to finish strong. And I have to say, for the record, that I actually ran the whole thing. I did not walk. That was my goal - 1. To finish, and 2. To run the whole 13.1. It was a great feeling to finally accomplish something I've been working toward for so long.

The highlight of the whole race was the last .1 mile. At mile 13 I saw Dave & the girls parking and getting out of the car right at the last mile marker. I ran up to them to say hi. Katie & McKenna took my hands and ran with me all the way to the finish line. We finished together and I felt on top of the world. The race really couldn't have ended better and I was thrilled to share that moment with my girls. I ran the race alone, but I finished with two of the most important people in my life. I am one lucky mama to have so much support from my family.

Hobbler Half Marathon, July 10, 2010