Two Half Marathons in Two Weeks!

I've been training all Summer Long!  

Actually, I started training for the Ogden Half Marathon Last January, and I never stopped!

I decided that in order to keep myself going, to give myself a reason to keep exercising, I would have to sign up for more half Marathons.  Lets face it, I tend to get lazy when there is nothing on the books.  And while being signed up for a Half Marathon kind of scares me into daily exercise, it has also been so much fun!  The hard kind of fun.  Something that isn't super easy, so when you cross that finish line, you can be completely proud of your accomplishments, because it isn't something you can do everyday.  And even when you do it, it's just hard enough, that when you finish, you get a little emotional about it.  Good emotional :)  

I've been training at least 3 times a week for 9 months!

The first of the two Half Marathons, was on September 12, 2015.  

The Revel Big Cottonwood

About 15 of us, got rooms in Salt Lake, so we could go to the Expo together, pick up our race packets, have some dinner, and stay in our Hotel Rooms, just about a mile from where the buses would pick us up to take us to the start line.  

I kind of felt bad leaving my little family, but this was a really fun experience for me, and something I'd been working for, for a long time.

I've really made some great friends walking in our Group, Women in Motion!  Who would have thought, that when Jen presented me with the idea 2 years ago, (laughing, and totally freaked out, I said yes), that it would become something I totally enjoy.  My social life.

Expo and bag pickup

Dinner at The old Spaghetti Factory

Getting ready the night before..  My bib

Wakeup at 3:30am.  Breakfast at 4am.

On the bus! At 5am  

We lucked out and got a tour bus, instead of a school bus.

The seats were warm, and comfy

Waiting for all of the buses to arrive and the race to start.

Our group waiting for the 6:45am start time!

The race has started.  Just making my way up to the start line.  That is when my chip time will start.

Jen and I had fun.  

Jen let me set the pace, since she could do it faster, and she stuck with me.

The first 10 miles was a breeze!  It was very downhill, and so fun to jog most of the way.  

It went by so fast!  I was really enjoying myself.  Shady and cool, and a pretty fast pace!

Much faster than what I am used to.

The first 10 miles anyway.....

The famous S Curve!  

 I love this shot of the two of us!  

It was just starting to get tough.  That last 3 miles, no more downhill, sunny, hot.

Jen was pushing me, because I was running out of steam.  

I was trying to focus, but I was really tired. 

I worked my buns off that last 2 miles.  Longest 2 miles of my life!

The last two miles could have been 10!  I struggled, and felt so exhausted!  I gave it everything I had left.  I had gone much faster than usual, and used up all my juice.  

No calories left.  Pretty much the worst 30 minutes of my life :)

I drank multiple cups of water and gatorade at the last couple of aid stations, just to get some more calories in me, so that I would have some energy.  

But when I look back, and realize that I was still doing a 14 to 15 minute mile exhausted and all, I am so very proud of myself!!

Coming into the Finish line! 

My only goal:  NOT to come in last!   

When I crossed the finish, Jen was standing there.  She had finished about a minute or two before me.  She ran the last little bit.  I told her to go!  They put the medal around my neck, and I did cry, just a little!  I had accomplished something HARD!  I was so happy to be done.  And when I found out my time, I almost fell over!  3:02:34.63

Three hours and Two minutes!  What?  That was my PR by 35 minutes!

Words cannot express my happiness!

I found my friend Beth Waldron at the finish.  She's in my ward.  Ruby's Nursery Teacher.

She did the half, and her son the Full.

Some of our group and the finish.  

A few had gone, and a few hadn't finished.  

The ones that we could find!

And my Big, Beautiful Reward!

Best experience EVER!

And then, I went home, and I've never been so sore in my entire life! :)

I felt muscles I didn't even know existed.  My ribs, inner arms, back, and every single muscle inside and out, upper, and lower, legs!  And I have 1 black toenail.

So I had 2 weeks until the next half! 

Oh man.  I think that is too close together thinking about it now.  Especially after pushing so hard on the first race.  But I won't give up!  There is NO quit!  Only DO!

The Huntsville Half Marathon

A lot closer to home.  No overnighter.  

Jen and I headed to the Expo the morning before and picked up our bags.

We bought hats.  And I picked her up the next morning at 7:30am.

This race started really late.  9:30am  And it was going to be a really HOT day!

Our Group

We're ready to race!

In our group, we had a new crew this week.  Some repeaters like me, and some new ones.

On the bus!

Ready to race!  

I say that, and yet, I'm not sure if I was totally ready.  The race two weeks ago was still fresh in my mind, and I'm not sure my muscles were fully recovered, but I was going to give it everything I have!  I knew I was going to take it easy this week.  Not trying to beat any time, or get a PR, so it would be ok.  No pressure right? :)

Shoes!  Our timing Chips :)

Coming up to the Start Line!  It's go time!

Jen decided to go faster, at her own pace, so I did this race with my friend Linda.

We usually train together on our Saturday walks.  We are just about the same pace.  Linda is a bit faster, but today she was a little under the weather, and we agreed to just stay together, and help each other, no matter what our time was.

I'm not sure my head was in it.  I knew it would be difficult.  Even though I wasn't going fast, I just felt really slow!  It was a super HOT day.  Unusually hot.  People were collapsing all over the place.  The paramedics and police had their hands full.  I drank and ate at every aid station!  I wasn't going to be one of those people.  I was going to finish this race!  

About mile 11 I think, we came across some cute cheerleaders!  It was kind of awesome that they were out in the heat for hours, cheering everyone through.  I had them stop for a picture, and then I realized that I recognized one of them.  It was my sister in laws, niece Allison!  

Pretty fun :)  It gave us a boost that I so desperately needed!

I felt like I was walking in Sand the last few miles.  I felt so darn slow!  I just kept moving, and trying not to think about it.  I even ate a goo pack, and I never eat those!  They are pure sugar, and caffeine, and I was going to do whatever it took to make it!

I had predicted a time of about 3 and a half hours.  And even though I felt so slow.  We came in with a time of 3:24!  Not bad.  I think about a 15 minute mile which is my average.  Even on a super HOT day, after completing another half just 2 weeks earlier.

  

I've gotta say, that I was totally ok with it.  

And I didn't come in LAST!  (That is always my goal)

In fact, as Jen and I drove away after the race, I could see streams of people still out on the course!  

I guess I didn't do Half bad! he..he.. 

Some of the group after we finished.  

And of course, my Reward! :)  

It's been a whole week, and I haven't walked once!

EEK!  Talk about Frightening. (October) :) 

I guess it's time to get back out there....