Snake River Half Marathon

Well I did it. I still can't believe it! That's right ya'll, I actually RAN  a half marathon all 13.1 miles of it.

Of course, knowing me, I got nervous Friday morning. My mind wouldn't shut off. I felt sick to my stomach. The race was the NEXT day. Holy crap! How did this happen?! Where did time go?!? I was about to have a cow....MOOOOOO. Yup, I needed to calm down. Thankfully, work got busy and provided a much needed distraction. Hallelujah!!

The morning of the race, I was still a nervous wreck, but it was more real. By the time we got to Wawawai Landing, it was too late to chicken out. Damn. I guess I was going to run. Will, Becky and  I got there early enough to beat lines (and use the potties before they were gross!) and sit in the warm car for a while. All of a sudden it was time to start. I wanted to die. I wanted to puke. I wanted to run...home.

                                                             
                                                            (WAM & Becks pre-run)

                                        

Will and I started off running together. That alone calmed me down. A LOT. If you've ever done an organized run, you know it's a cluster at the start. It's like someone said FREE BEER at a U of I football game and everyone went  running. Pure craziness and tons, tons, tons of people! Of course, Willis is faster than me, so he took off. That guy has  crazy awesome endurance. He's a gazelle with two legs. A handsome gazelle ;) I kept my pace and trucked along listening to my girl Lady Gaga and Rihanna. We had a good run-those two always help me get in the zone. All of a sudden I was running with friends! Yipee......Becky, Allison, Fred and Erin were all running with me. So much better running with someone. Sadly, we all went our own ways, but I stayed with Allison because she had a great pace and I felt comfortable running with her.

She and I ran from mile two to mile eleven together. I am forever thankful to have had her at the run and for her letting me run with her. I don't think I have ever felt so motivated in my life. She was great to the runners passing and heading for the finish line and to me. Seriously, we don't know each other incredibly well, but I wanted to hug her. She pushed me. She motivated me. She didn't let me quit. She didn't let me walk. She believed in me. She said I was strong. I couldn't have done as well as I did without her. Thank you!

Allison gave me some advice. When you get to a new mile, you may not want to run it (by mile 9 I didn't. I hated my life), but if you run it for someone else, you will because you don't want to let that person down. Well, what do you know. It worked. I remember getting to mile 9 and hating life and not being able to feel my legs, but I said to myself "come on Mimie...this one is for you!!!" and I pushed through that mile faster than any other. It worked! Thanks for your motivation Mims without even knowing it :)

Every run I have participated in, I pray. I pray before and I pray during. Why? Crazy idea? Heck no. I need to have someone bigger than me looking out for me. If I ignore my body, I need someone to knock some sense into me to tell me to listen. I pray for strength, for  God to watch over me and keep me safe. I pray that God gives me the drive and the determination I need to finish this run. I also pray for him to keep my body safe and for my injuries to take a back seat to my priority of the day :) It works. Big time.

It was at about mile 12.7 that our friends were standing on the side of the road with their awesome handmade signs. They seriously rocked (HUGE kudos Jo and Mel!). Like out of this world rocked. It was perfect. By this point, I was running with Becky again and we were both hurting and I really hated life. I actually yelled it and some other choice words. Sorry mom and dad. After 12.7 miles of running, you'll understand. I yelled a lot of choice words. Anyway, when I saw those signs and those girls cheering us on I  cried. Naturally. I am a crier now. I stopped and kept telling myself that I was almost done. I could see the finish line and as we ran to the finish line, the runners who were already done were on the sidelines cheering us on! Are you freaking kidding me?!! How awesome is that?!?! Naturally, I cried again. I am actually crying while I write this. Ugh. Stupid tears. I can't help it! These people don't even know me and they were cheering me on and it gave me all that I needed to push through the finish line. Holy mother freaking nature of a  cow! I just ran a half marathon...without walking!!! It's an awesome feeling.

                              (Becks, WAM & Allison with one of Jo and Mel's awesome signs!)

The feeling I got  two minutes after that was not as awesome. I almost tossed my cookies. Twice. Yay me. What that means  (and I know for sure) is that I need to train more seriously and much harder for my next half marathon. Ahhhh I said it. I guess I do want to do one again, but not this year. Not before June. Too much on my plate.  Anyway, that's it. That's my half marathon story. One big thing  checked off the bucket list.

                                                    Man it feels good to be an athlete...