I did it.

I did it!!!

 

(I know I look like a hot mess, but I was flying high at this point)

Not only did I do it, I exceeded my own expectations.

As most of you already know, this past Saturday I ran and completed in my first 1/2 marathon.

I ran 13.1 flipping miles!!!

I am most proud to say I RAN EVERY STEP OF THE WAY!!!!

Since my training got sidetracked over the past two months, I went in giving myself a lot of leeway.

"It's okay to stop and walk."
"Your only goal is to finish."
"Walk the hills and run the rest."
"Don't worry about time.....just finish."

However, I took it slow and steady.  By mile 8, I realized I hadn't stopped once and at that moment I knew I could do it.  My mantra then turned to....

"keep going"
"One foot in front of the other."
"DO NOT STOP!!!"

And, I didn't stop.  I ran every single step and every single hill.

Honestly, I'm more proud of that right there than I am of my time.

  
(my official time)

Saturday was such an emotional day.  Y'all know I'm a crier and there were lots of tears.

I cried beforehand from nerves.  I cried while standing in my corral when my two best friends called to tell me how proud they already were of me, right at the moment I needed it most.  I cried at mile 9 when it felt like my knees were going to give out and I couldn't go up one more hill (I went up another 5 after however).  I cried at mile 11 when I saw my family for the first time.  I cried when I saw the finish line just yards ahead of me.

 

(cue the tears at both of these moments)

Saturday, I knew what I had accomplished, but it hadn't quite sunk in yet.  Sunday morning however, I woke up feeling way proud of myself.  I woke up feeling like I could do anything.  It's crazy to think that only nine months ago, I couldn't run a 1/2 of a mile and Saturday, I ran over 13!!!

I finally said out loud to someone the other day that this was such a big deal to me, not so I can say "I've ran a half marathon" but so I can say "I set a goal and I reached it."  To be quiet honest, I feel like my twenties were filled with a bunch of unfinished business.  I never finished college, I never had a "real" job, I wasn't cut out for foster care, I couldn't get pregnant again, and let's be honest, I couldn't even give birth like a normal person.  Though yes, I married my best friend, have an awesome marriage and a beautiful daughter, in my own personal view, I felt like my twenties were filled with a bunch of failures on my part.  The half marathon fell just one month  and one day after my 30th birthday and it became a way to start off the new decade with the mind set that I can accomplish anything I work for.

So, it's more than just bragging rights, its a new start for me.

I know running is not for everyone, but can I tell you how it was such an amazing thing to be there with 5,000 other women all working for the same goal.  I know each and every woman there had a story of their own and why they were there running.  I mean, most people don't sign up to run 13 miles just because.  I saw several women with shirts that said "I run ________."  and they had their reasons written in.  I think it would have been awesome to hand those out to every woman there. 

(there were about 600 more women behind me)

And yes, I'd do another one in a heartbeat.

I may or may not have already thrown out the suggestion of two for next year.  So, if you want to run one, call me.

I have a few thank yous to give out tomorrow and then I promise to stop all the half marathon talk....for now.