I DID IT! I DID IT! I DID IT!!!!!! 13.1 Miles, on 1/13/13, in 1:59.13, for 13 lives saved in Africa!!!!
Let me start by saying that was one of the most hardest things that I have ever done in my life both physically and mentally! But I am very proud to say that I made my personal goal of 1. completing a half marathon, 2. with the help of my amazing friends and family meeting my Team World Vision goal of providing clean running water to a child for every mile I ran! and 3. for completing the half marathon in under 2 hours!!!!!! I told my sister that night that I just want to be under 2 hours I don't care if it's 1:59.59 I just want that 1 in the front! Oh man why did I challenge myself like that?!?!!!! If you know the "new" me, if I set out a goal I am going to reach that goal no matter what it takes! Boy did that take A LOT out of me!
My mom, sister and I arrived in Los Angeles the night before to pick up our race packets and check into the hotel. After we did all that we went out to a very nice, very good Italian Restaurant to CARB up baby!!!! They had Pumpkin Ravioli if y'all know me you know I'm a pumpkin flavor freak! I seriously have about 10 sugar free pumpkin spice creamers in my freezer so that I can have it ALL year long! Anyways we carb'd up and went to bed by 9:00pm to be ready in the hotel lobby by 5:45am!
We arrive at the start line at 6:00am and it's about 37 degrees outside! My sister and I thought it would be a good idea to just wear our tanks and capri's so that we won't have to gear check anything or tie a sweater around our waste for 13 miles! So we were FREEZING by start time 7:00am!
So the first 3 miles by body was just defrosting which was a good thing because my feet were numb and I couldn't feel any pain!
Mile 4-5 I was feeling really good thawed out and feeling like a champ!
Mile 6-7 okay I can feel my foot now and it's painful!
Mile 7-8 my foot is on FIRE, burning, can I please stop now, there is no way I can run with this pain!
Mile 9 I see my mom and sis pass me as the traffic went against each other and they gave me the push I needed! If my 52 year old mom is still going, who has a stress fracture and my 6 week pregnant sister is still going, then there is NO WAY I am stopping! Then Usher came on and told me "Can't stop, Won't Stop!" his words was a sign telling me to keep going! It felt like the bone in my foot was hitting the pavement and dragging with every step!
Mile 10 came and I said to my self you have a 5k left you have done them a thousand times you got this girlfriend!
Mile 11 came and I see the gun time say 1:40 I think to my self if you are going to meet your goal you have to keep your pace! Even though every part of my body wanted to walk, stop, sit, just STOP!!!! The only thing that kept me going at this point was knowing that my husband, and babies smiles were waiting for me at the finish line!
they took this for me the day I left for the race
So I pushed and at some point I'm sure God's grace was the only thing carrying me through it because the last mile was a blur. I can't even begin to explain the mental battle that I had with myself not to stop. At one point I was about to stop just to walk for a minute, but then I knew that I couldn't meet my goal or say that I RAN a half marathon! All I know is I kept telling myself to do it for the kids you are running for, do it for the people who wish they could run but physically can't, do it for the girls who are in the same shoes you were 3 years ago, who only dream of doing something like this, and do it to show them that they CAN DO THIS!!!!
I see the blue flags and I hear my Nike app tell me 1 hour and 58 minutes and 13 miles, and I just started hauling ass!!!!! I see the clock above the finish line click to 1:59 and I just booked it and as soon as I crossed the finish line I grabbed a water and ran to my husband and kids who were waiting for me with open arms and the smiles I had been picturing for miles!!!!
As soon as I stopped I could feel all the pain immediately!!! My hips hurt really bad with every step! We went over to the Team World Vision Tent and had some recovery snacks and drinks and we left. We were so beat up! We went back to the hotel iced our injuries for a about 20 minutes and checked out! Went to have lunch and by that time we could hardly walk. My sister, mom, and I all agreed it felt like we just gave birth the way our hips were feeling?! My sister said she didn't feel like that after her first half marathon. Maybe it does have something to do with giving birth who knows?!
A HUGE shout out to my Mom who is 52 and ran her first half marathon in 2:16 with injuries! SHE IS AMAZING and I get all my mental stubbornness from her!
and
My sister who is 6 weeks pregnant oops and ran her second half marathon at 2:10! I know for a fact she would have crossed the finish line with me but she had to go a little slower just to keep baby safe!
They are both amazing and my inspirations!
SO today, a day after the race I feel super sore all over my body! Mostly my legs and feet of course but I am not complaining I'm simply telling my story! I LOVE this pain!!!! This pain reminds me of so many accomplishments and goals that I achieved! and this pain is ALL worth it! I would do it again tomorrow if I was physically able to! This is not my last race I just set the bar high for my next one!
I will post more pics as I get them!
This girl has officially gone from FAT to FINISH LINE!!!!