Second Half

I did it. I really did it!!!!!

13.1 miles

3 Gu's

2 Time half-marathoner!!

Here's the details (go here for background info)

I hydrated yesterday and got a great night's sleep. I was still pretty tired when I woke up at 6, but I had a busy day ahead of me! (after my race I helped a friend make 150 pounds of sausage!)

Daniel was actually up before me and took a few pics of me getting ready to head out.

I was feeling pretty good at this point, ha!

I ate a small granola bar and a GU before heading out.

The first 3-4 miles was pitch black. It was about the 4th mile that it started to get light out. I thought that would slow me down since I was trying to run carefully and make sure I didn't fall. But I was pleased to see my normal pace.

My plan was to do a 5 mile loop, grab my water bottle and GU from the gate guard, then have Daniel meet me at mile 9, to refill my water bottle and give me another GU.

This is the map I drew for Daniel so he could meet me.

The first few miles are always hard mentally just because you know you have so much further to go. Today my mantra was "This is YOUR race!" I told myself that a lot when I was running today. It seemed to help me focus and keep me motivated. The last few runs I've also been saying this phrase, "You just have to put your time in." That may sound weird, but when you're at the earlier miles, it's hard not to run too fast and just want to finish already. Telling myself to put my time in, made me remember that I wasn't worried about not being able to finish the run, I knew I could physically do it. But it was going to take time.

Here's me at mile 9.

Probably 90% of my route is in alleys and small streets. But about 2 miles is in a park, this is me running out of the park. I like this part :)

I'm so hardcore I even run stairs.

My 10th mile was amazing and fast. Then came mile 11. Miles 11 and 13 were definitely the hardest. Mile 12 for some reason was great. But 11 and 13, I was feeling it. I was SO ready to be done with the race!

Here I am finishing!

(notice the people staring behind me.....this is normal)

And this is how I FELT after finishing my half marathon!!!

I OWNED this race!!! I was first female, first place...not a single person passed me....and I totally PR'd!!!!!

Daniel, in his wonderful love and support for my race, he made me a sign naming me the champion!

He also made me gold medal. When he put it around my neck, I lost it and started crying. I was close to really letting it all out, but I don't like to cry so I held it back (and people were already staring at us for cheering and yelling). But getting the medal around my neck made me feel that it was all worth it. All the side stitches, dog chases, early mornings, sore muscles, all of it......it was all worth it for this moment.

Overall this was an amazing race! I felt great practically the whole time!! In my book, an uneventful run is a success!

Here I am enjoying chocolate milk. Yes, my ankles are dirty.

Here I am with my gold medal!!

Here are the stats:

Total distance: 13.2 miles :)

Total race time: 156 minutes (2 hrs, 36 min)

Total run time: 152 minutes (2 hrs, 32 min)

Total race time pace:  11:48/mile

Total run time pace: 11:30/mile

I am SO proud of this pace!!!! Honestly, it seems surreal. It used to seem like I could never get out of the 12 min/mile rut, and I was always slower if I ran more than 5 miles.

I'm almost in denial about it all. It's been such a journey these last two years-the weight loss and the running. It's such a huge part of my life, I honestly don't know what I would do without it. It has changed me-how I feel about myself and even who I am.

I am a runner.

love

laura

Daniel's FIRST Half-Marathon

This past Sunday, May 1st, Daniel ran the longest distance of his entire life! He ran his very first Half-Marathon of 13.1 miles!!!

We really weren't sure if Daniel would be able to run, because last week his achilles started causing him a lot of pain, and he wasn't able to run more than a few miles before needing to stop. He RICE'd it all week and did a quick mile run on Saturday to test it out. He felt pretty good so we woke up at 4:45 am on Sunday and headed downtown!

It was pouring down rain.

It rained HARD the entire day.

Here's Daniel still happy about getting ready to run in pouring down rain.

You can't really see it, but his bib says "Nomad Boy."

The race was delayed 30 minutes due to lightning in the area. So we hung out in the rain. Did i mention it was cold????? We could barely feel our hands.

I didn't run. I'll explain more on that later.....

Here's the starting line!

And they're off! There were 25,000 runners!!! It took Daniel almost 12 minutes to get from the starting corral to the official start line. PTL for chip timing, ha!

There he is....lookin' good!!!

I then walked back 20 minutes to the car to wait. While i love Daniel, standing in rain for 2+ hours in the COLD is not my idea of a good time. I had extra clothes (since we're moving) in the trunk, so i changed my soaking wet jeans. (I ended up changing clothes 3 times that morning due to the rain).

I headed out to see him finish! I was SOOO proud to watch him come across that finish line! I couldn't believe how well he did considering the weather, cold, and everything. He finished in 2:28. It would've been 2:20, but there was an 8 minute wait for bathrooms at mile 8. His pace was less than 11 minute/miles. In rain and cold conditions!!! He rocked his first half!!!!!

Here's his very well-earned medal!!!

All i keep hearing the last few days is "I want to do another half!" I can't wait to run another half! (i think i've created a monster)

i am SO SO SO proud of Daniel, not only for accomplishing an amazing run, but for doing it in the worst of conditions at an amazing pace!!! Can't wait for the next race!!

love

laura

My first half marathon

Wow, just typing the title gets me all giddy again!!!

okay, so we all know i was sick right before the race. Saturday, i was coughing a lot and had completely lost my voice. so i wasn't sure how the race would go on Sunday.

I woke up feeling pretty good, and thought i could at least do a few miles and walk the rest if i had do. i really just wanted to finish no matter what.

The race was in Ft. Worth along the Trinity Trails.

 

Here we are on our way (notice the darkness)......

Ok i already apologize for this next pic. Daniel took it without me knowing, and when i looked at it, i was like oh my gosh i have a waste indention!!!!!! I actually go in at my waste!!!!!!! i'm sorry but i was really proud of this. I've always wanted to have the V shape....and you can actually see it!!!!! i know it's not the best, but i had no idea it was even there!!!! oh running, this is why i heart you!

 

I love this pic of me and Sarah. we had just practiced running a bit to make sure our shoes fit well...ok, i'm OCD about the tightness of my shoes so I was practicing, ha! it was a sweet moment captured my Daniel....love it!

BIL-Mike, Sarah, Me, and Dad!!!!!!

And we're off!!!!

Sarah and Dad ran together almost the whole time...

 

I'm not sure what mile this is, but i'm letting Daniel know that i'm not dying.

Okay, let's get to the details.......

It was VERY humid!!! The temperature wasn't that high, but my last several long runs have been in 50 and 60 degree cool weather. I was drenched with sweat within the first mile.

The first 5 miles, i felt great. I was like, Wow, i've totally got this...... Even though my miles were much slower than i usually run, i still felt pretty good.  One thing i learned (and this is why i like races, cos you learn a lot), is to NOT skip the water stations. I was planning on eating and drinking at mile 6. Well i got confused and ended up doing it at mile 8. And i needed more food/nutrition than a bite of orange. so lesson learned-bring my own food.

 

I rocked mile 7. Mostly bc i realized that i wasn't last, ha!! i knew i was towards the back but when i saw people behind me it gave me extra motivation to go faster. I loved mile 7.

I DID NOT love mile 8 and 9. This was by far my "wall." it was a huge struggle. I was SO thirsty!! And the next water station had run out of water!!! it was pretty hard.

I had to start walking/running about mile 9ish. When i got to mile 11 i started getting pretty excited that i was going to finish!!!!!

Mike KILLED that half marathon!! he was super fast!!!! i don't have pics, cos Daniel was cheering me on at mile 8 when Mike finished.

Sarah finishing!

DAD!!

ME!!!

I was SO proud of my medal!!!!!!!!!!

get it?? 13.1 miles :)

my mini cheerleader!

Gotta stretch!!

my BEST cheerleader!!

I feel amazing!!! While my time wasn't anywhere i wanted it to be, i finished!!!!! Remember after the 15K, i was disappointed and had a problem getting back into running afterwards. Not now baby!!! I can't wait to run another half and improve my time (it won't take much, ha!).

There is a half in Dallas the end of January, that i'm thinking about. YAY runners high!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had a great weekend in Texas, and will post soon with all the pics of the cute little nephews.

love

laura

  

 

YES!!!!

I just finished my first half-marathon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pictures and details coming soon!!!

love
laura

THE run

Okay, so i've been dreading this blog all week. i'm sorry.

As you know, I ran my first 15K on Monday with Sarah and Dad. I would love to take you down memory lane about how this all started and my journey...but i wrote about that here. The 15K started as a goal back in June. I set a lot of goals when i'm bored. hahah!

ok, so here it goes:

Sunday all 3 of us hydrated all day long. I was constantly refilling my water bottle. I went to bed in time to get 8 hours of sleep, even though i still woke up pretty tired.

Now when i normally run my long runs, i get up early and head out immediately and run. I don't eat anything until about 1-2 hours after my run.

But since we had to drive to the 15K and it would be close to 2 hours from the time i woke up till i started running i figured i'd need food. So i ate a half bagel and half cup of coffee (to help go the bathroom BEFORE the race).

here we are heading in (yes my ears look pretty big here, i think it's the way i wear my hat)

Remember the 5K? I didn't feel as cool bc the marathoners had the shoe chip time things and i didn't. so i was uber proud to have one today!!

it was so exciting to be walking into the corral (that's what it's called i think)

a little before (funny thing, i think i look better AFTER the race)

me and Sarah:

my cheerleader:

about to start!!!!!

Daniel caught us right as we made the first turn:

Dad: (on his 55th birthday!!!) he runs faster than me and Sarah so we let him go ahead...

Daniel surprised us at mile 2 (i heart this pic)

random pics of the course:

Mile 9: (which felt like mile 19)

My aunts made us a sign!!!

 

my other cheeleader:

daniel made a sign too

after:

 

SO happy to see him!!

Ok, if you've gotten this far...bless you.

so what happened was....

I pretty much hated the whole run. Every mile was hard. I've only had one really bad run before, and that was the first time i ran 6 miles. But my 7 and 8's were both SO good i was thinking if it got hard it would be after the 8th mile.

I fought for every step that day. i mean EVERY step. Not sure if it was the bagel and coffee before, the fact that we were in direct sunlight the whole time and it was HOT, OR that i was lied to.

I emailed the race people several weeks before to see if the course was flat or had hills. Some lady emailed me back and said it was flat..and i quote "pretty darn flat."

ummmm far from it. There were a minimum of 6 very steep hills. Not the long big ones, but the short steep ones you're almost crawling to get up. not to mention running......

i was not prepared in the least for these.

I got very dizzy twice and lightheaded, i was sure i was going to faint. i didn't think i was going to make it. seriously, not fun at all.

I crossed the finish line 2 minutes after my set goal, and that was already pretty generous in time to begin with.

I didn't ever get the runners high. even though this was the furthest i had EVER run, that i had run 99% of the entire thing...blah blah blah.

I'm still waiting for the high to come. I told Daniel I've got the runners low and feel like a complete loser at life. it's hard because when i'd run my 8's i LOVED them and def had the runners high. 15K, not so much.

It bothers me that i sucked so badly at it. Because I KNOW i can do so much better and it is what it is at this point.

We're contemplating doing a half marathon the end of October. I doubt it can go any worse than how i feel about the 15K. I haven't run in a week, and am getting back on track on Monday, hoping to add 4 miles to my 9 in the next 6 weeks.

we'll see....

thanks for staying with me on the journey!!

love
laura