Vigor 13.1....My 1st 1/2 Marathon

Breakfast after

Me and my friend Chels before our race.

Chelsea and me after the race with the rest of the girls.  The other girls volunteered at mile 6 and then they came to the end to see us finish.  Aren't they awesome.

Mandy (she organized the race) me and Chels.  Waiting for the bus to take us to the starting line.

Sept 8, 2012......  I ran my first 1/2 marathon and my 3rd race ever.  Kind of funny before this summer I was ANTI race.  I liked being in shape but I figured aside from having good shoes running should be free.  Ok well, I am a believer.  I love races.  First, I train so much harder.  So that is great. And I have started running with friends and surprisingly, I really like it.  I didn't think I would like it but I really do.

My first half was the Vigor 13.1.  We ran down Big Cotton Wood Canyon.  It is so beautiful.  My friend Mandy organized the race.  And I ran with my friend Chelsea.  There were some kinks in the road. Chelsea developed plantar fasitis the Thursday before the race and we had been working to get that feeling better.   We questioned whether she should even run.  She decided it was a little better and that she would try.  So she did.  We were killing it.  We were running 8.5 min miles.  until miled 6 and just after that her knee popped and then it was killing her.  From there on she was limping/hobbling, the rest of the way.  We had talked if she should stop but she wanted to finish.  She told me I should go on without her but I didn't want to leave her.  So we just slowed our pace.  My thought was, I have never ran a 1/2 before so no matter what I will get a PR (personal record).  So that is what we did.  We slowed up.  Ironic since I was expecting her to be my support for this race and I ended up being hers.  When it would get a bit hard or painful I would come up with random stories or facts (maybe not so factual).  My hope was to distract her a bit.  Our only goal was to not be picked up by the sweeper van.  We did it.  We actually averaged 9:44 miles. And finished in 2:07.  Not bad for my running partner having two bad limbs. 

I had a great experience and I felt awesome.  I wish Chels did.  But she did finish.  I guess races aren't supposed to go exactly as planned anyway right?