Made it!

After months of training, I finally finished my first half-marathon! Woohoo!!!

A little background
I have been running forever. I remember showing up to local races before I even went to kindergarten. It was just something my family did. And, when it came time to start sports, I was encouraged to join track. I hated track. Abhorred would be a better word. The individual races (and pressure) were way more than I could take. It was really just a way to keep in shape for basketball. So when my senior year in high school rolled around, I decided I was through with it. Running was not for me. I just wasn't motivated enough to be competitive. So I gave it a break. No races for years, just a casual run from time to time to keep in shape.

Then we moved out West last year. A few weeks after getting here, I went in for a yearly check-up. And when I stepped on that scale, I was appalled—I weighed the same as I did four months pregnant. I'm still not sure how it happened. I was going to the gym regularly, lifting weights, etc. So I decided to start running again. First I started with just a few miles a few days a week, until I was up to running six miles for my long run. I even entered a few 5k races in the spring.

In June, my friend Kathy (marathoner, ultra-marathoner, runner extraordinaire) suggested a half-marathon. I was a bit skeptical, but decided I was up to the challenge. So, I read through a few training programs and decided to give it a try. I've never run so much in my life—not even in track. But it was so much more enjoyable because I was doing it for myself. And I'm happy to say that I'm in better shape at 30 than I was at 20... and I just so happen to be fifteen pounds lighter :-)

The race
The half-marathon was this Sunday in Portland. I took the train (yay Amtrak) down there on Friday to meet Kathy. We stayed at the Edgefield (McMenamin's) in Troutdale. I LOVED IT! I can't believe we never went there when we were in college. Restaurants, bars, spa, golf course, movie theater, soaking pool, winery, brewery, and distillery—all on the property. Excellent! Then we walked around downtown Portland on Saturday. Oh, how I miss that place! The race was Sunday morning at 7:30—early enough to see the sunrise. We had perfect running conditions and beautiful views of Mt. Hood. Somehow I managed to enjoy myself and not get hurt through the entire 13.1 miles. In fact, I felt great. I've never run that far before—not even in training. So, when I realized I was going to finish even faster than I had hoped, I ran with a huge smile on my face (for at least the last three miles). I came in at 1:39.34—a 7:36 minute/mile pace. I couldn't believe it! I even think I could do it again—soon, but not too soon :-)

Afterwards, Kathy and I grabbed a beer and had a chiropractic adjustment—all free after the race! I was a bit sore yesterday, but am thinking that having someone crack my bones may have been the culprit, as I'm feeling much better today. I'm even back to running (four miles today)... just don't expect any marathons out of me.