Two Hours and Thirty Minutes

Two hours and thirty minutes is how long it took me to run the Santa Claus Half Marathon yesterday. I know that all those speedy runners out there can run full marathons in that amount of time but for me this was an accomplishment. I am the tortoise - slow and steady but I finished the race.

The race course was 4 miles out, run a loop, then 4 miles back on the same trail as the first four miles. The first two and last two miles were on pavement. The rest of the race was on a trail, which was dirt, gravel, small rocks or sand depending on the part of the course.

The first 6 miles were pretty good. I was making 10 1/2 minute miles, but then the reality of the long race, wind, terrain and the beginings of a blister (from taking a few too many rock edges) kicked in and slowed me down for the last 7 miles.

I must admit that about mile 8/9 I wanted to give up and was questioning my sanity and then mile 10 came, which was even worse. I told my self I was never ever going to run a race longer than a 10k again and that goal of a marathon was just revised to a half, which could soon be checked off as done.

The happiest moment in my life these past few weeks was when I finally saw the mile 13 marker.



I could even smile for the photo below about a half an hour after the race. Thanks Shannon for coming to take photos and cheer me on to the finish. I am not looking forward to seeing the photos that she took as I crossed the finish line and shortly thereafter. I know what I felt like so they must look awful. I will share a few of the not so embarassing ones when I get them.



About a hour or so after the race my spirits were lifted and I was determined to run the race again next year and get a better time. Maybe a marathon still is in my future. But I need to find running buddy to commit to train with me, its hard on your own.

I've decided that immediately after the race is bad, but the next morning is even worse. Every muscle in my body hurts today and the blisters on my feet make walking miserable. Boy did I get funny looks at church today.

Do I have any takers to come and do the race with me next year?