13.1...

Yesterday I completed my first goal for 2013. Running a half marathon. This was no easy feat for me as I am not a long distance runner. I'm a sprinter. In high school, I was on the track team and running the mile was painful for me. So painful in fact, that my sister could hear my labored breathing from the stands as I was running around the track. And after high school, I lost motivation to run...to exercise...to be healthy.

That was before I lost the 50 lbs... more like 40 these days. But nevertheless, at the beginning of my weight loss journey I had wanted to run a half marathon with a friend. When we started, I couldn't even run a mile. We never got around to it that year or the three years after, but when a friend of mine asked me around Christmas time a little over a month ago, if I wanted to run a half marathon, I jumped at the opportunity.

I knew it would be one of my many goals for 2013. I couldn't risk signing up for one later on in the year, I knew I had to do it as soon as possible. So I signed up for the February 3rd race, and I had a little over 4 weeks to prepare.

It wasn't easy, but nothing ever worth working for is. My first 6 mile run was brutal...I had the wrong shoes, and my feet were in so much pain. My brother in law decided I needed the best of the best, and for Christmas gave me a new pair of running shoes, which carried me through my training and race. My training consisted of a 9 mile run...8 mile run...and last but not least I ran 10 miles before the big race. Each run was different, beautiful in its own way.

When I run, I enjoy the nature around me...I enjoy the music in my ears...and my mind lets go of all things taking up space. It's like meditating.

On the day of the race, I got up at 4am, left at 5am and drove an hour and a half to where I would be running. I met up with my friend and got situated. Then it was 15 minutes before the start of the race, 10 minutes, 5 minutes, and go time. Unfortunately, my Pandora wouldn't work....my running station I had worked to perfect would not play because of the sea of people around me. Luckily, I had backup music, just not what I was use to listening to.

 I had a difficult time adjusting at first..with so many people around me, I felt claustrophobic. I couldn't relax and enjoy everything around me, as all I saw were people. Then there was the water stops. It was a hell of a time figuring out the best method in which to get the water cup, drink while running, and then tossing the cup in the trash, as I felt strange throwing it on the ground like the others. It was all very different than what I was expecting.

As was the GU they pass to you...or the mini protein bars. I'm pretty sure every picture taken of me during the race is of me eating. At one point I had a bowl in front of me from a person on the sidelines...and after grabbing what I thought would be more energy snacks, I realized I had a fist full of M&Ms...and instead of tossing them aside, I ate them. Thinking I was doing what all the other racers were doing.

Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure that person wasn't a staff member and I probably took M&Ms from a stranger. Nevertheless that snack got me to my 8 mile mark. Which was like mile 13 for the marathon runners. And if you're like me, you'll not realize until much later the markers for the marathon runners, are NOT the markers for the half marathon runners, and therefore you are not at mile 9 or 13 you are at mile 4 or 8.

In my practice run, mile 8 had been a challenge. Toes burning, calves cramping, quads aching. But mile 8 in the race was much different. I didn't feel too bad. Mile 10 on the other hand...mile 10 called for a 10 second calf stretching break. And I'm happy that I did...it helped with the remaining 3 miles.

At 10.5 miles, I decided to put on relaxing music. A little George Winston to calm me down. It was great until I hit mile 11. At mile 11, a love song written by my EH and brother in law, to my sister and me came on blasting over my earphones. LET ME TELL YOU...that is the LAST song you want playing at mile 11. As soon as I got my bearings straight and slowed my run to a fast walk I was able to change the song and finish the remainder 2 miles. And nothing felt more amazing then the last tenth of a mile. I felt my speed pick up, I had strangers cheering me on, strangers saying they were proud of us and it was incredible. The feeling at the end of the race is like no other.

And getting a medal...well that's just icing on the cake. 13.1 miles, a few blisters, and a medal later, I'm proud to say I completed my first goal of the year. I can't wait to see what the next 11 months look like.