I was not meant for races...but I finally did it!

For those who don't know I decided in Philly to sign up for the St. George Half Marathon (Snow Canyon to be exact). I knew it would make me keep running through the move & without my running buddies (and dear friends) when I got to Las Vegas. I am really glad that I did...I most likely would have stopped running. Although I am not sure I am destined to do these races. Okay, here's the story. We left Las Vegas at about 5am to get to St. George in time for the race. We signed-up at a High School and then had to catch a bus that shuttled you up to the top of the canyon for the race that started at 9am. The last bus would be leaving at 8:30am.
Well, because I am nursing Nathan I was in the car nursing him at about 7:45am (so he would be good for the duration of the race). I heard an announcement but was in the car so didn't make out what it said. There were buses there when we arrived so I wasn't worried but when I got out of the car (at 8:00) and took this first picture, said good-bye to my family and ran off to find the bus. Well, people were lined up but there were no buses(apparently the people were for the 5K race). I asked where they were and a lady said that the last bus left and 8:30 I told her it was only 8:10...then it hit me...that blasted time change. For those who didn't know, a little over a year ago I trained with some friends for a half marathon in Philly. We went down for the race the night before, stayed in a hotel and everything only to wake up and be told that because of the snow (which was there the day before also but they didn't want to cancel the race then) it was cancelled. The re-race was on the same weekend of my brothers wedding, so, I had the shirt but never actually ran the race. My friend, Megan, and I (Jordan was sick and couldn't run with us...sad) made up our own 13 mile loop around Kelly Drive (in Philly near the museum where Rocky ran up the steps). We finished on the steps. It was still an accomplishment but I wanted to actually participate in an organized race; this was supposed to be that.

So, after freaking out (like I lost a child as Brett told me), crying and trying to find someone who was working the race. I found a couple of ladies that were still at the registration table. One lady asked if I would like to run the 5K (which is what everyone else was lined up for). Without meaning to, I yelled "NO"! Then caught myself and said, "Sorry I just trained for the half and this is the second one I am going to miss". Another awesome lady said she would drive me up there. Well, we hopped into her car, drove up the canyon and found the race. But because the race had started already she could only take me about a mile away from the start. I ended up having to run up the canyon a little over a mile before I turned around, re started my own watch timer and left back down the canyon. I was the hardest run I have ever done. When they told me 6 mile downhill I was just worried about my already bad knees; not the fact that my quad's would be on fire. I had trained well, I thought, for this race. I had already run 11 miles 4 times before but running down a canyon is VERY different. I caught up to the other runner in 30 minutes and slowly made my way from being last...that was encouraging. The canyon was beautiful & I did make it through the whole race although I had to stop a couple of times because I was so tired (it didn't help that I just ate a cereal bar and yogurt for breakfast before). It was a great feeling to finish it and I loved having my boys there to cheer me on when I made it to the end. I really would like to do one again and this time actually be there for the gun shot at the beginning, eat a large breakfast before, and only run the 13 miles (unless I am doing a full marathon but I don't think that will be happening...I want to do a Triathlon with my sister Julie next). The best part is that I finally have a half marathon shirt I have actually run, not just trained for. ;0) Seriously, though, it was a great experience and felt awesome to accomplish. I honestly couldn't walk up (and especially down) the stairs for almost a week afterward (thanks to my downhill canyon sprint I did to try to catch up with everyone). I still finished in 2 hours and 5 minutes (not including the uphill run but in spite of it also), so, I am happy with the events of the day and especially that my boys are seeing me getting out, being active & setting goals for myself and accomplishing them. Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to do this and believed that I could. Thanks again to Jordan, Melissa & family that called me that day to wish me luck; it meant more than you know. I missed having my running girls though, Megan, Jordan & Melissa! Maybe someday...;0)