For the last few years, my greatest goal and challenge, in regards to exercise, was being in shape to successfully participate in and finish the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K Walk. This year, with encouragement from my friends, Sheri and Sally, we upped the ante and signed up for the Rock & Roll Half Marathon (walk)! That's 13.1 miles!
Having never done this before, my goals were to 1 - finish, 2 - to not come in last place, 3 - not be picked up by the SAG wagon, and 4 - to set my base personal best time.
I trained by trying to walk every day for which I was mostly successful. I was in awesome shape for a 5K, but having never walked a half marathon, I didn't know if I was sufficiently in shape for this challenge. There was just one way to find out, and that was by just doing it!
The day of the race soon arrived. Having planned to meet at Qualcomm stadium before sunrise, Sheri, Sally and I took the trolley down to the shuttle buses and road them in to the starting line at Balboa Park. While waiting in line for the porta potties, we found our buddy, Kim! She joined our group in Corral #35, and while waiting to start, Kim found our former co-worker and friend, Sierra! Sierra is such a stud as she was running the race!
Inching up to the starting line as each corral started off, it was soon our turn at the starting line and we were off! Woo-hoo!!! I was so pumped!
Since my husband was at the JO Qualifier games with my son, I would intermittently take pictures of the mile markers along the way and text them to him so he could see where I was in the race. In return, he would text me messages of encouragement. Goodness, did I appreciate those!
Mile 7 marker was at the end of our trek on the 163 freeway and I was still feeling good and walking at a great pace.
It was awesome to see the Mile 10 marker knowing there were only 3 more miles to the finish line. But then, everything went wrong. My right hip started acting up and the balls of my feet started to burn like nothing I had felt before. I could feel my pace give way as I struggled to keep up with Sheri and Sally. They were so sweet in keeping an eye on me, but not wanting to slow them down, I asked them to keep going at their pace and to please wait for me at the finish line.
By the Mile 13 marker I had had a hundred and one debates with myself about finishing or taking the SAG wagon, and talking myself into the next mile marker and then the next until finally getting to Mile 13! I wanted to earn that half marathon medal, gosh darn it! I wanted to be able to wear it and know I had walked every single inch of the 13.1 miles!!!
That last 0.1 mile was the longest distance of my life. It felt like the finish line would never be in sight! And then, there it was! I was so happy to just step over it and know that I had done it! I had done it!!! And my beautiful and wonderful friends were waiting for me there! So thrilled they were there to do this with me! Sheri, Sally, and Kim - YOU ROCK!!!
Our walking shoes complete with timing strips.
Having never done this before, my goals were to 1 - finish, 2 - to not come in last place, 3 - not be picked up by the SAG wagon, and 4 - to set my base personal best time.
After riding the trolley from the Q, we hitched a ride on the shuttles to the starting line.
Our friend, Sally, in the grey sweatshirt and white cap.
Our friend, Sheri, and I.
Waiting in line to empty our tanks before the start of the race. Who knew porta potties would be so popular!
The day of the race soon arrived. Having planned to meet at Qualcomm stadium before sunrise, Sheri, Sally and I took the trolley down to the shuttle buses and road them in to the starting line at Balboa Park. While waiting in line for the porta potties, we found our buddy, Kim! She joined our group in Corral #35, and while waiting to start, Kim found our former co-worker and friend, Sierra! Sierra is such a stud as she was running the race!
Sally, Kim, myself & Sheri
Kim and I.
We were in Corral #35.
Sally, Sheri, Kim, Sierra and I!
Inching up to the starting line as each corral started off, it was soon our turn at the starting line and we were off! Woo-hoo!!! I was so pumped!
We can see the starting line!
Since my husband was at the JO Qualifier games with my son, I would intermittently take pictures of the mile markers along the way and text them to him so he could see where I was in the race. In return, he would text me messages of encouragement. Goodness, did I appreciate those!
We hit the Mile 3 marker in Balboa Park with no problem. This would have been the length of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K's I had done in years past.
The FINISH LINE!!!
That last 0.1 mile was the longest distance of my life. It felt like the finish line would never be in sight! And then, there it was! I was so happy to just step over it and know that I had done it! I had done it!!! And my beautiful and wonderful friends were waiting for me there! So thrilled they were there to do this with me! Sheri, Sally, and Kim - YOU ROCK!!!
With our medals - Sally, Kim, Sheri & I
And my goals? Well, I finished, I wasn't last finishing 17,027 out of 17,152 overall, I resisted the SAG Wagon, and I set my base personal best time of 04:21:07!!! That is my time to beat for the 2012 Rock & Roll Half Marathon!!! So whose with me for next year???
Me and my medal!!!
The prize!
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