Sorry for taking so long to update - I'm currently on a much needed vacation and the internet isn't the best here. And my computer is crap so the combination = not good. (and this update took 1.5 hours to get only up to the second set of pics).
Anyway, on to my update...
We went to the expo on Saturday while others were doing the 5k. It was so much fun - we got sucked in for 2 hours and it felt like no time had passed!
Eryn and I have been training for this weekend since July... it was so scary to realize it was finally happening. She had her knee wrapped while we were there and I shopped a little (prices/deals were not as good as the Tulsa Run expo).
I found a great sticker I wanted to buy this sticker for my best friend who finished his first full marathon the week prior...
I bought a few stickers and some snacks for the race. I wanted to get an "I run Tulsa" shirt but they were $10 and I had $9 cash on me so I didn't get it. We picked up our tags
My nerves kicked in big time when I walked out of my apartment earlier in the week and found this sign in front of my building... a sign that there was no turning back!
This was that "make it or break it" moment for us. And we made it! : )
We were all praying for a no-rain/nice day. We got half of what we wished for! It didn't rain but it was freezing cold! I originally figured I'd run with a hoodie and take it off and run in my thin hoodie or my tank top underneath. Instead, I kept the hoodie on the whole run as well as my gloves! I think the temp reached 46 degrees by the time we reached the finish line.
I read in a few different places that as long as I slept well on Friday night I would be good. Surprisingly, they were right. I slept so well Friday night after having to stay up until 3am the night prior but suffered on Sat night. Nerves kept me up until 1:30am and then I woke up an hour before planned - 5:30am. I wished I could have slept longer but since I was wide awake, I figured I'd take advantage of it.
I grabbed all my nicely laid out items from the night before...
And checked my map again (we were the red route) so I knew where to go, where not to park and where I was going to finish.
Getting up so early allowed me to actually enjoy my breakfast before a long run - something I never get to do. I ate two pieces of toast smothered in chunky peanut butter and about 16oz of Gatorade. I checked my email, sent some texts to friends, updated facebook and did some much-needed stretches before I left the house. It was wonderful!
When I arrived at the start line I walked around a little bit, checked my bag (I brought clean clothes for after just in case) and saw a few students who were also running. Eventually I found Eryn and Erica and huddled in a building entrance trying desperately to stay warm until we had to line up in our corral.
I copied some pics from the website at the event as well. I'm thinking of buying one of the real ones but we'll see how Christmas goes first...
When we got into our corral I started to realize it was really happening. I was about to run over 13 miles. Everyone else was bursting with excitement and I was just there. Usually I'm nervous/excited/freaking out. Not this time - I didn't even have a nightmare the night before which is unheard of for me! It was very surreal.
Then we hit 8am and didn't move. At all. Then 8.05 and 8.10. Finally we started shuffling forward a little after 8.10 and made our way to the starting line around 8.15am. Now I was nervous/excited. I was ready to put all that I could into it and go. The gun went off and we hit the ground running. I stayed with Eryn and Erica for the first quarter mile and then set off on my own.
Part of the course was one I had run for Tulsa Run as well as trained on so I knew where the first few mile markers were. It both helped and hindered me - I tend to prefer racing without knowing where my stops are but I pushed through with flying colors (I kept under a 10min/mile my first 2+ miles!) and beat those huge hills at the start.
Somehow my iPhone knew exactly what songs I needed to push me through as well! I hit shuffle and it played every song I use to keep myself going when I am struggling. I was beyond happy and made it to mile 6 before I had to skip a song! That always makes me happy.
This one made me laugh because I was in the middle of singing "Transform Ya" and they snapped me. I hadn't hit mile 2 yet.
Eryn gave me great advice before we started the race - imagine running each mile for someone in your life. That way you won't want to let them down. It worked - I didn't slow down until around mile 8 when I knew Ashlie and my godchildren would be ok with me walking for a minute. I made it that far before I had to stop and stretch/walk it out. In total I believe I walked less than a mile which is totally fine with me!
My soft goal was a 2:30 and my hard goal was sub-2:45 and I came close to my soft goal! I pushed super hard on the last mile and crossed at 2:30:50. Can't beat that! I was so happy. : )
Can you tell I was a little proud? My momma made me bring it with me on vacation so she could see it in person and then made sure to tell all of our relatives about my race. Made me laugh each time.
It's so weird after months and months of training to realize you have a life again. Eryn has mentioned a full marathon but I have no desire to do that. I like my half. There is a quarter marathon I learned about today that is in Feb. - I may consider that one. I'm still debating about doing the OKC half. I want to but am still exhausted from training so much. We'll see.
For now, I'm happy to go back to 5k's and work on getting my time faster.
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