One for the Bucket List

As I mentioned in a previous post, running a half marathon was one of my new year's resolutions; it was also on my bucket list, something that I always hoped to do but wasn't sure that I'd get around to (or actually be able to do).  Well, I am happy to say that on Saturday, October 9th, I completed my first ever half marathon, crossing the finish line of the Hartford Half Marathon 2 hours, 1 minute and 14 seconds after I crossed the start line.  My pace was 9:15 per mile; I finished 1,897 out of 4621 runners; and for women between the ages of 35-39, I finished 118 of 434.  My goal was 2 hours and 4 minutes, although in my heart of hearts, I had hoped to finish around 2 hours.  When I awoke at 5:30 on Saturday morning to temperatures in the mid-50's, I knew that 2 hours was not a possibility, because it was just too warm.
15,000 runners - 5K runners, 1/2 marathoners and full marathoners - started the race together a little after 8 am.  The first half of the race was really nice - it was hard to stay on pace (I ran much faster than I wanted to for the first several miles) because I just got swept along with the other runners, the excitement and all of the spectators cheering on sidewalks of Hartford and West Hartford.  It was thrilling to hear people call my name as I ran through the streets of West Hartford and I appreciate all the people that cheered and the friends that were there to support me - especially my friend Joe who met me around the halfway point with Gu.
The last mile was definitely the hardest part of the race.  Mile 12 to 12.5 was a steady uphill - and as difficult as it was for me, I passed a lot of runners that had simply run out of gas.  I saw a lot of medics between miles 12 and 13, and a lot of runners off to the side of the road that had completely broken down.  By that point, I just wanted to finish - and finish strong, upright and with a smile on my face.  With a little less than .1 miles to go, I heard "GO MOMMY!!" and was thrilled that not only had Lee and the girls spotted me, but that I heard them - and then I crossed the finish line with a big smile on my face!
The aftermath has not been as difficult as I expected it to be - although I am sore, I get up and move around for about 10 minutes every hour and that seems to help.  Re-hydration has been my biggest problem, as I have been taking in a tremendous about of fluids, but my body seems to continue to require more.  I am supplementing in an effort to keep my electrolytes in balance and just hoping that over time, things will even out.  With my hydration out of whack, eating has been difficult as well - I'm still looking forward to having a nice meal.
Thanks to my amazing family for coming out to support me - Lee and the girls were up extraordinarily early on Saturday morning to be at the race and it was wonderful to see them right before I crossed the line.  Moreover, Lee was wonderful during my training - I couldn't have done this without his constant support.  My sister has also been a tremendous help, giving me pointers and pep talks along the way.  Finally, my friends - and you know who you are - have been great.  I got so many great text messages between Thursday and Saturday, so many wonderful and encouraging posts on my Facebook wall.  It was so great knowing that so many people supported me.

Bib number (check); Gu (check); pace watch (check); running sneakers (check); up way too early on a Saturday morning (check). 

This is what the finish line area looked like an hour before race time. 

The finish line (well, this is the shoot, the finish line is at the far end of this picture) before the race. 

  

Sarah and I - Sarah is my kick-ass running partner, who is four months pregnant with her third child.  She was a huge part of my ability to finish the race and at a time that I was happy with. 

The start line.  

I can't believe that Lee saw me with just a couple hundred yards to go.

Post-race. 

Check out my medal!