I'm not really sure how to start this post... other than back in the summer after Ragnar I thought I'd like to keep running here and there to keep in shape (I'm talking like 5k's)! I heard about the Saints and Sinners Half Marathon. It's a half marathon or you can split the miles with someone for a relay (which sounded doable). Long story short, after talking about it several times with my rad-runner sis-in-law, Mindy, I was somehow signed up for a HALF MARATHON! What the?! HA! I'm still laughing because I'm not a "runner!"
However, I have found over the past several months of training in the early morning hours, that as much as I hate my stupid alarm going off, I love that time to myself to start my day off! I started training mid-August, just found a 12 week schedule online and followed it (missing a couple long runs on weekends that there was absolutely no time). I trained SOLO. It was hard.The long runs were killers. Actually the most I got up to by myself was 8 miles. Then the next time I ran was 11 with my sis-in-law. I felt good about the training and doing the race. So, Mindy signed up, and I also talked my dear friend Kelsie from RDH school into it!
The race was in Boulder City, NV (just outside Vegas). Brett's work schedule didn't really allow him to come, so my mom came as moral support for the 3 of us...she's the best :) Brett made up for it the night before by giving me a pre-race 1 hour massage. So lovely and super thoughtful! Brett and Gma Sharon kept the kids alive while I was away (muchas gracias)! We stayed in St. G where we were able to meet up with one of my favorite friends, Heather, for lunch! Love her! Also this day I lost my voice, had a sore throat and felt a sinus infection coming on. Perfect timing. GRR. A nice dr I know was able to Rx a Zpak for me :)
Friday night we headed south and picked up our race packets! Lucky #107?!?!
Carb-Loading at it's finest, folks!
We stayed at a lovely Quality Inn in Boulder City so we didn't have to get up too early to get to the race. :) It was a gem of an idea if I do say so myself! Pumped up before heading out! AND...my sore throat was gone! I still didn't have much of a voice, but that didn't affect the running. Prayers answered!
Kels, Me and Mindy
3 stooges with Momma Max....it was so windy...we were a little chilled waiting to start.
A local ZUMBA instructor came to get us warmed up! We got our groove on... some more than others! ha!
My goals and expectations for the race were to run the whole time, only walk through the aid stations to get water/gatorade and I wanted to finish in at least 2 1/2 hours. Mindy is a FAAAAST runner! So, I've been telling her for months to leave me in her dust! Can I just say she was my rock and stayed the whole time! Kels took this pic of Mindy and I...maybe mile 2?? We were on a paved bike trail, that was really cool, it followed the highway for a while...
...then out into the desert, with an amazing view of Lake Mead! This was about mile 4.
Due to some injuries/sickness Kelsie hadn't trained as she'd planned, but I was so impressed she was keeping right along with us! She went ahead while Mindy and I stopped for a potty break and she told us to catch back up to her. At mile 6 we hit a gravel trail and a slight incline. were running up the side of this mountain and through these totally awesome tunnels! Mindy's headphones crapped out, so I lent her an ear bud! haha! Seriously :) I told her I'd share my music if she stayed with me! lol! I'm so glad she did. Running along with someone else makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD! She pushed me harder than I would have gone alone and the time went by so much faster. People probably thought we were crazy, sharing earbuds while running, but other than the occasional elbow bump, it worked pretty well (we're both midgets)! Check out this LINK for the photo! ha!
We caught back up to Kels around mile 10ish?? Mom called wondering if we were close...so she could get the camera ready. Brett also called to see how it was going, to tell me he was so proud, and wish me luck for the last stretch. At mile 11 I had a little mental struggle with myself, knowing I'd never gone further than that before. I pushed through till 12, and was wanting to RUN HARD to the end, but my body was fighting it! I had to walk for one minute to re-charge and Mindy and Kels stayed right with me. My playlist shuffled to "Heartbreaker" by Mariah Carey and I couldn't help but laugh, it's a song that makes my mind flood with so many good high school memories!! It was just what I needed to push me the last mile. Kels confessed that the only reason she was keeping up with us was so she could be in the finish line pics with us all together! ahaha! I LOVE HER! Well here we are....started and ended with ALL THREE together! Sprinting in!
That last turn then seeing the finish line was impossible NOT to sprint. Who knows where that burst of energy came from?! It's amazing what A MACHINE the human body is! I love Kelsie's face in this....we were all so happy to be done! Yay mom, thanks for the great pics!
FINISHER MEDAL!! Not gonna lie, there were some tears shed! So happy to have accomplished this goal!
So thankful for these 2 amazing ladies. Mindy could have finished like 30 minutes sooner, but instead she was so kind and waited for me, the turtle ;) LOVE HER!
My #1 fan, always :) Love you momma!
our "unofficial" time
The weather was perfect that day! 70 degrees, slight breeze....and we ended at the BEACH. Definitely my kind of race!
Yep, we're dorks!
Since we were so close we couldn't pass up an opportunity to drive across Hoover Dam.
I thought the interstate bridge was pretty darn impressive!
We decided against the WALKING tour cuz, well, our legs were shot! :) Just a quick pic would do! As we left the dam I got some post-race stomach issues I was totally unprepared for! Stomach CRAMPS like crazy and basically we hit 3 bathroom stops within about a 5 mile span. I'll spare you the details! ha! It was a rough next 12 hours!
We headed back for southern Utah... how I LOVE that beautiful place!
...and back to the new fun house that we will be spending more time at in the future (thanks papa)!
Sitting in the hot tub has never felt so nice! And we found ourselves in there the next morning too, when walking was much more difficult than normal!
Kels was a very trusting friend and let me practice some makeup-artistry on her....with a SHARPIE! lol! A perfect girls weekend experiment!
And as we got back to SLC there was a perfect sunset ending to an awesome weekend!!
