So now that I had ran a few 5k's and had kept up with the training... it was time for bigger and better things... aka, a bigger race. Well along with the Jax Marine Corp 5k we ran they too offer a half marathon. Well in 2008, my mom, little sister, and I all decided to train for that race. My sister LeighAnne was going to compete too but she's an advanced runner so it was nothing for her!
Training started 12 weeks from race day... aka in the middle of summer in Daytona Beach Florida for me. It was no easy task... I had to fit in runs around work and school... and some days get up super early to run before classes. Then on Saturdays I had my long runs.... and we are talking in 90 degree heat here people. I would literally come back and be soaked in my own sweat (sexy I know)... my face would be red from the heat... I would be so sticky from the sweat I would find little flies stuck to my face (sexy again I know). Many a Saturdays I'd run my long distance... hit up some pasta at Olive Garden (I wasted alot of money there during my college career)... then hit up the beach with friends... ah that was the life!
So now we are ready for the race. The day before it I went up to JAX to meet up with my sister LeighAnne and some of her friends for a great dinner in JAX and a little shopping... we had a blast carb loading and drinking a few beers!!! I was so nervous going to sleep that night... that I may way up or forget some important part of my running gear for the next day. Got up the next day and headed to the start of the race at the Jacksonville Jags stadium... there I met up with my mom and little sister who had driven in from Georgia. Also my first ERAU friend Dan and my best friend Anne Claire drove up from Daytona... Dan was competing in the 5k and Anne Claire was cheering us on! I did forget something though... I normally wear two sports bra's when I run... this time I forgot the second one... oops! Anyways, my mom, Emma, and I all decided to run the race together.... gun goes off and .5 mile into it my mom has already pulled away. Seeing her lack of team spirit ;) Emma and I decide to run together... there were several times we wanted to stop & walk... but we pushed through it! Craziest part of run was when we went over one of the huge bridges in downtown Jax... rather that concrete on the bridge, it was a grate type of metal over it... so running over felt odd... plus you could see the water 100 ft below you through the holes in the grate... odd feeling, like you may fall through it! We kept seeing mile markers like 5, 7, 9 and kept telling each other just to make to the next mile... finally we got to say mile 10 and decided like hell we were walking that we had run that far we were just gonna keep running.... and we did. But at mile 11 Emma started to slow... so I broke away... the last few miles were a pain... you had to run up this huge ramp to a overhead, outdoor walkway and your legs were soooo tired... then you had to run by a coffee factory... after running 12 miles... the smell of coffee wants to make you puke. The last two miles I kept looking back thinking Emma was gonna make a late charge... my one goal in this race was to beat her! And guess what... I did!!!! Hahahahhaha Emma! :P I ran the entire 13.1 miles... felt like I had been run over by a train after that! We all went to Cracker Barrel after the race and loaded up on some yummy breakfast food! So that was my first half marathons... more to come!!!!
Me, LeighAnne, Emma, & My Mom at CB!
Most awesome pic ever taken by Dan... this is me & AC after the race... can you tell how tired I was???
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