13.1 miles

I've never been a long distance runner. As of June 1st, the furthest I had ever run was a 5k (3.2 miles). In the last year I've really wanted to become a runner. So I started with a book...A Woman's Guide to Running - after that, I was hooked. I saw that the Top of Utah Half Marathon was on August 28th and that it was 95% downhill...PERFECT. So I started training. I woke up at 5:30 a.m. almost every day in order to train, I am proud to say that I have a stellar amount of determination!

Let's be honest, I'm not the thinnest french fry in the happy meal (bad analogy when talking about weight...I know). So this half marathon was also a very emotional battle for me. When I first ran 4 miles, I was so excited. Then I did 5 miles and I couldn't believe I had actually run THAT far. Mile 8 was probably my favorite accomplishment. Wow, 8 miles - further than I had ever imagined running. Every Saturday when I would run my long runs I would imagine myself crossing the finish line of the half marathon and I would start to tear up....as I was running. I know, pathetic. By the end of my training I was running 5 miles twice a week and then anywhere between 7 and 10 miles on the weekends.

Top left - me and Dolly running and me trying to look like I'm having fun for Mike Hylton to take my picture at mile 13. Next picture - me with my best friend Jessie...couldn't ask for a better one! Top Right - That's me in the bright pink in the center of the picture still a bit in the distance. Bottom left - Happiest family in the world (when Benjamin has had his nap). Next picture - I'm number one....okay more like 1006 - that was my bib number. Bottom right - Me chatting it up with my bestie - trying to get her to do it next year, but she might have a valid excuse next year. Not like the lame broken foot excuse she used this year!

RACE DAY - The night before the race I had a really hard time sleeping. I had so much anxiety! I think that I probably got about 4 or 5 hours of sleep....not a good idea when you're about to run 13.1 miles for the first time. At any rate, adrenalin carried me through. I went into this race alone, but soon found one of my friends from my Oakcrest days - Amanda AKA Dolly. I ran with her and her friend for part of the race. It was a first time half marathon for all of us. During the race there were many people that went through my mind. I thought of Josh, Benjamin, Mike and Jessie waiting for me at the finish line. I thought of cute Jaci Udy who would have loved to have been there running with me. I thought of Heidi and Clayton McMurdie EVERY time I saw someone running off the side of the road to use the bathroom. I thought of all of my running friends and everyone who supported me all the way....I had a lot of time to think, can you tell?As I was running, I kept thinking that I couldn't believe that I was actually doing this. By mile 12 my legs were burning, but I just kept plugging away. At the very end of the race, my favorite people were there! First I heard Mike Hylton yelling at me to move faster. Then I saw he and Jessie with Benjamin. When I finally got Benjamin's attention and continued to run past him, he was so upset that I didn't stop to chat. When I got to the end with all the people standing and cheering me on, I sprinted...and totally beat the girl next to me...wahew. At the finish line I saw my favorite person ever - Josh! It was the perfect ending to a great race. My time from crossing the starting line to crossing the finish line was 2 hours and 33 minutes. I didn't care about my time!

I DID IT!!!!!!!

Who's on for next year's Top of Utah Half Marathon?