The cold definitely made the first few miles hard, but I got into a groove around mile 3 and really felt good the rest of the race. Seeing all of the people around me pushing through mile after mile was so motivating. There was a blind athlete, a women with only one arm and so many older runners...the list goes on. Mile 11 and 12 were my fastest miles by far because I am not very smart and thought I only had a mile left when I saw the 11 mile marker and pushed hard...when I saw the 12 mile marker and realized what I had done I refused to slow down because I am just plain stubborn. Seeing the finish line was the most awesome feeling ever! Well, the most awesome until I realized that our medal doubles as a bottle opener. Nice.
When I got home, I was craving the most random food combo...
Running this half made me realize WHY I write on this blog, why I share my experiences on facebook and why fitness is such a passion of mine. This is a way that I can reach people. A way that I can help by simply doing something I love. If I can motivate ONE person to make positive changes in their life...to get in the gym when they would rather sit on the couch, to reach for something healthy when the ice cream is calling their name , to stay positive when all the odds are against them...then this is worth it. Having a friend tell me that she logged onto facebook, saw my race picture and was motivated to go to the gym after a rough week is literally the best feeling in the entire world. I know what it is like to feel overwhelmed and frustrated with your weight and I know that the key to turning that frustration into results is support. If this blog allows me to be that support to someone, I will write forever!
In the meantime, I am looking for my next half...one that I can drag the hubs into! Sorry, babe, but you owe me <3