Well I did it!! Finally, I'm sure you're tired of hearing about it. But I finished my first FRIGGIN' Half Marathon! Huhlo, Mama is a runner!
Let me get all the things that pissed me off about the race out first. I was so aggravated that I couldn't sleep the night before, I literally just LAID there until 3:30am and got up got my PB&J sandwich and headed out the door. The bus driver that took us from the finish line to the starting line was competing to be a ride operator on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in the most rickety school bus that was barely even road worthy. I was mad at myself for believing the voices in my head that I couldn't do it all morning, I said just go home, no one will even know. The hill at Mile 11.5 YOU SUCK!!! The pain in my feet I hated and the fact that I hit the wall at mile 10 and couldn't get anymore juice to keep my momentum up.
Enough with the negativity, now! I ran 13.1 miles, granted I ran it slow, 3:12, stopping for pee breaks, hamming it up with the spectators and taking pictures didn't add to the craptastic time I had! I learned a lot, and will be able to carry forward into another half marathon better ways to train, eat, and pace myself and concentrate on the race not just the dang finish line.
What a beautiful race course, we were fortunate enough to run through the beautiful cities of Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, and Costa Mesa. A view of some body of water be it the Pacific Ocean or the Bay was visible for the majority of the race. The homes were magnificent and I loved the smell of fresh Jasmine on my run. The weather was spectacular, the spectators were plentiful and the signs were HILARIOUS. "You trained longer than Kim Kardashian was married", "Run Faster, I just farted", "Make this Mile your Bitch", "Don't stop to walk people will Judge you", and my personal favorite "Stop Obama".
At mile 9 my pain started, my feet, then my hips, and I stopped to stretch, and got some water, and started up again at mile 10.5 I wanted to quit, and the only thing that kept me going was this stupid shirt I was wearing "Train 4 Autism". Who in the hell did I think I was to think I was going to quit? These kids don't get to quit Autism when it gets tough. So I told myself to SUCK IT UP, don't be a baby. Your kids run a damn marathon DAILY (metaphorically of course). Then the hill at mile 11, I want to know who thought that was a good idea? JACK ASS! No other way you could have gotten us to the fairgrounds but up that STUPID piece of shit hill?
I crossed the finish line to one of my very good friends to greet me. I was crying like a little girl, it was very emotional for me, so much to be grateful for, the race was much bigger than I expected it to be. Everyone else I ran with left my ass in the dust, and left me a little jealous. But I finished. I am a runner. I now know I can do it. I did this race for kids with Autism, to help the families whose lives are a marathon everyday. I ran this race because 2 years ago I couldn't run five feet and had just kicked cancers ass and needed to get healthy and stay healthy for my little kids. Running was the most therapeutic thing I could have done for all of us. When I wanted to scream because autism hijacks my kids, I would run. When I want to whack my husband because he doesn't help me when I'm begging for it, I would run. When the pain and the fear I have about what Autism is too much, I would run and take it all out on the pavement. Those $90 running shoes were the cheapest therapy I could have ever asked for.
I made a vow last year to get and stay healthy for my family. I started running last year, and after a year of going back and forth I decided to do this. I know what I could have done better, how I could have trained harder or different. I need to get a better nutrition plan in place to get slim my ass down those last 20 lbs, and it will probably alleviate a lot of the pain that I was having. So now I'm in the I Will Rock This Weightloss Challenge with some other bloggers and moms and I have a challenge to finish, and since I can finish half marathons
So Disneyland Half Marathon in September, be ready, I'll be back better, and stronger and ready to take you on.
Rebecca