Diary of a First Half Marathon

On December 3, 2011, I did something I never dreamed I'd do. I ran 13.1 miles in the St. Jude Marathon Weekend in Memphis, TN. I have never been a long distance runner, never even liked the thought of being a cross-country team member in high school. I wondered what good reason those people would have to just run all that distance and time. So, go figure...I decided earlier this year that I wanted to start running and maybe enter a 5K. My motivation for this included several things, and perhaps the reason I could do it is because, I confess, I was at "that point" that I needed this. Consider it cheap, non-medical therapy...

I found a training schedule for novice runners and did some research on what to eat, what not to eat, etc. I asked for and listened to advice from others who have done it, and I am thankful for all the help so many offered in my quest to run my first race. Sometime this summer(and before I ran my first 5K), I set my sights on not just a 5K, but a 1/2 marathon...why not?! It was for a wonderful cause...St. Jude! I joined Team Lucy and set my sights even higher.

I did suffer some "minor" issues along the way as I trained. I lost one toenail due to the fact that I didn't trim my toenails before a 10 miler in October. Sorry if that's too much information, but this is my diary and I'm laying it all out there!! :) (I laughed to myself last Saturday as I ran the half when I saw someone holding a sign that read, "Toenails are for sissies!!" Does that officially make me NOT a SISSY?!)

I have never been so thankful for a new sports bra as I am for the $44.00(bought on sale for $10.00) sports bra I got over a month ago. Shoot, I even bought 2 of those suckers! I had had 2 or 3 chaffings from the previous sports bras and was at my wit's end with it!! Burns like crazy when the shower water hits it! I was in heaven the first time I put the new bra on. Praise the Lord, no more chaffing since!

I have had blisters, but none that have caused pain for me. I would just say that my toenails just don't look the same as they did this summer in my flip-flops. I wouldn't dare wear those flip-fops right now. Thank goodness it's too cold anyway!!

I have clocked over 50 miles run in races since August, and I couldn't even begin to tell you how many miles I have run weekly since this summer. It's kinda crazy when I think about it. I looked at my shoes the other day and thought, "Man, those shoes have carried me lots of miles, over lots of pavement, and up lots of hills." They have been good to me!
No longer "novice" is what I might say about myself now. 13.1 miles under my belt and in the ultimate time I wanted to finish in = HAPPY ME!! And what's crazy is, I have already signed up for another 1/2 marathon!!!
Yep, the St. Jude Country Music 1/2 in Nashville on April 28th, 2012. Nashville hills, here I come! (I have heard it's more difficult with the rolling terrain. What have I done?!) This is another St. Jude Children's Hospital fundraiser, so I am very happy that I can be a part of such a wonderful cause again. What's ahead for me is continuing to train and stepping it up a bit to prepare myself for the Nashville 1/2. With the winter season upon us, this should be interesting. My diary may read of different issues encountered next time. :) Guess we'll see...happy trails!!
**I don't know if this will work, but try clicking here to see pictures from my first 1/2 marathon. Not sure if I'll order anything:), but they were fun to look at. Such a neat thing done by Marathonfoto.**