Half Marathon Recap

I'm not entirely sure this is needed, but if I'm going to be blogging, it seems only right that I do a blog post on the half marathon that Garrett and I just did.

Because, hey, it's a half marathon, right?

 So the past couple years have been us slowly making changes to be more fit, and more healthy. It was a multitude of things for both Garrett and I that prompted this, but ultimately the simplest way to say it is that we wanted to make sure we were physically capable of the adventures we want to have, and the goals we want to accomplish, and also, what we want our kids to remember about us--parents who are active.

And our level of (un)fitness hadn't, as of then, prohibited us from doing things, it was getting to the point where we were going to have to choose--do we become couch-sitters? Talking about the things we should do, or could do if we were in better shape for the rest of our mediocre lives? Or do we get off our butts and make sure that we can do those things, and are doing them?

That is an easy choice.

Minnehaha Falls, Frozen solid. March 8, 2014
We went down behind the frozen waterfall on this day, which was pretty cool.

Minnehaha Falls, in it's liquid form. April 25, 2014

 So outdoor adventure (like we are used to) is not possible here in Minnesota. We live in the city, and any sort of wilderness is completely non-existent. There may be 10,000 lakes, and 50,000 unnamed ponds, but let me tell you, they all have a pretty asphalt path around them and a bunch of people too. Which is all very well and good, but when you're used to getting out and actually being in un-canned (or less-canned) nature, it's can get little depressing. We have done our best to adapt, and we've found a few places that satisfy our need for being outside. Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis is a good fallback place to visit on a Saturday afternoon, or whenever. It was also, in this case, where our race started, so we went down Friday afternoon to pick up our packets and enjoy the park.

Three weeks before the race, if you'd asked me how I was doing I would have said "Good!" Really good, actually. I wasn't planning on having a great finish time, but I was pretty confident at that point that I'd do all right. We'd mostly trained on the treadmill through the cold and frozen time, and then once it warmed up enough we'd headed outside. Since we have the previously mentioned asphalt paths everywhere--winding around lakes and ponds and through neighborhoods and everywhere, we've got it pretty well made for training outside.

Then we got sick... a bad stomach bug. AND, I sprained my ankle at the beginning of an eight mile run and of course, finished it. That following Monday we all got a HORRIBLE head/chest green snot forever cold. And the stomach bug made it's return. I ran again (four miles) that Monday, and came home with a truly screwed up ankle, swollen and painful. So at that point, 2 weeks before the race, we had to cut way back and just focus on surviving, and hoping for wellness.

I wasn't sure I was going to be able to run the race at that point. I said so to Garrett, and he said something along the lines of, "You should read "Lone Survivor" and see if you still feel that way. He did everything with a broken leg." I may not be the brightest star in the night sky, but I can certainly read between the lines on that challenge! So, I didn't really have a choice, clearly.

Since I actually finished I'm glad he challenged me, but if my ankle was permanently damaged, it would definitely be all his fault. Haha! Between the two of us, we were sort of pathetic with the coughing and the no sleep, and the delightful things that come along with flu bugs.

Me and my little buddy.

 On packet pick-up day I picked up Daria and ran to catch up with Garrett, Keira, and Brie, and it hurt. Bad. I was super nervous at that point about my ankle, and really worrying about the race, big time.

Keira and Daria, checking out the water.

 Race morning we got up, and dosed up on antihistamines, and pre-workout for a goodly sum of caffeine, and a lot of ibuprofen for me, and headed out. It hurt. Every step. I got through it, one step at a time, and I did a lot of praying. I sort of want to melt into an embarrassed puddle of goo every time I think about how long it took me, but I have to remind myself that all I wanted was to finish it. I did tell God that I didn't want to be the last person over the finish line, and I wasn't... by like 6 people I think, within the three hour time-frame they gave you. (Not including the 200 or so that didn't finish.) So next time I should probably be more specific--like I'd like to not be in the last 50 over the finish line. Haha!

It was 37 degrees on race morning, hence my hood that makes me look like a Minion.

 My husband is amazing. He was just as sick as me and the kids through the two weeks prior to the race, but still managed to stick to work and training for the most part. He did awesome, and then Sunday, after the race, he went out and ran five miles. If I wasn't so impressed I'd have to be annoyed.

Tuesday after the race I could finally breathe and sleep and not cough every two words. Also, I could go up the stairs without looking like a wounded Tyrannosaurus Rex. I'm not ready to run yet, but I am missing running! Which is weird, and also a sign of mental fitness progress I like to think.

The subject of doing another half marathon has come up a few times. I'm not as opposed as I thought I would be when I crossed the finish line.

 Clearly, it's a sickness.

Finisher's Ribbons for both of us!