I signed up for the half marathon back in September 2013, and then shortly thereafter I decided I wasn't going to do it. When I was asked if I was going to run the half marathon, I said no. After recently becoming 90% Paleo, and learning how bad running is for fat loss, I was against running. However I did already pay for it, I did no training for it, why would I go and try to complete it? To injure myself or prove that my will and body could do this? I really don't know and I am not sure I can explain it, I feel maybe I needed to do something crazy to feel alive and prove to myself I am strong and capable of anything I can put my mind too...
A few weeks ago, I ran the pirates 5k, and when picking up the tickets for the baseball game, I ran into an old friend Deana who was training to do the half marathon. We quickly said hello and a few words. That was the end of it.
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| 13.1 Miles Later |
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| 2012 and 2014 Pittsburgh Half Marathon Medals |
Then the Marathon weekend was upon us, I figured I would attend the expo and get my shoe bag and t-shirt, because I did pay 75 bucks! At the expo I saw the medal, volunteers kept saying "good luck on race day", then I started to think "maybe I should just do this...” Then I logged into Facebook and saw Deana's post about the expo and getting her race packet. I then sent her a message and asked if she wanted to do it together, my goal was to finish it and my only goal when it came to the clock was not to get picked up on the short bus...or sweeper.. We both laughed and agreed to do it together. So, we met and went into Corral D nervous and anxious, glad to each have someone to move throughout the course with. The race started at 7am and we crossed the start line at about 7:53am…Bridge 1 was the 16th street bridge, when we crossed the bridge this was the 5K mark, I stopped to use the restroom and saw two people from my rowing team last year, I gave them hugs they rooted me on-and forth we went to cross the 7th street bridge, then 9th street bridge, at this point-I know we both were thinking, bridges suck…and there are two more left. So we put our heads down, leaned into the slopes the bridges brought and made it over…After the third bridge, we both decided it was time to walk, so as we wondered into the Northside, and relay exchange point 1, there were lots of high fives in the crowd and encouragement that “you got this, I don’t know how but you will cross the finish line.” Then we entered into the West End, and I said to Deana “we are running over this stupid bridge, its bridge 4. At the end of the bridge we will walk.” At the end of the bridge there was another Hill and we both thought oh crap! I assured Deana that the west end bridge hill was much worse than the hill we were about to climb. As we made our way through the west end, we saw a woman with a sign that said “I once ran a half marathon, but decided making signs was easier. Deana and I both laughed at this, and I gave the woman a high five. We left the west end and came upon Station Square, where Deana saw some co-workers in an Ambulance and went and said Hello. As we trotted through station square we both agreed it was time to walk again heading into the South Side. All I could talk about at this point was there were little kids handing out gummy worms, and how much I looked forward to this, for some sugar and substance because I was starving. By the time we made it to the 5th Bridge there were no gummy worms, or little kids handing out candy, it was somewhat hilarious because there were several others around us that were mentioning the gummy worms. But before entering the last bridge of the race, volunteers were handing out Orange slices; I dumped my hands into the bowl and grabbed about 4 of these. I sucked them down and through the left over peals onto the ground, and carried on. The last bridge of the race is so long, you are at mile 11, tired and sore. I told Deana let’s make it over this last damn bridge, and we got this. We did our best to get across the bridge-and did it. Then we went Mile 12 on the boulevard of the Allies which is the worst hill in the entire half marathon course. At this point we are at 12.5 miles and dying, and I tell Deana we have to run the rest of this, we got it! She is on the verge of dehydration and maybe close to passing out, but she centered herself and kept breathing and calming herself, saying “You got this!” She begins running and we get to mile 13, and I scream whooooooooooo!
Will I ever to a half marathon again? Maybe.
