For the past 6 months my friend Kaity and I had been throwing around the idea of running a half marathon. I needed to get serious about exercising and losing my baby weight. So I started looking online to find a race that we could run. I found the Utah Valley Half marathon and it looked perfect.
The first time Kaity and I ran together we went less than 2 miles and I about died. Seriously I couldn't even run the entire 2 miles. It about killed me. I started doing Insanity while the weather was to cold for me to run outside. Then I started getting outside to run more. Slowly I started adding miles and I got up to 10 miles! I was stoked. I felt so good.
Then I got really sick. Like the sickest I have ever been in my entire life. I was really sick for about 3 weeks and I wasn't able to run. My body was really worn out from fighting off the sickness. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to run the race. I was devastated, but I kept trying. A few weeks later I was starting to get my miles back up again and I was starting to feel better about the race. I was really sad because before I got sick I was really getting my pace up, but getting sick had really set me back. Going into the race I wasn't expecting to keep more than an 11:00 minute mile pace. I was honestly just hoping to finish the race in under 2 hours and 40 minutes.
So the race day came. We were staying at Kyle's grandparents house and Tim and Kelly were there too. Tim and I got up at 3:00 in the morning to get ready. Neither of us slept very good that night we were both nervous and anxious. We were on the bus that would take us up to the top of the canyon at 4:00 in the morning. Miserable. We made it up to the canyon and it was freezing cold. Miserable. They had fires up there that were more smoke than fire. Miserable. Slowly the sun started to rise and it got even colder. Miserable. I had to use the porta potty. Miserable.
Then it started getting closer and closer to 6:00am. Kaity met up with us and it started to get real. We were really going to do this! They had music playing and the adrenaline was starting to flow. I was getting so nervous. I had no idea what I was in for.
Then the clock hit 6:00 and the race started. I took off. I was feeling so good. The first 2 miles were down hill. Then we hit a 3 mile up hill. The top of the hill over looked Bridal Veil falls. It was gorgeous. Then it was almost all downhill out of the canyon. I was feeling amazing. At about 6 miles Tim told me I was running under a 10:00 minute mile. I was thrilled and I was still feeling so strong. We came out of the canyon and there people on the streets cheering for us. That was really fun. Tim called Kyle at mile 9 to let him know that we were going a lot faster than we thought and that he needed to hurry and get to the finish line.
I was feeling so good for the first 12 miles. At mile 12 I died. It was all I could do to keep running. When I finally saw the finish line it felt like a mirage that kept moving farther and farther away. But we finally made it. That was one of the best moments of my life crossing that finish line. I learned so much about myself while training for this race and during this race. I lost lost almost 40 lbs and I learned how strong my body can be. I ran the entire 13.1 miles. I never stopped. Not once. I've never done that before. I was so proud of myself. I worked so hard and I crossed that finish line at 2 hours 12 minutes.
Me and Kaity. It is so fun to have a friend who is as motivated as me to run and get in shape! I was so grateful she was there with me!
I would not have done this well during the race if it wasn't for Tim. I was so grateful he decided to run with me. He kept us going the entire time. He was cracking jokes and keeping our spirits up. He thanked every single cop along the race. He is so friendly and happy. I'm so grateful he is apart of my life. I am convinced I won't be able to run another race without him, so I hope he is up to doing a lot more races!
My awesome metal! I certainly earned it!
This was one of the funnest things I have ever done. I can't wait to do it again and again!
