tacoma narrows

last saturday i accomplished one of my summer goals to run another half marathon. i ran one 2 years ago with my dear friend joyce in charlottesville, va and it was beautiful course. my plan was to continue training and run a full marathon a few months later. i soon found out i was pregnant with damian though and so that x-nayed those plans. now 2 years later i am in that same position: just ran a half marathon and planning to run a full one in the fall.

Joyce and I after our half marathon in 2006

i wasn't as motivated or pumped up about this race--maybe because i was running it alone, or didn't feel like i had adequately trained. as i was riding the shuttle bus to the start line that morning at 6:30 am i was thinking, "too late now..." once at the start area i had about an hour to kill. i peed, stretched, talked with a few fellow runners, saw way too many guys in mesh shirts nipping out (it was pretty cold at 7am), and wrestled with the idea of the new sport skirts. i am not a fan. sorry to those of you who like them, they are just not my style or idea of apparel to wear while working out. one lady was in a hot pink skirt and a hot pink tank and was bouncing around right before the race started. ughhh... i was proud though when i saw her cross the finish line about 5 minutes after me. sorry for the negativity girls, i just don't dig the skirts. anyhoo, once the race started i cranked up my ipod and got in the groove. thankfully i didn't get any sideaches, muscle cramps, or major pains... i do not recommend caramel goo, which i picked up at mile 8 and immediately tried to spit out...which didn't work though since it was caked onto the inside of my mouth so i settled for a cup of water handed to me by one of the many volunteers along the race. the volunteers are GREAT! my ipod died at mile 11, but the rest was pretty flat or was a slight decline so i didn't mind too much. the songs that pumped me up the most are playing on my playlist right now.. (crank it up!!) mike and the kids were sweet enough to be at the finish line, along with Bailey and Parker (who mike had just picked up from efy).
my conservative goal was to run it in under 2 hours. i secretly wanted to beat 1 hour, 50 minutes, but didn't voice it because i didn't really know how prepared i was.

my finish!!

my time was 1:48:51!!! i averaged about 8:20 miles and feel really good about my race. this was as 26 minute improvement from 2 years ago...

i'm relieved it's over, but glad i was able to get the time i got, and am looking forward to a full marathon in the fall with madz...and another one with dani once she heals from her surgery.