Indian Summer Half-Marathon 2010

I signed up for the same half-marathon that Marni and I ran last year in Richland. I figured I could use it as a training run for the half that Marni and I will be running in Walla Walla on October 10. My legs had been pretty tired feeling all week and the boys had slept terrible most the week so I was exhausted too. I wasn't planning on anything spectacular as far as my time, I just wanted to get in a run in a competitive atmosphere before my run with Marni. Colt was up a couple times the night before so when my alarm went off at 5:30 I felt like I was already awake. Surprisingly, I hadn't felt nervous at all the night before (usually my stomach is a mess and I can't sleep) and I woke up feeling calm. I got myself ready, the boys ready, made Dave his coffee (his only requirement for getting up that early on a Saturday and driving me to Richland) and we were on the road by 6:20. Dave and the kids dropped me off at the race and Colt came with me while I got my packet and then they left about 7:40. I ran around for a little bit to get warm and then lined up for the 8:00 start. Meanwhile....

 Dave met up with his parents and got some coffee and breakfast for the boys and they headed to the park that I would be running by. Unfortunately I had already passed the park when they got there (I was bummed but hoping I would see them on the way back since it was an out and back course). The boys had fun playing with their Memah and Poppi while I ran.

 Dave had asked his mom to bring stuff to make a sign so Colt and Dave made me a sign that said "GO Mommy" Dave said he was coaching Colt on being loud and making sure I could hear him.

 Colt saw me coming and came running up to the path, I could hear him yelling from a little ways back and it made me so happy.

 Coming up on about mile 11.5. Mile 11 was really rough for me, it was my slowest mile of the entire race and my body felt like I couldn't go any farther. Colt was loudly yelling "GO Mommy GO Mommy" it was the cutest sound ever!

That is me in the white hat waving at Colt and Jax. Jax was giving me enthusiastic waves as I passed by.

 After I passed the kids I had about 1.5 left of my 13.1 mile run. I had been running in this little pack right behind this girl and her husband since about mile 6. My goal was to pass them around mile 12 and start pulling away, I didn't care about him but I wanted to beat her!Just like I planned about a quarter mile after I saw the 12 mile cone I felt an extra burst of energy and desire that I didn't know I had (I thank my dad for that gene). I kept telling myself that if Marni was running with me she would never let that girl beat her and she wouldn't be complaining about how tired she was either so using that as my motivation I put my head down and ran hard.....

 ....and I finished (and beat that chick)! 

My final time was 1 hour 42 minutes and 58 seconds. My first and last mile happened to be the exact same pace (7:36) and those were also my fastest miles of the race as well. This race was hard, it took a lot of mental strength for me to keep going and not just slow down and finish. Once I knew I could PR (my previous best was 1:49 last year) I couldn't just let myself slow down and take it easy. I loved having Dave and the boys there supporting me and Dave's parents too! It made me feel supported and loved and I really appreciated that. In the end its not about the time you get but how you feel finishing it, and to have my boys there yelling for me and waving meant more to me than any PR ever could have.