STG 26.2

i did it! 

4 hours and 34 minutes....

i am so so glad it's over, and that I did it!

here's my dad and I at the finish- he kicked my butt of course, 3:12 was his time. Not bad for 50!

so the race went really well, and I did as well as I could have hoped!

I have been training since the beginning of June, so only 4 months. After the half I did in August I hurt my IT band, so I took 3 weeks off of training to let that heal up the best I could! I am a little competitive, so I know that if I trained longer, did more cross training, etc.. that I could totally run it faster, but for my first one, I did the best I could!

I ended up running the entire race with my dad's good friend's little sister, and her best friend--- Deon, and Ashley. I think I really would have been like way slower if I hadn't been running with them the whole race. I really need to get some more running buddies, because it's so much easier to run with someone! 

Here's ashley and I coming in to the finish line!

I know i know, i look AWESOME. 26 miles will do that to ya!

I'm also really glad I did that half this August as to kind of prepare me for what to expect, I wish I would have had a better camera on my phone to take pictures along the way and such, but it was awesome. We got on the bus at like 5am to take us up to the starting line, the actual race started at 6:45am-- The first miles flew by, and I was still feeling good after the huge hill at Veyo- like mile 7 and 8. At about mile 13 my knee starting really hurting and sending shooting pains down my leg making it give out, but I just tightened my brace nearly cutting off my circulation, but my knee felt a LOT better! At about mile 20 was when it was getting REALLY hard. I would say mile 20-24 were definitely the hardest, if I hadn't been with Deon and Ashley I think I would have stopped and walked, but they totally kept me going. At mile 24 is where the people started to line the streets and my energy level went right up! We lost Deon at like mile 22 where her knee started hurting her, but Ashley and I finished together! I passed Tyler and my mom and the girls, and was feeling good so sprinted to the finish line! I told Ty I would disown him if he didn't get a picture of me crossing the finish line, but I started sprinting and got there before he did-- oh well. Of course I am still extremely sore- but that's to be expected right!?

I don't know if I will do it next year or not, I think I will enter my name in the lottery again and just see, but I know I can run faster and do better with training longer, so I will for sure do it again and break 4 hours! 

I keep hearing people say how trendy marathons are getting, which I really do agree with, but still- Running 26.2 miles is not easy-- it was freaking hard, but I am so glad I did it!

it was pretty stressful getting down there and such, but overall we had a great trip. 

I felt so bad for my mom and Tyler who pretty much took care of us and the girls the whole trip, but I hugely appreciate it! Thanks Mom and Dad for the trip too- it was so fun to spend time with them and Kyle who is down there going to school! Lesson learned- next time don't bring kids. Haha, and I miss being home for conference! 

Mile times: (added 11/2/11 just so I can remember if I ever do a marathon again, and this seems the only place I can write it down and it won't get lost!) These are from my watch, and I push start a few seconds late, and changed the mile late on a couple of them, so They aren't perfect, but close enough!

1: 9:08

2: 9:41

3: 9:19

4: 9:14

5: 11:53

Slowed down a ton to wait for the girls I was running with, one of them had to pee, and I needed my running friends!

6: 9:02

7: 9:07

8: 12:10

9: 10:50 

Stopped at mile 9- top of the hill of DEATH to pee. Of course. Haha. Had to run like the wind to catch up with the girls I was running with!

10: 8:00

11: 10:22

12: 10:53

13: 10:20

14: 11:35

15: 10:12

16: 10:49

17: 10:01

18: 10:19

19: 15:58 

I got stuck at mile 19 in a line waiting to put icy hot on my calf that was DYING, i had to run like the wind again to catch up. I had to catch up with them or I was convinced I would burn out!

20: 8:08

21: 9:32

22: 11:42

23: 11:30

24: 11:17

25: 10:23

26: 10:02

.2: 2:05

Official Time: 4:34:12

Yes, I took pictures of the proofs. I'm a true rebel!