I finally did it…I ran a Half-Marathon…and finished!
I have been wanting to run a Half-Marathon for a REALLY long time. And it just wasn’t happening! So I was really glad that my older brother finally nudged me into running one with him this summer! I was really nervous! Especially since I am not in the best shape at this point in my life. And, not to mention the fact that I am not a fast runner. But I wanted to push myself to do something that I knew would be challenging and get me working toward my goal of getting back into shape.
I ran track in Jr. High and enjoyed it even though I was ALMOST lapped on the 800 meter race by one of my competitors at my very first track meet…! Ha! I started running again in college just for fun and exercise and would usually run 3-5 miles about 5 times a week. I continued to run off an on until I started having kids. Then…I just slowly started getting out of the habit of running because there were so many other demands for my attention and time. The next several years had me running very infrequently, mainly because I was caught up in the business of being a wife and raising 5 kids. I didn’t realize how much I missed running.
Running helps me clear my head and pound out any worries or frustrations that may be bothering me. I usually come back from my run a happier wife and momma…and that is a good thing! I decided that it was high time to get myself going again last summer. Cause, let’s be honest here…I have about 25 pounds of weight I could stand to lose and I am not getting any younger OR faster!
{my brother and I after the race}
So I began training back in May. I used Hal Higdon’s Half-Marathon Training Schedule and really felt it helped me to accomplish my goal. I was hoping to finish the Half in under 2 hours and 40 minutes. Not a top athlete’s pace for sure…but something that I thought was do-able for me and for the pace that I am comfortable running at for 13 miles! I finished in 2 hours and 41 minutes! So pretty close!
I think I could have pushed myself harder at the end and gotten around 2 hours and 30 minutes…I ended up walking for about the total of a mile which slowed me down quite a bit. I started the race off too fast because of the excitement and adrenalin…and I think that ended up slowing me down. I ran out of gas (so to speak) at mile 11. The last 2 miles I practically had to talk to myself through every step to get to the finish line. But I really did enjoy it and the scenery was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!
My kids, hubs, Mom, and brother’s family met us at the finish line. My family had made the cutest signs to cheer me on with! It felt good to do something just for myself. As moms, that is really hard to do sometimes. I am tempted to run another one to see if I can better my time now that I have one under my belt…but we will shall see…training took a lot of commitment and time and I will have to figure out how to navigate that with school starting up again.
I realize that my time was not very competitive and that I will never be in the top ten, but it felt good to step out of my comfort zone and do something that I felt was really challenging for me.
What about you? Have you ever done something that was a big challenge for you? I’d love to hear about it!
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Tiffany says
YAY for you! I loved reading your story. I ran my first half marathon two years ago. As a mom with 4 kids and very little time to spare I can greatly appreciate your committment to training. It is tough to balance it all! Did you cry when you crossed the finish line like I did? Oh….and I slept with my finisher’s medal around my neck too. :p
Laura says
I think that is amazing. I don’t really like running, but I am in such awe of people who are able to do it! Maybe someday.
Mjika Conine says
Congratulations to you! Being a non-runner, I have recently gotten into these long distance runs. They are a huge time commitment, but well worth the effort. And there is NOTHING like having your family there to cheer you on at the finish line. If you want a SUPER FUN run, enter in the Disneyland Half Marathon (over Labor Day weekends) – completely over priced but well worth it. It sells out quick (in January is when it opens). Last year I went for the weekend by myself and have an amazing experience, this year my hubby is coming (and we are leaving the kids at home.)
Good luck to you in whatever you chose to accomplish next – btw, no need to worry about those last pounds, you look great. And thanks for all your time with The Idea Room – I love to check it out each day!
Haley K says
you. are. awesome.
Congrats for accomplishing such a great goal! I can only imagine it being hard for you to juggle your sweet family and training…but so worth it! I can see they’re so proud of you in that picture :)
and thanks for the link to that training schedule! I’ll have to share it with my sister in law Sharla (Kjar) who’s going to run a half marathon in October. It’s the Halloween Half in Provo. Ever heard of it? It looks pretty awesome!…most of the people dress up (from a simply face painted mask, to a full on grim reaper costume. HA!) which makes it look like a blast! Here’s the link for you to check it out: http://www.halloweenhalf.com/index.php
Marianne says
You go, girl! What an awesome accomplishment. I can’t even run around the couch!
Rachel says
Yay!!! Congrats! As mothers, we are always the cheerleader – what a sweet memory to have your children cheerleading for YOU as you cross the finish line! I’m a runner too, but I really enjoy measuring my runs in miles, not timed runs. Some mornings I’m fast, some mornings I’m slower. But like you said, I always come back a happy momma!!
Ashley Marie says
That’s so awsome!! You totally ROCK!!
Lorie says
Congratulations!!!!
Ellie G says
I’m so stinkin’ proud to know you! I know how hard you worked on this. What an awesome accomplishment. I seriously hate running. Like, I just can’t do it. And I am in such AWE of those that do. You are super woman, Amy. I am going to try and be 1/4 as awesome as you. That’s my new goal.
Jennie Larsen says
CONGRATS CONGRATS, THRILLED FOR YOU! and I am totally on board with Ellie G. that is me too. ZUMBA and dance on the other hand…. LOVE TO DEATH.
winks-jen
LeAnna F says
I just completed my first ever triathlon June 4th. In Feburary I couldnt even run 3 miles so I was pushing it. BUT, I must say the reward was worth it in lots of ways. It did more for my body than I ever imagined and then mentally was very rewarding. I cried as I crossed the finish line and didnt wash off my markings for a couple days ( they were my way of showing off LOL ) My next goal is to do a Tough Mudder or Spartan race in 2013. CONGRATS on finishing and dont quit find another goal :) Up next for me is my first duathlon Sept 10th in Panama City :)
Leanne says
Hi Amy! Congratulations! What an awesome accomplishment! You should be so proud of yourself and I’m sure your family is too. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. I hope your Summer has been fantastic. Hope to see you soon!
Kathryn says
Wow, I’m so impressed! Great job on a great race! I am right there with you as I just ran my first half marathon back in July with a very similar story as yours and am planning on doing another in october!
Stacy says
Yay! I am so proud of you! I think it is amazing that you did something out of your comfort zone. Running is something I don’t think I could ever master so kudos to you! You’re Super woman :)
P.S. How fun to come to the finish line and see your cute family. I probably would have bawled my eyes out.
Rach H at Family Ever After says
Congrats!!! I love that you posted about it on your blog. To me, that is just as much of a project or accomplishment as anything! I bet you’ve worked hard!
I just ran my first half too, on my 29th birthday. It was a very rewarding day.
Here’s the link if anyone’s interested! I gave some tips about running and lessons I learned!
http://familyeverafter.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-i-celebrated-my-29-birthday-131.html
Suzanne says
Congrats! this is a great accomplishment!
Danielle says
Congrats on running your first half marathon!!! I ran my first one in June and it was so empowering to know that I could do it. Not to say that I didn’t have points where I wanted to punch anyone that was running with a grin on their face, lol. ;)
Mindy says
Congratulations. I’m so proud of you.
Kim says
YAY YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! that’s AWESOME!!!!!! I am gearing up for my first in October! thanks for the inspiration!
Kristen Duke Photography says
woooohoooo! How did your shin splints feel during/after the race? SO awesome on finishing, and I think thats a great time! I wish my family was at the end of the race, but it was in a remote place and we had to be bussed in and I would have had to wake them at 5:30am to wait 5 hours to watch me finish…so we didn’t. I ran with 2 friends, so it was ok. The last 2 miles were a BEAST, too! Did your brother run it with you the whole time?
Amy says
Way to go Amy! So excited for you- what a wonderful accomplishment! I’m feeling the way you described about the TriathaMom in Sept. WAY out of my comfort zone. i know I’ll be so happy to finish.
xoxo,
Amy
Kami @ NoBiggie.net says
Way to go Amy! What an accomplishment! A half marathon is the most running in a race I would ever want to do. My husband ran his first half on Saturday too! The Hobble Creek Half.
Tam @ Sew Dang Cute says
Amy that is so awesome! You are absolutely amazing and I don’t think you give yourself enough credit for how incredible you are. Great job!!!
Cindy says
Congrats! You are amazing! I just started running last year. It was a deal that 3 friends of mine and I made to each other after we completed the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer (39 miles). We figured that since we did that far of distance in 2 days, that running in some kind of race would be the natural next step. So, last November I ran in my first ever 5k. I beat my practice time by 6 minutes! So cool! I’ve never been a runner, but I am slowly enjoying the benefits–I am so much happier and clear minded after my runs, too! I had foot surgery in April which has dampened my training, but I am doing 2 more 5k’s in October and then the November one again. I am not sure I will get to the half-marathon stage, but WOW–so glad you did and shared the story! Thanks for the inspiration!
Sue says
WOO HOO for you! What a great accomplishment! I did ride in a Century (100 mi.) bike ride once, and it was a good feeling:)
Brittney says
You are awesome! I am running my first this coming Saturday. (The TOU 1/2) I’m SO nervous!
Dezi A says
Congrats!! That is awesome! I’m currently “training” for the Triathamom. :) And by training I mean I ran/jogged/walked 3 miles once last week and rode my bike for about an hour. I have NO idea when I’ll ever get to practice swimming. Oh well. At least I’m trying. :)
Kylene says
Congrats on such an awesome accomplishment. I ran my first 1/2 in 2008 a year after I had my second daughter. I remember feeling like a rock star when I crossed that finish line! Beware, it becomes a bit addicting. :)
Shanna Watson says
CONGRATULATIONS! You should be very proud of your accomplishment! It is so hard for a mom to find time for herself, or I should say make time for herself. I have 4 kids and I struggle with that ALL the time. But you have given me hope!
Carol says
Congrats on your run! I am in awe of anyone who can run that far! I started running two years ago at the age of 56. I had never run before. My daughter and son-in-law started running and that got me interested. I did some 5K’s and that was sometimes a challenge for me. Then this summer my daughter was putting together an all women team to run a Ragnar Race in MN. (Our team ran 195 miles in 30 hours.) She needed one more runner. She somehow got me to agree to be the 12th runner. I had to run three legs: 6.2, 5 and 4 miles. I had one month to train. By race day I had run 6 miles about 4 different times. When it came time to do my first run it was hot, humid, wind-still running on new black tar uphill. I was disappointed in myself that I couldn’t run the entire 6 miles. I had to walk every once in awhile. My team members didn’t care they were just happy that I could finish!
Tanya H says
HUGE kudos to you! What a fantastic accomplishment.
Becky says
GREAT JOB!!! I ran a half marathon this summer, too! I completely agree with you when you say, “I came back a happier wife and mom.” As a homeschooling mamma of five, I use to think, I don’t have the time to run. Now, I say, “I can’t afford NOT to!” Running helps me sort out my thinking, as well as giving me twice the energy to get my work done. I never return from a run and say, “That was wasted time.” I like to think, “I’ve just invested my time.” (Same with my quiet time with God!) I love running because I’ve learned to “call upon the Lord through those especially difficult hills” and that has trained me to do the same in my day to day living.
Amy says
Thank You so much everyone for all your support and sweet comments. I read each and every one and really appreciate them. Thanks for taking just a minute to make my day! And to those of you who are also training for your own various races…Good Luck! You will be glad you did it! My readers are AWESOME!
Courtney says
awesome job!!! love to see people who run a half and say the liked it!! i am doing my first in october and couldnt be more excited!