my FIRST thirteen point one.

Country Music Half Marathon - the greatest feeling of accomplishment that I have ever had. This past saturday I ran 13.1 miles, straight from start to finish. I was on a rigorous training schedule starting in January when I decided that I was going to try this feat - the furthest that I had ever run was 8 miles. Weeks up to the race, I knew that I needed to kick it into high gear if I was ever going to overcome the 13 miles that it was going to take to get to the finish line. My nerves just got the best of me. The last week, I ran outside a few days rather then tackling the treadmill which I believed in the end was the best thing in the world that I could do for myself. The last few days before the race, I took it upon myself to REST. I have a hard time knowing what that is....but I knew that's exactly what my body needed. And then the day came. The day of the race and I was a nervous wreak.

The morning of. It was POURING down rain....I'm not talking runners rain, I am talking downpours. It didn't look good. My husband waited with me in my Corral until the starting gun at 7am. It was still drizzling still and knew that I had a good ways to go before I even reached the starting line. 7:33 rolls around and I finally start.

So, I start the race. I am anticipating a lot of hills....that's what many of the bloggers had mentioned before about this race. I am at a good pace. I passed my husband between Mile 4 and 5 around Belmont Blvd cheering me on. WOW what a feeling. There are hundreds of people lining the streets, they don't know you from Adam and they are cheering you on - telling you to keep going and what an awesome job you are doing. This is the most exhilarating feeling I have ever had. Around mile 7 I hit a wall - my legs feel heavier then lead. Thank goodness there was a Gu station there otherwise I don't think I would have made it. Mile 7 thru 9 were rough. Then when I saw the sign that I had reached Mile 10 - I thought to myself only 3 more miles. I can run 3 miles any given day, I can do this. My pace got faster and somehow I got a second wind. I could see the finish line......its like it had been waiting for me there all along. I finish.

I finish in 2:06 - my personal (and only) best. I cant wait to do this again next year.

my blog.

So, I have decided to start this blog. Not only as a way to motivate myself (and keep track of my daily training) but to hopefully influence someone else. People come across your blog everyday - there are many other running blog's out there. They show people's performace, their struggles, their training and its been an influence. I want to do the same. So here I am, and so I begin..... I dream to run.