Run, Run, Run

Last summer my sister Jessica ran a half marathon. I was pretty impressed but it didn’t sound like something for me because I don’t usually do hard things :). However, I married a runner so of course I was bound to run some day. Even if it was just a little bit. In the fall some time I saw an advertisement for Utah Valley Marathon and on a whim I asked Bryce if he wanted to do the Marathon and I do the half.  Well seeing as how it is no big deal for him of course he agreed and I hurried and registered before I changed my mind. I figured if my sister who had had 3 kids and was 7 years older than me and hasn’t ever really run long distance in her life could do it, then surely I could to do it.

This was in the fall some time so I had a long road ahead. I started just running 3 miles because even 3 miles was tough for me. I had a lot of knee pain when I ran so I thought maybe I would never make it to 13 miles. But I kept up my training. I remember the first time I ran 4 miles…it was the furthest I had ever run in my life!

Finally it was race day and it was great. We got up early and took the buses up. Bryce went to his point and Jerika (Jerika was so kind to agree to run the race with me. It was perfect because our pace is pretty close to the same) and I went to ours. We hung out for awhile then started the race! It was tons of fun and there were tons of people. (by tons of fun I mean in an exhausted sort of way). I had to go to the bathroom from the beginning because I drank too much water before starting. I didn’t ever want to wait in the line for the port a potty so I toughed it out. The best part about the race was NO knee pain, and NO side aches. I actually think that training for this half marathon made my leg muscles stronger to better support my knees. My right knee used to hurt when going up and down stairs but no longer! I am a big supporter of running. Let’s just see if I can keep it up now! Bryce did great in his Marathon, not his best time but after running a half marathon I have even more respect for marathoners. He’s my hero.

Sitting in the dark in some weeds, waiting for our race to start.

                 

     Finished!! 2h20min. Jerika and I sprinted to the finish. It was great!                Watching Bryce come in. What a stud!

                                                                   We did it!