my half

I completed my first half marathon last Saturday. I PR'd...wait am I allowed to use cool runner acronyms after only my first race? It was a long time standing goal after fin was born. I trained with my two darling kids in tow, and ran the final race solo. It felt awesome, I'm not going to lie, and I think I may have opened something inside willing me to do it again or maybe even a full. 

I loved running through familiar parts of my neighborhood and especially seeing Brett on the corner of Bashas holding fin in the rain, and Maya's eyes frantically trying to reach mine. Seeing them seriously ignited me and may have brought tears to my eyes. So grateful for them and all of their support. Also a shout out to Stephen Dubner, Steve Leavitt and Ira Glass for keeping my mind occupied during long training runs and the first half of the half.

I was so nervous the night before and morning of because of the predicted torrential downpour that was supposed to last the duration of the race. It turned out it only really rained a little at the starting line and off and on throughout, but brought with it a wonderful, cool, refreshing feeling that nobody expected in Phoenix, Arizona. The weather turned out to be absolute perfection.

Brett was so great the morning of. He woke up at 3:45 with me, made me breakfast, made the kids waffles so we could eat breakfast at this amazing restaurant after the race, walked me to the car and came home to get the kids up and out of the house by 7 AM, which is quite the task. He was nothing short of a miracle worker. He even had to put up with some snide remarks from fellow onlookers at the finish line for putting Maya on his shoulders and blocking views...really? Plus attempting to maneuver a double jogging stroller through a crowd of people makes enough enemies. He and the kids were troopers through it all!

I think now he even feels motivated to do a race with me, maybe a triathlon of some sort. We will see what the future brings. For now, my kids are wearing my medal around thinking I won the greatest prize there ever was.

*Some signs that made me smile: "Smile if you need to poop," "I woke up early to make this sign and stand in the rain for this sh** so run faster!" "This probably seemed like a good idea 4 months ago," "Ryan Gosling is waiting for YOU at the finish line" and the best one of all "RUN MOJO RUN! MEET ME AT EL POLLO LOCO!"