newtritionsavvysarah

Ladies and Gentleman- I am happy to report that my half marathon goal of about 2 years is finally complete! It seems like up until now this has been something I have wanted to accomplish but yet I always found a way to make it not happen.  I think it was mostly fear that I let build up in my head, telling myself I wasn’t capable of running this distance. I know for myself, anytime I get nervous or have doubt I want to just back out for fear that I might not succeed. For others, it’s different- if they tell you that you can’t you will do everything in your power to make sure that you do it and you hopefully do it well! I am learning this….slowly but surely. Up until the minute I crossed the start line I was freaking out thinking, “What if I can’t finish????” haha, I am so ridiculous! I started with a great pace and up until about mile 8- I was feeling pretty good. At mile 9-10 my hip flexers started to hurt and I just kept thinking how in the world am I going to finish 3 more miles? Luckily, 10 miles was the turn around so there was some hope- the way back always seems faster than the way up, right? I stopped for water a couple of times between 10-12 (big mistake). My legs were feeling so heavy, but not hamstring heavy, like hip flexer heavy. If you run long distance you know what I am talking about. At mile 12- the last time I stopped was the hardest to get going because my legs just froze. It felt like I was carrying a sand bag on each leg for the entire last mile. My music was blasting but my mind was trippin out- thinking how the hell am I going to finish this last half mile! I kept running, encouraging people to keep going if they were walking because we were right there. THEN, I had to stop and walk again because I had nothing left, literally. There was a man about 50 years old that ran by and said, “let’s go, you’re almost there” and I looked at him practically wanting to cry and told myself it’s 2 more minutes of your life!!!!!!!! I started running again for the last quarter mile (completely power of the mind) and crossed the finish line. I finished with a time of 2:10. 

This experience was nothing short of life changing. Not just because I ran 13.1 miles, but because I had no clue how I was going to push through the last 3 miles muchless mile 12. My body was aching- but I just kept saying (as cheesy as it sounds) you can do it- you got this….JUST KEEP GOING! There is no way in hell I would have been able to finish if I didn’t train at all, and now I know next time to run up to 13 and not just 10! The last mile is no joke- your body is in another land and your mind has to be there to tell yourself that you can make it. The man who passsed me and encouraged me to keep going must have been an angel, because I felt like with that little bit of encouragement I HAD to keep running. Another reminder that you never know the impact you’re going to have on someone else’s life. Two days later and I am still completely sore, but I am so happy I did it and can officially say that I have finished my FIRST half marathon. Let the bucket list items continue to check off for 2013.