Des Moines IMT Half Marathon 2007

I finished my first Half Marathon today. I started off the day extremely NOT nervous. I've been working on this, but I'm not sure I expected that it would actually happen. Cool. I had everything I needed, plenty of glide and gel and a charged Garmin. Plenty of time to hit the port-o-potty's before the horrendous lines ensued. Also, plenty of time to check out the not-so-virtual Runner's Lounge and say hi to Tom and Amy and Running Hawkeye (he rocked his half!). It was sort of surreal, 5 minutes to go, 2 minutes, 30 seconds and we're off, well, not for a couple minutes anyway. I found the actual mat for once and hit Garmin.


The first mile or two were just okay, I ran them pretty well but felt just okay. I figured I would either settle in or not. I never really did, but it wasn't horrible either. In the first mile, I saw a beautiful dark pony tail bobbing, angled for a better view and decided it was Coffee Betsy. I was right, said hello and wished her good luck. She totally rocked the FULL, by the way.


Unfortunately I had some GI *issues* and had to stop at around 2 miles for around 90 seconds. That mile was slow but I was mostly around 12:30 for a couple miles. We headed out to this pretty loop in Waterworks Park and started to see people coming back from the loop. I must have been around mile 5 when my PT guy spotted me, moved to the center and high-fived me on the way by. He was around mile 8 or so. I thought that was so cool of him.


The loop looked huge and I started to hurt, mostly in my hip, but my feet already, too. I finally got to 6 and my hubby called to see where I was. After he called, I felt a little better (maybe it was the walk break? Then I got to see my sweeties shortly after. (the first two pics are at mile 6.5) That lady in yellow thinks I am so lucky. She would be right! :D

We exited Waterworks and moved in to Gray's Lake, what an incredible day. One cool thing was, by this point the Marathon Leaders started passing us. This was the most incredible running I have ever seen. The frontrunner had an amazing loping-like huge stride and looked so ho-hum, and he was way out in front. After that I continued to see the front of the pack and it was really fun.
Hubby noticed this shot of the skyline and lake with a marathon sign and got into the weeds to get me. I was already waving at the kids wondering where he was. Then I saw him come out of the weeds. I am so lucky! He also got a close up and one of me talking to the kids and my mother-in-law. It's so cool to have pictures. Thanks so much, Curtis.

Right after this, unfortnately, I had about a 5 min bathroom break. Oh well. Next came the bridge over the lake, should make for a nice shot from the Marathonfoto dudes. Will post those later if they are cool. Around the lake, I went.... I had about 4 miles left and 1 hour to make it under 3hours. I was pretty tired and decided to take a walk break. That coupled with that long bathroom break made for quite a while to get around.

The gang met me one more time and snapped a picture of "mile 24" (for the marathoners!). After that I alternated walking and running and basically just gutted it out to the end. I tried to run about the last 1.5 miles but I couldn't do it and ended up walking some of the last mile. Not what I wanted to do, but I did run most of it.

There were way more people around than my last race where I was practically out there by myself. I'm not sure if this helped or hurt my pace, but it certainly made it fun and interested. Lots of neat people out there really working hard. I had no idea so many people did this!! :D I did have a thought that I am mostly with the fat girls, the old girls and the really old men. Oh well, my times will come. They were all really nice.

I did finish really strong, passed several run-walkers trying to put on a last kick and rolled in at around 3 hours. I figured I would be slightly under with the delay. The kicker? Garmin said I did 13.6. As I finished, I heard my name over the loud speaker. Then, I heard it again from my neighbor who was there looking for wounded. I told her I was proud to be on two feet. Then I got a little teary going through to get my medal. I DID IT!!

2:59:31 (under 3 like I'd hoped, but plenty of room for improvement)

I stopped by the Runner's Lounge and Tom and Amy seemed to be as happy about my finish as I was. We took some pics before I headed out. Thanks so much for your support, you guys!! (they had a great picture taking spot, check out their blog for more runners.)

I was hobbling around pretty good, but came home and helped hubby in the yard!! It was probably the best thing I could have done eventhough I wanted a nap (and looked like a real penguin). My feet are feeling better already (without ice!) so maybe the orthotics are working.

We ate like kings on a meal literally from the cover of our latest Cuisine at Home, complete with Champagne and good wine.

My boys were the best today, big and little. Thank you sweet family for your love and support. Thanks to all of you, too, I thought of many of you today and know that you were thinking of me too.

I AM SO LUCKY

I AM A MOM

I AM A WIFE

I AM A HALF MARATHONER

I AM A RUNNER