I DID IT!

Forrest, Olivia, me, Julie, and Jimmy after the race

I did it! I completed my first half marathon! I finished in 2 hours, 11 minutes! I was very pleased with my time. Everyone in our group did extremely well, all of us meeting our time goals. Here are the times: Jimmy--1:45; Forrest--1:33; Olivia--1:58; Julie--1:57.

Yes! It was absolutely freezing! 31 degrees at the start of the race. We stayed in the van and then inside the Peabody Place until the last possible moment. I got cold waiting for my wave to start the race (about 2 minutes per wave, I started in wave 9), but as soon as I began running, I was fine. In fact, I didn't get cold again until the race was over. Sitting outside in wet running clothes was pretty chilly!

Running with 11,000 other runners was exciting. I enjoyed reading the backs of everyone's shirts as well as the signs the spectators held on the side of the streets. Some signs were encouraging, and some were just plain funny! My favorite sign read, "You are all Crazy!"

We invited Forrest to join our family and run the race with us. He was a delight to have along. Forrest is a fellow homeschooler and member of the Spartan Homeschool Cross Country Team. We enjoyed each other's company throughout the weekend.

Forrest, me, Olivia, and Julie at the Spaghetti Warehouse

I am so happy that I have met this goal that I set for myself. Will I run another half-marathon? Sure, but not anytime soon. The time required to train, plus the logistics of arranging for child care for Leah, Sam, and Clay (who is not old enough to participate in a half marathon) for the weekend of the race, is a little too much for me to do on a regular basis. I would like to complete one or maybe two half marathons a year. Will I ever run a full marathon? Not any time soon (like in the next 10 years!) or ever! At mile 12.5, the marathoners split off from us half-marathoners. As they ran to the left, and we ran to the right, I was thinking how glad I was that I was almost through, not almost halfway through. At that point I said to myself that I would NEVER run a full marathon. But never say never! Who knows what I may do when all of my children are teenagers and older!

I am so grateful to my parents for driving to my home and keeping Clay, Leah, and Sam for the weekend. I was a little nervous about leaving Sam overnight again, but he did super. In fact, my mother said that he never once asked for me or his pacifier, and he never cried! That was great! As soon as I walked in the door however, he ran to me, took my ponytail out, and asked for his "ba-ba" (pacifier)! He hugged and kissed me, and he told me that he missed me. Then he layed his head on my shoulder and promptly went to sleep. He was worn out from all of the fun!