Half Marathon

It all started about a year ago when I joined a gym for the first time in my life. I knew I needed to do something about my sedentary life. I started going about 3 times a week for 1/2 hour to an hour. I had been walking outside and was really having trouble with shin splints. I decided that the weight lifting aspect of a gym would help me. I started there by lifting weights and trying to strengthen my calf muscles.

I eventually started going more on the treadmill. I remember the first time I decided I would try to jog, after 3 minutes I thought I was going to die! About a month later I ran for 8 minutes straight. I thought I was the toughest person around. I told everyone how I ran for 8 minutes without stopping. (This now makes me laugh, but at the time I was elated with myself.) I kept at it and kept increasing my time. The first time a ran a whole mile was a big milestone for me. The day I ran for 25 minutes straight I almost started crying right there at the gym because I never thought that was possible for me.

Around this time Scottie announced that he was doing the Ogden Half Marathon and invited anyone who wanted to join him to do so. I just laughed because although I was extremely proud of my 25 minutes that was only about 2.25 miles, a far cry from 13.1 miles. Time kept passing and I kept running longer and longer. Around Thanksgiving Becky and Scott asked if I wanted the registration fee for the half marathon for my birthday and Christmas. At this point I was actually considering it. Scott and I ran in a Turkey Trot and I didn't do so hot. However, I realized that May was far away and that I did want to do the half marathon.

I signed up and just kept working towards 13.1 miles. One of the key things for distance for me was running outside. I was really use to a treadmill and it is a bit easier than outside, but oh so very boring! When I started running outside and loving it, my distance really increased. We have a walking/biking/running trail behind our house that I always run on. I would always set the next goal for my running outside. My big wall was doing 10 miles. I finally did it and was so proud of myself. Then I did 12 and my last goal before the half was to do the entire trail round-trip. It was 15 miles long. I did it in 3 hours 10 minutes. That was 2 weeks before the half. Who would have thought that I could run for over 3 hours straight!

May 15 finally came and Scott and I got up early. Mom took us to the start line. (We didn't really want to catch the shuttle bus at 4:45 a.m. for a 7:00 a.m. start time.) The worst part of the whole race was waiting for it to start. It finally started and we were off. It was just a high to be running with all those people and have people cheering you on. One of my favorite parts was running past the relay points and having groups of my friends waiting for their relay turn cheering me on. The course was absolutely beautifuly. We started in Eden and ran through Ogden Canyon and down to Grant and on the 25th Street. There were a few times I almost broke down in tears because I had worked so hard to complete this goal. I must admit that I have always wanted to run in a marathon event, but never in my wildest dreams did I think it was possible for me. It was a very emotional triumph in my life.

My final time was 2 hours 37 minutes 22 seconds. I always said before that it would be my only half marathon, but it cannot be. It was so much fun that it can't be the last one I do. I can't wait for the next one!

Cody brought the kids and Becky came with her kids as well as Mom and Dad. It was so fun to cross that finish line and see Becky and Mom and Dad. I couldn't find Cody and Becky and Mom and Dad couldn't find him either until after they were looking at the pictures Becky took and there Cody and Brock were in one of her pictures. It was so good to have family there cheering me on.

I barely missed Scott coming through the finish line because I had to help Cody with the kids, but he finished too. Receiving that gift for my birthday and Christmas was one of the best gifts I have ever received. Thanks Becky and Scott!!!