This can also be found on my running blog. I will put pictures on there, not on here.
Let's start this by talking about the training for the half marathon. Due to lack of time and in the end desire I didn't train for the race as well as I should have. 3 weeks before the race I ran 8 miles. That was the longest run I did the entire training. After that run I ran a total of probably around 12 miles when it should have a least been in the 3os. Anyway my goal for the race was to do it between a 10:30 and 11:00 minute mile.
The race was on June 12th. It started at the lovely time of 5:30am!! I had to be at the Provo Mall at 3:30 to get on the bus, so that meant I needed to get up around 2:45 to get ready and get over there. Well, I went to bed around 10:30 then I laid there until 1:30 because I couldn't sleep due to nerves and excitement. So yes, I got 1 hour of sleep to run 13.1 miles on.
I got to the mall early enough to be on the first bus. Honestly I could have tried to sleep in a little bit and been on one of the later buses. On the way up to the starting line I was watching out the window for the mile markers that were set up until we got to the canyon where it was pitch dark. When I was riding through the canyon on an old clunker bus in the pitch black all I could think was I must be on the marathon bus this is a lot farther than 13 miles. But sure enough they checked my number bib before I got on to make sure I was a half marathoner. I was definitely on the right bus.
Once the bus finally got to the final destination of the starting line we all got of and hurried around the fire pits that were burning. I met a few friends while waiting around the fire pit which was nice to pass the 2 hours until the starting of the race.
Finally at 5:30 we were all lined up and ready to go. The sky was starting to light up a little bit. It was supposed to be bad weather but it was actually quite nice for a half marathon. In mile 3 it started to sprinkle a little but it felt so nice. The run down the canyon was beautiful. I knew I could run all the way down the canyon because I had done it before. That was my goal run all the way out of the canyon then I'd see how I felt. I might need a few walk breaks. I got out of the canyon and was still feeling great. This was mile 7 now, only 6.1 more miles to go. I knew Brian and Bentley would be at Jamestown Square waiting for me so I decided I could run without walking to there. I made it there still without walking which was now mile 9. By this time my toe was starting to feel like it was getting a blister and I was feeling kind of sick. I only had 4 more miles. I can do this!!! I got to mile 10 and had to make a pit stop because I was so sick. After the pit stop I continued running until mile 12 where yet again I was sick!!! I mean SICK!!! I walked a little here and there in mile 12 then I hit mile 13 and had to make a stop. That's how sick I was I had 2/10 of mile left in the race, I could see the finish line but I had to stop because I wasn't feeling well. After my little pit stop I took off for the finish line.
I crossed the finish line and didn't collapse. I actually felt really good. I got my finishers medal (which I didn't get from the last one because I was to tired to stand in line), went and picked up my bag, got a creamy bar, and checked on my race shirt.
I'm not sure what my official time was because it's wrong on the marathon website. It says I was speedy fast which I know I wasn't. However my handy Garmin I had on the whole time and timed me and I stopped it at the pit stops. Without the pit stops my time was 2:26. That is an 11 minute mile. I cut off 14 minutes from my last half marathon. YAY!!!! I did it!!! I beat my PR!!!
Now I'm still exhausted from not having slept the night before the race. My muscles are sore. I'm pretty sure I did something to my foot and I have a blood blister on the end of my toe. The crazy thing is with all of the pain I'm planning my next one. Hopefully my foot will heal quickly so I can run soon. I'll be doing a lot of biking and swimming to keep off my foot for a while.
It was a great race!! Great weather, I was in one of my favorite places in Utah, and I know this sounds weird but both times I've ran a half marathon I know my grandpa Stansfield is there running with me. I love running the long races for that reason it's an amazing experience!!!
