The HALF!

This is my first non-recipe post :O Crazy...I know!

But it is about something that brings me a TON of bliss-running! When I was younger I was pushed to join my school's cross country team... and do I mean pushed (in fact-that may be an understatement!) But as the season went on, I found I actually enjoyed running (weird-I know!) But this was just the beginning of a love/hate (mostly love) relationship with running.

I've only done 2 races (other than school cross country and track races) in my life. And both of them left me wanting to do MORE! My first race was a 10k - the Bolder Boulder... amazing! I've never had so much fun running. But I wasn't sure 6 miles was enough... I decided I wanted to try a half marathon. I told my family and for graduation I was given a certificate that told me I was registered for my first half-marathon. All I could think was "What did I get myself into?!" ...I mean saying I wanted to do a half-marathon was one thing, but actually be registered to run one in less than 6 weeks-Eeeek!

I came up with a training regimen and got to work! For the next six weeks my schedule looked like this:
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: 2-3 miles-hills!
Wednesday: 4-5 miles
Thursday: 2-3 miles-farlek style
Friday: 2-3 miles + some other workout (Zumba, strength training, etc.)
Saturday: easy 2-3 miles
Sunday: Long run

My long runs started at 6 miles and gained 2 miles every week. I also did 2 sets of 20 pushups and 3 minutes worth of planks after my weekly runs.

I was so nervous starting out-Never in my wildest dream did I think I could run 13.1 miles :S But low-and-behold, six weeks later this was me:

pretending to be all tough and ready to kick some butt!

And around 2:13 later this was me:

DEAD! :P

It was one of the best things I have ever done in my life! I will never forget the feeling of accomplishment I felt that day, for not only finishing-but beating my person goal of 2:15. 

So tell me: Have you ever done a 1/2 marathon? Or dreamed about it?