So last year my running buddy and I took it upon ourselves to train for and participate in a half marathon. We both agreed the accountability of following a training program and relying upon one another for training runs would set up a solid foundation to fulfill our running dream.
We started our training program and in November of 2013 completed our first half marathon in Pinehurst, NC. My running partner's family was there to cheer us on at the finish line, along with a mutual friend of ours. There is something special about crossing the finish line to cheerleaders and accepting a finisher's medal, then searching for a place to stretch out sore, over-used muscles. I can still remember the humidity in the air and the sense of relief when my toes finally crossed over that finish line. We were smart enough to run the course one time before our race - I'm so glad we did that, because the course was full of hills - many up, a few down, but all of them challenging in some shape or form. The scenery was beautiful, we ran through the town of Pinehurst, all around the lake and alongside the famed Pinehurst golf course. The street names were so clever, it was fun to run through the neighborhoods and admire the beauty of the homes there and the ambiance of the town. If we had just shown up and never experienced those hills, I fear I probably wouldn't have finished the first half marathon, or if I actually did, it would have been with a terrible finishing time. I didn't have any preset notions about specific times, I just wanted to cross the finish line under my own steam and of my own volition. I'm happy to report I did!
A friend in the neighborhood mentioned she was going to participate in the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Raleigh in April of this year. I mentioned this to my running buddy and we decided we, too, would run. Our neighborhood friend ended up backing out, but we ran the race. Going into that race, I didn't feel as prepared since I was coming off an IT band injury and hadn't run any significant distance since December, not to mention packed on about ten pounds. We started in different heats based upon our projected finishing times - I'd chosen my time in November, prior to my knee injury, and probably should have pushed back my time. Let's just say that race wasn't nearly as awesome as the first one, but I eventually crossed over the finish line, although I didn't feel nearly as wonderful and proud as I did coming across the first finish line.
So, is it crazy that we decided to run a full marathon this year? A full 26.2 miles in Raleigh in November 2014? City of Oaks Marathon, here we come!
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