Well, they didn't say rum.....

But they did say FREE BEER at the finish line, so there's that.

I know you all have been waiting with bated breath (HA!) for me to post about the marathon, but it's taken me a day or so to wrap my head around the whole thing.  So here's the lowdown.

First and foremost, let me just say I think I'll be ticking half marathons off the ol' bucket list.  

So, the good stuff....

The weather was great.  A little drizzly in the AM, but nice and cool.  It stayed overcast most of the morning, which kept the temp down.  The sun came out around mile 8, but it was still great weather. It never got hot.

It was the Air Force Marathon, and the course took us through Wright Patt.  I got to see some very cool things I never would have had the chance to see otherwise.  Also, since it was on base, service men (and women, of course) were guarding the barricades and they were cheering us on.  They cheered us as we ran/walked by, and we thanked them for their service.

I got a medal!  Not a first place (or even 50th place) medal, but I have a beautiful finishers medal that I will forever be proud of.  

My boy stayed at my side the whole time, even though I'm sure it was killing him to stay at my pace.  And we walked with a very dear friend.  I still say she is a dear friend, even though she's the one who suckered us into this in the first place.

Free beer!  And water, milk (eww, right?  But I guess runners swear by it), huge chunks of bread, bananas and LaRosa's pizza at the finish line.

I burned over 2300 calories in just over 4 hours.  YEAH!!!!

Now, the not so good...

I can't lie, you guys.  I'mma bring it to you raw.  It was brutal.  BRUTAL.  I kept thinking "13.1 miles?  Eh, I'm going to walk it.  No sweat."  Because really, who can't walk 13 miles, amIright? 

I will just tell you that by mile 7, the boy and I weren't even talking out of the need for me to conserve energy.  By mile 9, I was stopping at least once, if not twice, a mile to stretch.  About mile 10, my muscles were on fire and my feet hurt like nothing I've ever felt and I had to will myself not to cry.

Around mile 8, this was our conversation:

Boy:  Come on, babe.  You can do this.

Me:  I know.  I know.  *whimper* OhmyGodIhurtallover.

Boy:  But we're almost done!  We just hit mile 8!

Me:  That is so, so good.  Wait a minute... mile 8?  That means we have FIVE MORE TO GO!

Not only did I do a 13.1 mile course, but it was no less than a 1 mile walk from car to starting line, and from finish line back to car.  I.  Wanted.  To.  Die.

My feet still hurt.  I've been gimping around for two days.  No foolies.

But here's the thing.  There are no words to describe going down the final quarter mile stretch, under the wings of old military planes, and crossing that finish line.  My legs were barely holding me up by then and I was so exhausted I was willing myself into putting one foot in front of the other, but I had the biggest smile as I crossed.  

So, no - I have absolutely no desire to do a half marathon ever again.  You have my full permission to bust my chops if I sign up next year.  But I do want to keep running.  10k's?  I'd totally be down for that.  You know... once I can walk normally again. 

I thought they said RUM!

It's almost here, you guys!  Marathon weekend!!!!  According to the countdown on their website says it's just 1 day, 4 hours and 15 minutes (and 12 seconds).

I have my RUNNOFT playlist all updated.  I have energy gels and bars to stash in my belt.  Tech socks are clean.  Stocked up on Bodyglide.  Bib pickup is tomorrow. A carb-licious dinner planned.  And praying hard for no rain!

Even though the boy and I never expected to set any speed records, I am a little bummed that I had a minor setback with training (you know, that whole losing an organ thing).  As long as I get across that finish line, I will be SO FREAKING STOKED.

Lessons learned

I bandaged up and went out for a run today.  Here are a few things I learned:

• Yes, I do need my inhaler.  Even for a mile.
• The post surgery can't-eat-much diet?  Not good for a runner.
• Find shade and park your ass when you start feeling faint for the above two reasons.

I was only able to get in 1.12 miles.  And it took me a hair over 17 minutes to get that far (don't judge me).  But you know what?  This was my first run in over two months.  

It also occurred to me that one week ago, I HAD AN ORGAN REMOVED FROM MY BODY. Today, I felt well enough to run.

Ain't science GREAT?!!

Up and R-U-N-N-O-F-T

(Editors note:  DANG, I love that movie!)

I've been feeling pretty sassy about my running self.  Up until this week, that is.

I had one really kick ass day.  Like hard core kick ass. More kick ass than all my previous kick ass days.  I was on FIYAH (so were my legs, but that's beside the point). Then, as quickly as it came, it was gone.  So I had a conversation with 2 fellow runners from work.

Me:  So. When does it stop sucking?
Runner 1:  Race day.
Runner 2:  Yep.  Race day.
Me:  Let me rephrase, when do I stop sucking?

I explained the really rad days, followed by the days when I want to die a minute or so in.  Their response?  IT'S NORMAL.

Seriously?  It's normal? Somebody couldn't have let me in on that little nugget of knowledge before I had myself feeling like a schmuck who will never finish 13.1 miles?  But that's alright.  Now I know I'm not alone in the bad days, I will take them as they come, and I'll do my best.  And I'll try to do better on my next run.

BURNINATION!

I don't hate running.  I thought I would.  Truth be told, sometimes in the midst of running, there is some cussin' going on in my head. (Okay, you win.  A LOT of cussin'.)  So tonight, I pulled my data from my fabulous Polar FT40 since the beginning of the year:

11 workouts, ranging from 197-629 calories burned for a grand total of

(..... wait for it......)

3,758 calories BURNINATED!!!!

That, dear readers, is why I don't hate running.

I did it!!!

This morning, I registered for the 2013 US Air Force Half Marathon.  My brain is on OVERLOAD.  Want a peek at what's going on in my noggin?

• What the hell am I thinking?
• OH!  I get a medal for finishing!
• I'm sure I'll finish.  Huh.  I sure hope I finish.  Will I finish?
• Did Not Finish is better than Did Not Start, right?
• Gotta get gear.  Hello, shopping!
• Ha!  I'll be running on purpose!
• I hope my lungs don't implode.
• Thank goodness my boy is signing up too.  I'mma need that pressure.  I mean... support.
• When can I go to get fitted for shoes this week?
• My legs are gonna be solid by September.  YES!
• Gah, this is kinda scary.
• MAN, this is gonna be RAD!
• Where is a good place to run in the 'hood?
• Forgot about night time running during the winter.  Gotta get some reflective stuff.
• I can totally do this.

All said, I am super excited about this.  

Bring. It. On.