I ran the Hoosier Half Marathon today and I had the BEST time doing it! I saw all kinds of people I knew and was able to encourage some people too. I saw a girl I work with...actually my trekking mentor...who was doing her first half and I caught up to her on the Winslow hill where she said "That one kicked my butt!" I said "It'll do that. Great job!!"
It was fun to be in on the pictures at the beginning too. I was bummed that I missed the Monumental photo so it was great to be on this one with all my friends!
It was so different from last year. Of course last year it was my first road half ever and my second half ever. Period. So I have had a year of hill training and trail running behind me now. I kept my watch at 6.4 miles an hour pretty much the whole time and was able to handle the hills well. Even Winslow hill I was able to run up it and even pass someone! I had put all new songs on my I-pod this morning too. Some of them were from my trekking audition CD and so were great running songs.
The Wizards of Winter was a song that actually helped me get up Indiana street hill and the finish line hill. Something about those fast parts powered me up! I also played "Love you like a love song" By Selena Gomez and "Longest Road" by Deadmau5.
I liked seeing Melissa and Rick Hullinger over by the mall, Claire and Evan at mile 10 right before the Henderson hill and my buddy Wayne was at the junction of Henderson and Miller to give me a high five. Also Chris Basham toward the finish line and Sara Rader over by the Jordon parking garage. So great to see all the people who pitch in on these things! I made sure to thank every volunteer I saw and the aid stations and even the police watching the traffic. They were big helps.
After I finished I got to give high fives to everyone and get my uber cool medal. Felt awesome! I met both of my main goals for this race: do it without pain and have fun...oh yeah and I finished it in under 2 hours. Win, Win!!! On the way walking back downtown to hit the farmers' market I found a pretty geode just sitting by the side of the road and then the BEST THING:
I saw one of my clients who has been training for this come up Indiana avenue. She was at about 3 hours and looked like it had been hard going but that only made me the PROUDER of her! She was doing something new and hard and I gave her big high fives and said she was doing fabulous! She called to me as she continued on. " I am meeting my goals!" After the farmers market where I got some honey sticks and an oregano plant I went over the the running store and snagged her a 13.1 sticker to surprise her with next week. I want her to know how Phenomenal she is! Sometimes I feel like a mother to my clients when they undertake these things. Not just because I am older than them but I have been where they have been and know what an exciting, scary time it is and how much it is going to change their lives.
So all in all. A fabulous day! Ended with beer and brats. I am so proud of everyone finishing this very hilly race!
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