I really need to tell you about one of the greatest days… or should I say moments of my life! My first half marathon!!! I have been running now for about 4 years, although I have never run farther than a 5k. That is until 16 weeks ago, when I decided (not that it would be easy) to run with a half marathon. Holly encouraged Brianna to run one, and then together they encouraged me to run one (more on that later.)
In the past 16 weeks training has been happening. Each week in those 16 weeks I have run an average of 16.25 miles a week (lowest being 7 miles, highest being 31 miles in a week). In 16 weeks I have run 267 miles!! So when I crossed that finish line it wasn’t a finish line after 13.1 miles, it was a finish line of 267 miles. At the same time it was not really a finish mile at all, just a hash mark along the journey, because running will continue. I am fully addicted, I never felt better than I did then.
So Friday Brianna and Lauren and I drove out to Delaware Ohio (Amanda was supposed to but she was catching as much sleep as she could, fighting to get over a cold.) We spent a relaxing evening with our 3/5th of our awesome hosts (Pastor Nathan, and his little girls Lydia and Abigail), he made us pasta and we took a walk through town and got ice-cream and slushies. The remaining 2/5th of our hosts (Holly, and older daughter Hayley) got home around midnight, so we were up until 2ish. Went to sleep and I died, until 8ish the next morning. We woke Saturday, knowing that this was the day that we were planning for, to a great breakfast, spent a lazy day, worried about using up too much energy. Amanda and “our support crew” got to Delaware around 1 we took a walk and visited for the rest of the afternoon, ending with a burger and hotdog cookout.
Around 4 we started to get for the race, and the excitement was really picking up. This was it! Nerves were also present too. There was a good chance of storms, and with too much storm the race could be canceled. We definitely didn’t want that. So we were supposed to be in the corals at 5:45, so 5:15 we left the house and walked up to the race. 5:55 they announce that due to storms the race would be delayed by 20 minutes, with a 6:20 start time and to seek shelter. So we waited out the storm under a porch. At 6 we went into the corals, and the race started at 6:20, with the coral system I wasn’t jogging over the starting line until 6:24 (which was fine, because time doesn’t start until you cross the line.
That was it; our first half marathon was under way. And it was so thick with people, some running heart out at the beginning, others walk from the start. People of all shapes and sizes, the half and the quarter marathon started together.
Mile memories:
0-1: Within the first half mile, we weaved our ways out of the crowd some and around the walkers. The course was one lap (6.55 miles) for the quarter marathon and 2 laps (13.1 miles) for the half marathon. So we passed the sign that said seven miles and we joked that if we are already at 7 miles, we had the race in the bag, but really knew that we were not even at mile 1 yet. Around ¾ of a mile, we saw our support crew (Melissa, Kevin, Brandon, Peter, Brianna, Liz, Colton, Nathan, Hayley, Lydia, and Abigail.) We were so excited to see them we yelled to them ran over and high fived! And Brandon took some pictures.
1-2: At mile 1.5 we got our first cup of water or what we thought was water, but it was “Hoist”, kind of surprised me but it was fine, but after that I stuck with water. A man in front of us saw someone he knew and ran to them and tripped on the safety cone, and feel into a puddle and stumbled awhile. But he was okay, but it showed us early to remember to pay attention to our footing.
2-4: Nothing to memorable, other than we were really under way. I remember saying to Brianna at mile 3, “only ten miles left” kinda jokingly. The people in the town were cheering and that was very. Somewhere around mile 3 or 4 we saw our crew again, more high fives and more cheers. Honestly this was more refreshing and encouraging than you could imagine. Along the way we were drinking water, but after a cup of water, I knew that at the next water station I was dumping a cup on my head. Before we got there, kids were lined up with super soakers, we ran at then and I yelled “GET US” and they sprayed away. At this point, I knew how good the water felt and the next cup was on my head.
4-5: There was a gradual incline, here but no big deal. We got it, still running strong, we had been this far without stopping before, but no farther than this without at least a few minute walking break. But we felt good, runner’s highs kicking in. And we weren’t walking, at least not yet, is what we thought. Still drinking water passed a pizza shop, which smelled, well kinda heavenly.
5-6: On a paved, bike path, through the woods. Felt more like where we are used to running, and we knew we were getting close to half, one “GU” down. And we passed a little acoustic band planning. At the end of a song, I clapped and the guy said be sure to come back I yelled we will.
6-7: Hit the half way mark and knew that our quarter runners would be finishing soon. Our crew was at near 6.45 mile point waiting to see Amanda, Holly and Lauren finish. We saw them high fived, cheered and kept going. We were half way and still feeling great. Half done, half to go. We were really running a half marathon.
7-8: Not bad, second half was underway. Back past the supersoaker kids, got us even harder this time. Rounded the corner just in time to see a huge lightning bolt, and the first thing we thought is that they can’t cancel the race now! Please no, we ran past a cop and he didn’t say anything, so we figured we were good to go. Thunder was pounding and the rain started. And continued, and it felt great! We could now stop dumping water on our heads. God was dumping the water on us for us. Throughout the rain, volunteers were joking “free showers!” I don’t remember seeing a sign for mile 8, but we were feeling good and running.
8-9: We were running behind a guy for at least a mile or mile and a half, we got right beside. Chatted for a second. Then I said to Brianna, I don’t even know what mile we were on, 7 or 8 I guess, should be coming up. He said we are almost to 9. Nine! What happened to 8? I don’t know but we were past it and on a row. Brianna asked, “Are we really going to run the whole thing?” I said I don’t know, but let’s try, because that would be awesome! And we agreed that if that happened there would be a good chance that we would cry. It sounds funny, but it is really such an emotional rush.
9-10: The rain was pouring our shoes were soaked, and getting heavy. Let’s just say that it wasn’t getting any easier pushing on. The rain was harder, so the fans were becoming less and less. Something really cool happened, around this time, runner started encouraging each other and the policemen were joining in the rally. They were cheering us on, I even got two of them to “WOOT WOOT!” Yes, your mind does goof things when energy depleted and on a long term runners high.
10-11: We were back on the bike trail, which felt like it took much longer to get there this time. And a much longer section of the run. The end was coming, only a 5k left, we could do it we had to do it. Again this wasn’t easy. At this point we decided that we had to run the whole thing (a) we were too far now to let ourselves walk and (b) if we let ourselves walk, we weren’t sure that we could start running again, or if we would have to end the race walking, which was not what we wanted to do. So we ran on, not fast at thing point but still running.
11-12: Where was the 12 mile mark? We could not wait to get there. Very little spectators, just running, pushing and longing for 12 mile mark. There it was! One mile left, we got this!
12-13: Home stretch! Last mile, back in town with more spectators, no matter what happened now, we had it! Pushing along, not getting too crazy on speed, but knowing that this was it. Go finish strong. Our bib’s said our names, so we even had one lady say, “Brianna “Natlie”, you got this!” which thoroughly confused us for a second on how she knew our names. Lol We were so drained but so driven.
13.1: This was it. We could almost see the end, but it was around the corner. Brianna said “there they are.” I didn’t see them, but I trusted her I knew they were there. I heard Peter, “BRIANNA, NATALIE GO!!” I heard everyone else cheering. I saw Holly, she just ran a quarter pregnant, and we could do this. I said to Brianna, “Ready? Go!!” And we ran our hearts out, I felt like it was fastest that I ever ran. Peter’s “inner track coach” came out. The whole way to the finish line, I could hear him yell “SPRINIT, SPRINIT!” And I was pushing my legs as hard and I could think do not fall, just go! We crossed the finish line to the second together! 2:24:02!!
We did it. We could hardly walk, we couldn’t talk and we were overcome with happiest. We wondered a bit, and then looked at each other. We did it. We hugged the most shaking sweaty hug. And together walked back to our “crew”, our “family”; we knew that only through each other, them and God was this possible.
I am so thankful for everyone that encouraged me and helped me in this process!! It was really life changing! And I am still somewhat sore, three days later, but can’t wait to do it again!!
Sprinkles through the Day 