I'm only HALF crazy!

After the 10K in June, I was really feeling the urge to try for a half marathon.  Even though I didn't have the confidence to sign up quite yet, I started training when we got home from our vacation in July.  My training was going well, so right before the fee increase, I bit the bullet and signed up!

In the middle of training, I got a severe cold that turned into a sinus infection, 101 fever included!  So for the first time in over 3 yrs, I took an antibiotic.  Definitely not something I wanted to do (considering my history of c.diff) but a girl can only eat so much garlic.

Next, just about 3 weeks before the race, we lost our beloved Jasmine.  Usually running is such an amazing outlet, but I had no desire at all to even go on a walk. 

Just a week later, my IT band flared up.  I immediately began stretching, foam rolling, icing and tapered way back on my mileage. 

Funny thing is that when race day came around, I wasn't even nervous.  I was a tad uneasy about my IT band, but my own ability to run that far...I knew I was trained for it!

The weather was perfect and the first half dz miles were fabulous!  I had a good pace going, just exactly where I figured I would be.  I was so excited to see Eric and the kids at the 2nd mile!

Then again at the 5th.  We blew lots of hugs and kisses!

It was probably just about half way when I started feeling some pain in my IT band.  I slowed my pace a bit hoping it wouldn't get too bad and I could run through it. 

When I saw Eric and the kids again around mile 8, I was having some significant pain.  Eric later said he could see it in my face.  Then right after the 9 mile marker, when my right foot hit the ground, my knee crumpled and I hollered out in pain.  I'm really surprised I didn't fall.  I hopped a little bit and shed a few tears of frustration.  I was determined to finish though.  I mean, I can run 4 miles in my sleep, but would my leg hold out that long?  I slowed waaaay down, to a little trot.  Every so often, pain would shoot through my leg and I'd grit my teeth.  I often pray when I run, it's fabulous alone time with the Lord and I can definitely say I was chatting Him up to finish those last 4 miles!  There was nothing going to stop me from finishing!

Right at the end, I gathered my last bit of adrenaline and sprinted into the finish.  It helped to see a friend from Sunday school standing near the finish line with a sign.  You can see I really have my teeth clenched too! 

Immediately after crossing, my leg wouldn't bare any weight.  Two volunteers grabbed me and tried to get me to go to the med tent.   I told them I just wanted my medal!!  (and some orange wedges!)  My buddy, Chris, came to my aide and helped me hobble off to get my finishers shirt and some gatorade. 

Eric and the kids were waiting for me too! 

So was my friend Stephanie and her daughter, Sarah. 
They ran the kid's race.

 

My finish felt a little anticlimactic seeing that I was hardly winded because of my slow pace.  It was frustrating knowing I could have easily finished 15-20 min faster had I not been injured.  But I did cross knowing I would definitely do it again! 

 

The next day I wore my finishers shirt and the awesome necklace my super supportive friend, Stephanie, surprised me with.  As I limped out of the house, I did feel a little proud and had the crazy thought that maybe if I can keep this IT band in check, a full isn't totally out of the question!

 

And I finally got my 13.1 sticker for my minivan!  :-)