My first half Marathon

Ok, I will start with saying that I have a new respect for all the marathon runners now :o) I am so  glad that it was only 23.4k (in order to make a loop, they made us run longer, lucky me :o) and now I realize that no matter how fit you are, you have to train right to be able to run that long.  It took me almost 3 hours to do it. (2 hrs and 57 something minute)

My day started at 4:30 AM. My friend Susan and I met at the hotel lobby and walked to the track field where the start line was. When we got there all we you could see was a sea of people waiting to start (7000 participants overall). The full marathoners had started an hour earlier so this crowd was only the half marathon, 10k and 5k runners. We started at 6 AM sharp. Slow start ,of course, since the people in front of us had to move. Susan and I started with a nice easy pace and just went with the flow for a while. We picked up our speed about 15 minutes into the run. We met some missionaries from US while running, which was nice and kept us busy for a while. While chatting with them we missed the first water stop (not very smart!). We got some water on the second and the 4th stop though. Mean while I was thinking to myself that this is not as bad as I thought it will be.  Silly me......When we hit the 9k Susan took off and I stayed behind going with my own pace. About a kilometer later the climb started. Well, it wasn't that bad considering that it was roller hills, so after each climb there was a nice downhill, but that really slowed me down. Mean while I hit the water stop number 5 which to my surprise was out of water. I had at least another kilometer of climb and was very thirsty. By the time I hit the half way turn I was 1 hour and 20 minutes into the run which I thought was pretty good, but I was really dehydrated. On the way back, the hills (rollers) truly killed me and out of the sudden I was just exhausted. Sure enough there was no water on the way back at stop number 5 so I had to drag myself to the next stop. I got 3 cups of water when I hit that water stop, but that’s when my body decided to give up on me. From there on it was a battle of jogging for a while and then dealing with leg cramps (It happens when you are dehydrated and low on minerals). I would have killed for a Gatorade at that point :o) my last 5K was not pretty at all. My right leg was cramped up and the toes were all locked. I jogged 2 minutes and then I had to walk for 5. I was physically and emotionally in pain (I had made a promise to myself that I would run the whole course no matter how slow). When I got to the finish line field, the only thing that I could see was the Finish line (picture in the photo gallery). I was really hurting.  The first thing I did after passing the line was to beg my husband to get me Gatorade. I think it took me 2 bottles of Gatorade and then another 2 bottles of water to bring me back to life.

So what is after this? Training properly so I can do it under 2 ½ hours.

Congrats!

That is quite an accomplishment! Congrats again and take care.! 

congratulations!

two thumbs up for finishing. You are a finisher! great job. Did they give you a finisher's medal?  I hang mine in my office for motivation. Thanks for posting this. It was a great story. You*will* be better next time. Don't worry.

Bravo!

Bravo! Great job. 3 hours in a great record. you will most probably break it next time, but i just wanted to say that you should be very proud of yourself. there are people (and that's the absolute majority of people!) that cannot even imagine themselves running 21 kilometers.  you  are a champion!:)

thanks 1000000!

thanks A MILLION for your note. you know, i think i've been doing exactly the opposite. in the strength class that i take, we do all those chest presses, butterfly press, push ups, and none of the exercises you said... I will skip those the next time. On thursday I have an appointment at our school clinic for my back pain (not a biggy, just arched back) i'll ask them about slouching too, But i doubt they would give me better advise than you did:)
 

Congrats!

Dear Sherry,

Congratulation on running the half marathon! Alaso thanks a lot for your kind and helpful comment. I will try to use your experience in this matter.

Cheers!

:)

Sheri joonam, thanks deary for your birthday wish, i went and fetched it out of anar's comment-dooni!:)

and also thanks for the deldari. i'll go earlier today and try to get into the Cardio-camp class. i viciously pray for hard exams for these kids so that they hit the library instead of the gym:)