1/2 Marathon .... CHECK

So many things running through my brain for the 2 hours and seven minutes that it took from the time the clock started to the time I crossed over the finish line.
Thought about how far I’d come since the year prior. Thought about how short 13.1 miles is compared to 26.2 and that 13.1 is pretty long for me. Thought about how maybe I should have had the pasta instead the fish and chips the night before. Thought about how PROUD I am of Haley for wanting and being able to run this event with me.
So, at about mile 4 I turn and look at Haley. “How ya doin’ babe?” I asked. And I kid you not, she GLARED back at me. Oh, holy guacamole, we could be in for a long run….
Mile 5.5 Haley asks me, “How much further?” I answer, “Too far to talk about now.”
Mile 7 Haley says, “Are we in that Water Park?”
Jen: Water Works Park?
Haley: yeah.
Jen: Yes, we are, isn’t it pretty?
Haley: It looked a lot smaller on the map.
Mile 8: My calves are burning, what the heck, maybe that week and half off from training did matter.
Mile 10: “Just know when you finish this Haley, You can finish ANYTHING!” and I sped up even though I knew her knees were bothering her, she was a couple steps behind me and the mom in me wanted to make it easier for her.
About mile 11 I say, “Almost there babe, about 2 miles left.” At this point Haley pops on ahead of me. She knows what two miles is like from cross country and apparently she is ready to end this thing. I couldn’t catch her. She got a good thirty plus seconds on me. I kept her in my sights until about the end.
At one moment, I was disappointed that I couldn’t catch up and finish with her. But then I thought about it and came to the conclusion, as her mom, I’m not here to compete with her or even have to always be with her, but if I can drag her butt out into the world, give her courage and enthusiasm to do something bigger than she thinks she can do (even while she glares at me) and finally be able to watch from behind as she finds strength and speed and finishes strong…well, then, I’ve won too.
What a fantastic event to do. We saw lots of people we knew. We celebrated the achievement with both family and friends. I’m definitely intimidated by the 26.2, but it’s time to get serious about that one. Time to up training, get back on track with diet and nutrition, recommit my efforts to fundraising and finish something, that at this moment, looks really big, really hard and well, I won’t lie…fairly painful.