Heartbreak Ridge 1/2 Marathon - Training & 1st race!

 

Months ago, Corbin had told me about this half marathon and that he could do it for free and his mom was planning on coming out and running it with him. I was so excited for them, it sounded way fun! I thought to myself, I wish I could run that but the longest I've ran is 5 miles, how the heck could I run 13.1?!!!
(Click Hereto read my post on how I got into running!!)

Well, as Corbin started his training plan I would go running after him after he got home. Just to do my little run. Each time I ran, I kept telling myself that I really wanted to do that half with them. REALLY BAD. So, I told Corbin and he helped me find a training plan and I started! I was determined to follow it and keep whatever my plan said.

Wow. I love a good training plan. Best thing of my life. It helped my running a billion times more then I ever thought a "training plan" could. First of all, it's an already planned out running schedual for months or weeks in advance so you already know what's coming. Second, if you keep up with the plan, your running keeps up with you. Seriously! It really works!!

Week by week, I would go for my runs. Each time getting a little better. I have never drank so much water in my life. That's where I learned how important hydrating is. Very important.

Every saturday was the long run on my schedule. When I first started out, It would be 6 or 7 miles. I would get so nervous cause that was really long to me. And after each run I would be out of breath and so tired and sore.
Then... after so much running each week, I just became so use to it. I was getting better. I would get excited to go for my runs. At 8, 9 and 10 I couldn't wait to go! I really started to enjoy running because I found my comfort zones. My right breathing and running techniques. It felt so good to love running cause I could never really just enjoy it!

During those training weeks, I lost about 9 or 10 pounds. I gained a lot of respect for myself for keeping to my running and not giving up. I set a goal for the half marathon and I was so determined to do it dang it! Self esteem went UP.

The last week before the race, I was getting STOKED. Saturday could not come faster!!
I seriously counted down the days.

My in-loves (in-laws but I love them so laws = loves) flew out and we were excited to have them come visit! We've had fun with them and they treated us to Knotts Berry Farm- the day before our race! (We were hoping our legs wouldn'd get too tired)
I was excited to run my first race with the one and only who inspired me to run- mCat - has been having some stomach issues so she's cutting down the long distance running for a little! But I know there will be a lot more races to do with her in the future :)

RACE DAY CAME!!!
Woke up at 5:30 a.m. Got ready and left. Registered, got our bibs, shirts, chips on our shoes and were ready to go! Wait time started. Loved seeing all the runners (half of them Marines) all in their gear and getting ready and waiting to go too!

Chloee also had her 1K Kids race! mCat ran that with her. Cutest thing ever. She is just like her dad...
competitive. They had the older kids start in the front so the littles wouldn't get trampled over but every time Chlo got passed by someone she would pull Mimi even harder! She is such a little runner. Love it!! mCat blogged it perfectly, Click Here to view!



 

 



 

 

The race was planned to start in waves. First the Marine men, second - civilian men, then all the ladies!

 

 

These Marine's ran in full on fatigues, boots and gas masks while carrying the flag! Awesome. Definitely respect them.


They called up the Marines and Corbin went to the start line. I was so excited for him! I knew he would do great. Waited for the 'GO' and OFF they were!

 

 

Then, the civilian men, and I got ready to line up.



Next up, the ladies! I was up! Got to the starting line and watched the countdown. I was more excited than nervous! I knew it would be hard. I knew there were big hills that I didn't train for, and they started us out at 8:50 ish so it was starting to get hot. But my only goal was to finish and accomplish the race and I knew I would do just that!

 

3, 2, 1... GO!

I passed Melissa, Dave and Chlo on the run out of the chute and I was on my way!

I was so excited to get going and everyone around me was taking off, I had to remind myself to slow down and run at my comfortable pace to save my energy and legs for the rest of the race.

Throughout mile 1, I felt as though I was entertaining myself by people watching. Some speeding past me, some I was passing up, some big, some little, but we were all in it for for the race.

As I got to mile 3, there was already a huge hill!! I could already see some runners struggling up. As I got to the hill, I remember in articles I've read.. to take small short steps one after the other insead of long strides. But it's up to the runner and what works best for them. The small short running steps sounded better at the moment, and was working for me! It was getting so hard up that hill, I got about a 3rd of the way and started taking long steps up using my hands on my knees to help push me up. I was thinking I should have done some hiking to help train me for these hills!! I got to the top and the dirt surface was flat for a about a minute then again, it was up hill. A little shorter then the last and by the time I got up I was so ready for some water and hallelujah there was an aid station! I grabbed some water drank some and poured the rest on my head. One of the best feelings ever. I also grabbed a slice of orange on my way to get a little vitamin C. Then it went pretty down hill from there. I like the down hills so I can fly down the hill and get a good breeze but then it's hard on the knees. Got to the bottom and just kept my comfortable pace!

Along the way were some hills but not as bad. I just kept following the trail and the arrows. I was really enjoying it! It was fun! A new place to run, the beautiful outdoors to look at and with hundreds of other running buddies that are enjoying it too.

As I got to mile 5 my left ankle started hurting. I tried to think of what I was doing wrong. I made sure I was running heel to toe and just kept on it the best I could. Shortly after my right knee was having a small pain.. Crap! Tried to shake it out but it didn't work. I just kept going and was hoping I could get through to the end without injury!!

Around mile 6 a few guys started passing me on their way to the finish line. Wow! They are fast! I got excited thinking that soon I would see Corbin passing me too :) I kept running and watching as each guy passed with more and more coming, trying to spot out Corbin. When I saw him truggin' along just great, made me happy! I knew he would do it just fine but it's good to see my husband safe and sound. As he passed me he shouted out words of encouragement and that I was doing great! I felt that up'd my performance and I felt good to go and better then ever!

At each mile there was an aid station with water and gatorade. I kept looking for more oranges or bananas or any energy bites I could get. Nope, nothing! So the gatorade would have to do. I remembered mCat's advice which was drink water, next station drink gatorade, next water.. and so on. I did that and it worked perfect.

I finally got to the turn-a-round point and felt great at half way! Yeah, a bit tired but I knew what I should feel, thanks to my long run trainings.

Everytime I would pass up someone who looked like they were struggling I'd give a quick, "You're doing great, keep it up!!" or something. Cause when runners would shout that to me, it would really help. To know someone at some point knew how you felt and that they cared to share some encouragement! And just maybe I could give a little myself. :)

I passed quite a few old peeps! I absolutely look up to them. I think that is the coolest thing, 60+ year old runners. I hope that will be me some day!!

Got to mile 8 and 9 and tried to tune into my music and enjoy the run the best I could with my lame ankle still bothering me.

Before the race I had only got to 10 miles with my training started a few weeks short. So I knew I would have to push through the last couple miles. As I ran up to mile 10 I could see that huge hill coming up again! I was already pretty tired at 10 and ankle and knee still buggin' but I didn't let the hill get in my way. I just kept truggin' along the best I knew how. I pretty much hiked up the hill, remembering this was the orange station and was fighting my way to get to the slice of orange! Yes, the orange was my motivation for the hill. And of course when I got to the top, there. were. no. oranges. Real bummer! But oh well! Sipped some gatorade and down the hill I came. I couldn't go as fast because of my knee and ankle but kept a good stride. On the hill was a man laying on his back with some paramedics hoovering over him, helping him. I wonder what had happened? Passed out of dehydration? Slipped down the hill and hurt his leg? He looked like a strong guy but today was just not his day. I felt really bad as I passed and was on my way.

I caught up to a girl whom we kept passing eachother almost the whole race. I decided to say hi and tell her she was doing awesome to get my mind off my hurt and tiredness. She was really nice and we kept small talk for about a half mile then we lost eachother at mile 11.

Knowing there was only 2 more miles to go, I could only think of the finish line and not my hurt! I was thinking how much I put into my training and now the race was almost over and how I would feel! I was just happy in my shoes!

I was almost to mile 12 and I could see my mother-in-love at the aid station, she spotted me out and started cheering me on!! Right there, I tell you, I got a HUGE boost of energy. I got teary eyed just seeing her, I was almost done but yet so tired and she was there to run with me the last mile on my first race. She, the one who inspired me to run, who gave me so much tips and advice the past year, the one who surprised me with new running shoes for the race (because I didn't have the right kind and my feet would hurt and blister after each long run) and the reason I was a runner.

I got to her and she said I looked great!! She asked me how I was and honestly, I was hurt and so tired but all the adrenaline- I felt like a million bucks! I could just keep going and going! There were just a few small hills to go and she kept up the encouragement and love and kept my mind off my hurt! My knee started to have a sharp pain.. no! Not the last mile! I was almost done and didn't want to stop there!.. mCat just kept talking me through it and keeping my mind off of it! We got to almost the end and ahead I could see my husband and my Chloee and Dave! They were all cheering me on and I started to push harder and harder and up'd my speed! As I passed them, Corbin was yelling out for me that I could do it, almost finished! And Chloee was blowing me kisses and saying, "Go mommy! Go mommy!" Best last mile ever.

I ran past them and Could see the finish line.. just a little more to go.. mCat told me when I got to the chute, to push it as hard as I could like never before!

Almost there, almost there... Chute... PUSHED AND SPRINTED THROUGH THE FINISH LINE!!!!

(No pics of me through the finish line but here is right after!!)

Wow. Words cannot express the feeling of accomplishing a goal that was well worked for.
I was so overwhelmed and happy! I saw my Corbin running to me and he gave me the biggest hug and told me how proud of me he was! Yes of course I started crying! I was too happy not to. (I'm crying as I type it! Haha)

I was done. I did it. I ran a half marathon! Something I NEVER thought I could do and I did it and no one could ever take that away.

I love running. I want to go run another race right now! I want to be were the runner vibe is. I like that I can relate to runners. I like that I can have a goal for my next race and try harder and improve each time. I like that I earned my first race tech shirt. I love that I only had one small blister! I love it all!

I can't wait to run a race with mCat and I hope I can inspire others to run like she did to me. <3

 

Here are pictures of when Corbin finished!

So proud of him and Chloee on their race too!!! <3



Thank you for taking your time to read!!!