With a Smile

I ran my first 1/2 marathon this past weekend and I did with a smile and had a blast! I NEVER would have thought I could run 13.1 miles but I am thrilled to announce I can cross this off my "things to do list". To start I would like you all to know I am not a runner and I do not enjoy the act of running alone. With that said I do enjoy running with a group and with friends because I have had the most interesting conversations when I run and I have made some amazing friends running. So I guess you can say I am officially a runner as long as I have a buddy and a Starbucks after a nice run.

If you are friends with me on Facebook you all know I have been training for this race for a few months now and you have already been experiencing this with me through my many status updates, photos and videos but I would like to take you back to how it all began.

I knew that if I was going to participate in a 1/2 marathon it would be at Disney, I mean the thought of running through the Magic Kingdom just sounds like a great time! After talking about it with friends and family on various occasions I decided that 2012 would be a great year to complete my first 1/2 marathon. Like I said before I was not a runner so I started slowly running the galloway method, the way this method works is you run for an amount of time like 1 minute and then you walk for 1 minute and alternate run/walk, this method helped me build up my endurance. When I joined the Y a few months ago my lovely tour guide Leslie told me about a running group that met up on Saturday mornings, I jumped or ran at the opportunity to join the CORE runners. Every Saturday at 7am my friend Amy and I would meet up with the CORE runners and have an enjoyable run followed by a more enjoyable Starbucks. This seemed like such a great way to get ready for our 13.1 miles we needed to train for. Eventually 7am turned into 6:30am and maybe even earlier as our training miles needed to increase to meet our goal. But no matter how early we needed to get up or how long we need to run that day it was all worth it since you knew you had a goal and someone to hold you accountable. One of the best parts of running with a buddy is the conversation, because really when you are with someone for that long and you are trying to pass the miles by, nothing is of limits and you talk about it all. From babies, to food, to sex, to bodily functions, through memory lane of your past and all your goals for your future, there is never a dull mile.

The morning of the race started at an early 2:30am but that didn't matter because I was to excited and nervous to sleep. With our tutu's on and cameras in hand we were ready! Me, Dawn and my Mom made our way to our assigned corral. I was franticly trying to get a hold of my running buddy Amy so we can try to meet up in the sea of 26, 000 runners  (and we did meet up). The count down began and the fireworks went off  and we were on our way! On a runners and sensory overload there was something to get you motivated at every mile. High school bands lined the streets, volunteers cheered you on as they gave you refreshments, characters were available for pictures, spectators screamed your name in encouragement, if you didn't have fun on this race something was wrong with you because it was amazing! And to my surprise we found my fan club (Justin, Everly and Aunt Lisa) and Amy's fan club on more than one occasion, hats off to all the support!

My goal was to run with fun and a smile and finish under 3 hours but I came in at 3:01:30 but hey I was to busy laughing, singing, wooting and cheering. It was an experience of a life time and I can't wait to do it again. Thanks to all who have taken this journey with me and for all the encouraging words and motivation!