AF Half

I signed up for this race last year and loved it so much that my sister and I signed up for it once registration opened this year. Little did I know, I'd be 15 weeks pregnant while running it... 

I have been able to get my awesome sister to run my races so far, but she was already running this one, so I had to suck it up and run. I haven't trained at all besides the 6 miler from the Provo City Half relay and that was a while ago. 

The alarm went off at 3:20am and I got ready and headed out the door. I met up with Joy and we were on the 4th bus up to the start. Since we were one of the first buses we got some fun, throw away HUGE, white gloves and a raffle ticket. Joy didn't bring a jacket and was freezing her butt off in her tank so, I shared. I have more meat to keep me warm. :)

Joy was hoping for a PR so, she hung out with the 1.55 pacer and I headed to the back of the pack. I knew I'd be doing a LOT of walking, so there was no need for me to be in the way.

My goal was to finish. I wanted to run as much as I could, but I didn't know how much that would actually be. I ran the first 3 miles and was feeling good. We came to a water stop and I decided to walk. I thought it'd be better to walk when I wasn't completely exhausted and then pick up the pace again in a little bit. I started running again before mile 4 hit.

Around mile 5 I stopped to take a picture. The run was so beautiful I couldn't help but enjoy it. We ran by a couple camp grounds and we could smell their fires. I think we'll have to go camping up there some time. Anyway... after I took the picture I started running again.

After I got out of the canyon I took advantage of the next rest stop around mile 8 and went potty. My bladder was begging to be emptied since mile 6. After that I started walking. My thighs were burning and my butt was aching. I gave my sister a call to see if she finished. She ended up sticking with the 1.55 pacer until mile 10 when she got a bad side cramp and had to walk 2 miles. The 2.10 pacer came up behind her and she finished with her. She ended up running it in 2.08. She's so great. I told her I still had a ways to go, so I'd be there in about an hour.

Around mile 10 my hands were swelling like crazy, that always happens when I walk for a long way. I don't know if it's cause my hands are down by my sides or what. They were starting to hurt from being so swollen. I passed a couple sprinklers and I tried to take advantage of walking through them, but each time I'd get close they'd shut off and switch to the other part of the lawn. :( Oh well, I was almost there 3 miles left. I could totally do this. I saw one lady being pulled off the course by family (I'm assuming) and she could barely walk. I was just glad that, that wasn't me.

.5 miles to go and my feet, legs, butt... EVERYTHING was aching. My body didn't want to run. It was only .5, you think I could have picked up the pace a little. I ended up running the last .25 though! Yay for finishing running!

My final time was 3.20.26. Not too bad for being prego and not training a bit.

One of the big pluses about taking forever to run is when you finish everyone is starting to clean up. So, you get lots of extra free stuff. Joy is a total freegan. If there's something for free she'll get it. The people from Kneaders were providing SUPER delicious french toast to finishers and they were closing up shop when I finished so, they gave her a WHOLE HUGE tray filled with the french toast... FOR FREE. I should have had her get one for me! 

Anyway, it was a great race and we had lots of fun. Right now though, a day later, my body hates me and doesn't want me moving. Haha! My back, arms, legs, butt, feet... everything. I just hurt. I'm waddling around like I'm 8 months prego rather than 4. 

The next half I have scheduled is the SoJo in October. Joy's planning on running for me. Though... She signed up for her first MARATHON and is running that in September. Yay, JOY! She's totally hooked. :)