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Monday, May 5, 2014

My first half marathon!!

You guys...I can officially cross "run a half marathon" off the 'ole bucket list. Well, technically I didn't run the whole thing, but I sure as heck completed it.



We woke up around 4:30AM to eat breakfast and Jared & Erin picked us up around 5. At 6:30AM sharp, the half officially had begun though...we were all so jittery and excited to get to the starting point and we just took off! I'm so proud to say that the four of us ran the first 6 miles pretty much non stop -- that alone was the furthest distance I've ever run (yeah, training didn't exactly go as planned, whoops)...so we were feeling great!! We crossed a giant bridge and the view was just incredible. That alone was some amazing motivation, seeing the sun rise over the river with my best friends!
Love my city!!!


Erin and I both decided it was time to walk...my right hip was hurting pretty bad, and I needed a break. Luckily, the 4 of us agreed to stay together no matter what...so even if one of us needed to walk, we'd all walk...but let me tell you, we all pushed each other like crazy.

A little bit later, we started to get pretty tired...and I hear all of them yelling like crazy while I'm off to the side getting water -- my in laws surprised us and cheered us on the sidelines!! They made a sign with all of our pictures! It literally brought me to tears that they did that for us. It was so thoughtful!

Cincinnati proved to have a HARD course. People from every state around the world were there, and even different countries. So many people say that this is a really hard course compared to others around the world, and boy, I'd have to agree. The hills were OUTRAGEOUS. Around mile 8 (I think -- things are a little fuzzy!) is where things kind of went down hill...we got really tired, and we all kinda just felt like laying down on the sticky ground rather than jog another step. We rounded near mile 9 and someone on the street was blasting "LET IT GO" from Frozen, and in unison, without even knowing the other was going to do it -- Erin and I belt it straight up musical style and just had a hilarious moment, along with a random burst of energy. That was the last energetic part of the half that we had, ha!

Somehow, we pulled through those last few miles on and off walking/jogging. It was a miracle. I honestly don't know if I would've made it through without the encouraging volunteers and random people encouraging me. At one point, I was kind of running alone a few feet ahead, but really struggling...and a total stranger came up to me, patted me on the back, and she told me she KNEW I could do this (I'm like tearing up even thinking about it) and that gave me the strength to keep going.

I cannot tell you how happy we all were to see the "Finish Swine" at the end. Erin and I started to tear up...I couldn't even help it. So many cheering people, so many emotions... suddenly, the four of us were side by side, holding hands, giving it all we had, and it just felt amazing. We pushed each other in those last few moments to just NOT STOP RUNNING and to finish it!! Erin and I were in tears, and it was a great feeling. Yeah, we struggled, and yeah we didn't train hard enough (at ALL), but you know what? We did it...and we did it together!




I can't say enough about the half though. The course was awesome, and I got to experience parts of my city I didn't even know existed. To think I traveled 13.1 miles ON FOOT completely blows my mind. My feet hurt, my knees are swollen, my right hip feels horrible, and my legs are so tight I can hardly walk... but I finished it. I am so proud of myself, and of my best friends!

People have already asked me if I plan to do another one...ask me in a few weeks once my body has returned back to normal ;) 

27 comments:

  1. CONGRATULATIONS!!! So excited for you! As I told Erin, all that matters is that you did your best and crossed that finish line! So awesome your family surprised you. And that random stranger - SO SWEET.

    You girls have really made me start thinking about a half - not something I EVER thought I'd say.....

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  2. So much awesomeness in one post! Congratulations!!! Your a half marathoner!! Thirteen point freaking one baby!!!

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  3. You did an amazing job pushing through. I'm so glad you got to experience all the awesome things a race like that has to offer - seeing your city in a new way, all the support, the camaraderie. You are a rockstar!

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  4. congrats on your first half! how awesome that your in-laws came down so surprised you guys!
    makes me feel good to know people from other parts of the country say this cincinnati course is rough.. because it is! i thought i was going to die running those hills in eden park. hope the pain starts subsiding in the next day or two!

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  5. I loved doing this with you! As much as it sucked and as sore as we are-- WE DID IT!! You are amazing Kayla!!!!

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  6. I am SO proud of you guys!! That's so sweet of Caleb's parents to surprise you guys! I love the running community - aren't people so nice?! I say the next one we all go down to Disneyworld and run that one! :)

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  7. So proud and excited for y'all to accomplish this!!! I hope your get to feeling back to normal in no time :)

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  8. You are so amazing!!!! And you honestly don't even look tired in your pictures!! A half-marathon is so great, very jealous!!

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  9. You guys are amazing!! I love that you all did it together. I'm not a runner so I have no idea, but it is so great to hear about all the encouragement going on during that race! Congratulations

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  10. The family that runs together, stays together. Right? Congrats to all of you!!

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  11. Look how cute you are in those running pants! Looks like you had a blast and congrats on your first half!

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  12. this is AWESOME!!!! so proud of y'all and you looked so cute!

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  13. way to go!!! isn't it the best feeling ever to cross that line!? so proud of you girl! let's run one together soon ;)

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  14. I am so proud of you!!!!! I probably wouldn't have been able to run 1 mile. Love the signs and all the cheering...what an incredible experience.

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  15. Congrats girl! So proud that you finished it!

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  16. So, so, so happy for you! Your hard work paid off! That's so cute that your in-laws surprised you! What great motivation!

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  17. Love the sign! And you ladies crack me up with your matching post titles.

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  18. Congrats! I love that you all finished together! Wahoo.

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  19. Congrats on your race! I hope you are wearing your hard earned medal around the house right now :). I love how supportive other runners are during races. We might not know each other, but we are all in it together!

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  20. Those medals are awesome! Super huge congratulations! You'll start feeling better soon enough I'm sure :) You're a half marathoner now! So happy for you! And aren't runners the best? I love your story of how that person patted you on the back.

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  21. Whoooo! The crowd support was so, so great!! So proud of you guys!

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  22. I'm proud of you both, that medal is super cute!!

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  23. Yahoooooo! YOU finished!!! YOU did it!! I am so proud of you! Such an inspiration, lady!! Way to go!!

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  24. Congratulations!! I once walked the half marathon in Columbus (and also cried crossing the finish line, both from pain and pride). I can't imagine Cincinnati with all the hills! Awesome job!

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  25. Congrats on this fabulous accomplishment! I have heard the Flying Pig is tough! Glad you were able to experience it with family and friends! I ran my first one with my brothers...and it was so special because of that! Congrats, again!

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Thanks for your comments, I read and respond to every single one of them! :) Excited to get to know you!