1/2 Marathon Madness!

On April 26th I completed my very first half marathon-ahhh!!  It was a goal of mine to complete a half before I turn 35 and I am proud to say I did it!  It might not have been pretty, but it's now done :)  My SIL Anne ran it with me.  She originally got me started running and I ran my very first 5K with her too!  We drove to Champaign Friday evening to pick up our packets and we stayed in a hotel over night before the big race.

Saturday morning we were up and early, ready to go!

The start line :)

 We started in waves, the race started at 7 a.m. but we didn't cross the start line for about 20 minutes after.

Mile 2

 It was cool in the morning, but there was NO cloud cover and the sun was warm!  I felt really good up until about miles 8-10...they were rough.  I felt nauseous and was really sloooooow.  Bless Anne, she would run ahead and then make sure I was still coming-I kept telling her to go ahead and go and she kept telling me "I am running with you"  Thank goodness she did!  We finished in 2 hours and 26 minutes!!!  My goal was under 2:30 and I NEVER thought I would actually make it!

My mom brought Alyvia to watch Anne and I finish and to run in the kids fun run.  Unfortunately, the kids run didn't start until 2:30, so we had over 4 hours to wait :(  The hours were dragging and poor Livi just wanted to run, it took roughly forever!

Livi and I heading for the finish line!

Funny story...when Anne and I went to packet pick up, I wasn't registered-what?!  I went back and found my e-mails and I had signed myself up as Cowser Kathryn....instead of Kathryn Cowser.  Way to go genius :)  

For my first half marathon, I'm proud of myself.  I'm so happy that Anne ran it with me and my mom and Livi were there to see us finish!  I'm super proud of Alyvia too for finishing her first race-she did awesome!  

Warriors!!

Today Anne and I completed the "Warrior Dash".  To quote the website "Warrior Dash is a mud-crawling, fire-leaping, extreme run from hell"!!  It was 3.25 miles of crazy running in mud, up hills, through creeks and completing crazy obstacles (most which involved lots of climbing up walls).  It was so much fun to do with Anne!  She got me to sign up in January and I started training (for the running part) in March.  I'm proud to say I've lost 10 lbs since I've started running, a feat I've never done before.  I can normally run 3 miles in just over 30 minutes now and I feel so much better about myself.  I don't love the running, but I do love how I feel after!  Back to the race...Anne, Alan, my mom, Alyvia and I left our house in the afternoon for a farm in Channahon, where the race was (Colson stayed home with Mamaw).  There were waves of participants that started every 30 minutes from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  So many people!

Gas station off the Interstate exit welcoming us!

Livi and I before the race-she spent the whole week telling me she didn't want me to race, I still don't know why!

Before

Coming out of the woods where we just climbed up a really steep, muddy hill

The last climbing obstacle-there were so many!

Fire-jumping!

Mud crawling (me on left in front, Anne on right in pink tank top)

After

Warriors!!  Helmets and all!

The littlest warrior :)

I had so much fun!  I plan to continue running and need to find my next race to motivate me!