Half Marathon's are Fun!

I recently just completed my first half marathon. Let me tell you from experience that a half marathon is SO much easier than a full marathon! The race felt really pretty good, not including the first three miles that it took my knee to loosen up and stop hurting, but other than that I loved it. The scenery and trails through Park City, UT were beautiful. The morning air was cool and crisp and you could see your breath before the race began. The usual race day excitement coursed through my veins and the lack of sleep the night before always makes me wonder why I even try to sleep. But try I did.

There is something about crossing that starting line knowing you have prepared and done a good job in training. As I'm running along the course and watch as the mile markers go past, I seemed to feel more and more confident and wanted to run a little faster. That is until the lovely gu entered my system and hit my stomach like a rock! That slowed me down for a mile or so at least. But once the benefits of the quick carbs kicked in I was ready to go. The downhill back to the finish was gentle and it almost felt like coasting in. I was approaching mile 12 and could feel some fatigue in my back and abs. My legs felt strong and mentally I was excited. The finish line was approaching. I rounded the last few corners saw my sister Val there and heard her cheer for me, then spotted my parents with my sweet little girls and my cousins Kelly and Kayla. It's always so nice to have people waiting for you at the finish and I've done enough races by myself to truly appreciate having someone at the finish to greet you and tell you good job. This half marathon seriously felt easier than the 10 mile trail run I'd done a few weeks beforehand. Maybe altitude doesn't make all that big of a difference... : )

Now if only I could figure out what is going on with my knee. It's been acting up for several months now. Hurting terribly after a long run, or any run. The week before the half I was in San Francisco and just walking around town I was dying. Limping around and in a good deal of pain. I was having doubts if I could even run the half marathon the following week. But after a 3 mile warm up run I knew I could tolerate the pain and the longer I ran the less it hurt, well, that is until I stopped running. Then it's a completely different story. But I made it through and now I'm hoping to get some good reason as to why my knee is so painful. MRI was done Friday and x-rays show the joint itself is still great. I'll keep my fingers crossed it's a fairly easy fix!

The irony is now that it seems that I can't run or probably shouldn't I really want to lace up those running shoes and head out the door. Why is it when you can you don't and when you can't you really want to? I guess I'll just have to wait and see what's up with my knee and then plan my next race!