Run Like a Bear is Chasing You!

Hey all!

Just wanted to do a quick post recapping my weekend in Estes Park, Colorado. We were there so I could run my half-marathon (That's 13.1 miles in case you didn't know). Running a half-marathon was my New Year's Resolution. We decided to get there early (to get acclimated to the higher altitude) and checked into our hotel Friday night and spent Saturday enjoying the cute town. We got all of my racing gear, looked at shops, found a fun zone and went down a giant slide, and had some good food. Sunday morning we got up bright and early and headed to Estes Park High School for my race.

For some odd reason, driving up to the event, getting in line and ready to start, I became really emotional. I mean trying not to cry emotional. I still can't put a finger on it. Maybe because I had been working so hard to get there. Maybe I was just nervous. Who knows.

The bell sounded and we were off! The first hill we came to I could feel the altitude having an effect on me. (7500ft-8000ft) I thought I was going to lose the banana I had eaten for breakfast and had to go off to the side a few times to make sure I was okay. I think it was nerves. I took it easy on the bigger hills running when I could and walking when I needed to. My husband was there at several mile markers taking pictures and cheering me on.

 I finished at about 2hrs and 48min. Not exactly fast, but my goal wasn't to be fast. My goal was to finish. It was my first race besides a 5K and I just wanted to see if I could do it. Now I want to do another one (with less hills and at a lower altitude) to see how fast I could do it. I got the bug. Another thing that's been bothering me was I feel pretty awesome running a half-marathon, but all I can think about is how hardcore the actual marathon runners were. Maybe one day I can work my way up to that. Maybe.