Snow Canyon Half Marathon

I did it! On November third I ran my first half marathon! I loved it. I'd put it on my list of top ten life experiences, in fact. The night before, we met up at the Olive Garden with the four other ladies from my ward that were running it, to load up on pasta. I was super nervous and excited and it was nice to talk to the veterans who have run long races before. Even just the "what are you wearing?" and "what are you eating for breakfast?" questions went a long way to calm my nerves. Later Nate and I went to pick up my race bag from the Dixie Center. I was fine until we walked in and I saw tons of super-fit-looking people who all seemed very fancy and hard core. I was feeling pretty nervous and intimidated, so we made it quick. I hardly slept a wink that night, between the kids, a sore throat, and my stomach being in a knot.

The next morning I was something of a wreck. Poor Nate. I don't know how he manages to keep a straight face sometimes when I'm having major freak-out sessions. But he does and is very good at calming me down and helping me to feel like everything's just fine. He even gave me a blessing, and then made a whole bunch of toast for me and my friends that he was taxiing over to the buses.
We picked up Alison and Kim at their hotel and the three of us hopped on a bus, pinned on our numbers and time chips, and froze our tushies off as we made the drive (which seemed really long) up the canyon to the starting line. I was talking pretty much nonstop. It was like all my nervous energy was looking for an outlet and decided on my mouth.

We made it to the top, unloaded, and stood in the ridiculously long lines with all 2,000 of the other runners for the port-a-potties and then found our other friends, Michiel and Linda. We stretched and shivered together until it was time to strip out of our jackets and get to the starting line. Then before I knew it they were counting down and we were off.

Waiting at the start before the race in all our glory. L-R: me, Linda, Michiel, Kim, Alison

Running the race was pretty surreal for me. I was just wanting to pinch myself the whole time. The months and months of training were done and there I was, in this beautiful place, just running and taking it all in. I started with Kim and Alison and we were together for awhile and then spread out to run our own races, which I think was good. Not long after the start, the sun started to peek over the cliffs and defrost my extremities, and the weather actually ended up being pretty much perfect. Like 74 degrees or something amazing like that.

Nate had planned to bring the kids and wave a couple miles from the finish line and then drive to the finish and meet me there, so I was very pleasantly surprised to see him, Addison, and Bryn, along with Grandpa, at about mile four. It was awesome to have a fan club. They helped me run extra fast. (Side note: Nate took some awesome pictures during the race but we had a little misplacement of the memory card. Hopefully it'll turn up soon and I can post some more pictures.)

We ran right down Snow Canyon and the scenery was just breathtaking. It felt really good. There was some pretty steep downhill between miles four and six and I was able to use it to keep some good momentum going.

The longest stretch of the race for me was between about miles eight and ten. I felt good, but still had a lot of miles to go. For future reference, it was so helpful to have music, to look forward to the water stations, and to listen to the people who were there cheering everybody on. There were people here and there along the trail to cheer for their friends and family, and sometimes I'd pop one earphone out and listen to them and get a little boost from it.

I saw my fan club again between miles ten and eleven, and Nate even had an extra piece of gum for me. Mine was pretty sick by then, so it was nice. After that I got so excited, because I knew the next time I'd see them was at the finish. It was exciting to hit the "this is farther than I've ever run" point. I trained to eleven miles, so beyond that felt like I was practically at the finish. I had to remember to keep pacing myself.

The race ended with 3/4 of a lap around the high school track. I was pretty darn tired by the time I got to the stadium and got a much-needed boost from Alison's family and Linda and Michiel who were cheering right at the entrance. Then I got to the track and made it about halfway when I saw Nate and his dad and the kids cheering. Addison came barreling across the field and grabbed my hand and started running with me and I was definitely getting a little teary-eyed. Then just before the finish, Bryn caught up and grabbed Addison's hand and we all crossed the finish line together. I felt so good! I did a little victory fist pump and shed a little tear and then steered around the girl barfing on the track in front of me and got lots of hugs from Nate and co. My goal time had been two and a half hours and I did it in 2:11:16. Woohoo! TMI Alert: I felt especially cool because not only had I beat the pants off my goal time, but I did it during an extremely inconvenient part of the month, and then I went back to the house and nursed my baby. And it only took about three or four days for me to be able to walk again without wanting to die. I am a little bit awesome, I think.

me, Kim and Alison after the race. Addison was thrilled that I got a medal (even though it wasn't gold.)

All in all, an amazing experience. I'd do it again. And a huge thank you to Nate's family for hosting us, his mom in particular for doing it so graciously just a few weeks before her daughter's wedding, and for watching Leah during the race. And to Alison and Kim for being my training buddies and having the idea in the first place. To my parents and all the siblings who asked me about my training and prayed for my hip to stop being lame. (It worked!) And to my little fan club, Grandpa, Addison and Bryn, and Nate for keeping me excited to round each corner in hopes of seeing their smiling faces. And especially to Nate for giving me all the hours and evenings and Saturday mornings I needed, without complaint, to reach my goal. What a guy.