Check Mark 7: Run a Half Marathon

I've never been a runner.  I didn't do track, I didn't run for exercise, and I certainly didn't run for fun.  owever, in 2010, that all changed when I decided I was going to train for and run a half marathon.  I battled back and forth with myself about really going through with it; then, I said it out loud.  Now, I had to do it.  I even enlisted a friend of mine and my sister to do it with me.  I knew we had to go someplace cool as incentive for this half marathon, so I picked the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, VA.  My friend backed out as soon as I signed up, and a couple months into training my sister dropped out because she was pregnant.

I had already started training, not to mention already told people I was doing this, so I continued to train on my own.  My support system already made reservations for a mini-vacation, so there was no way I was backing out now.  A few short months later, we were off to Virginia Beach to tackle this goal of mine.  Now, I am by no means a fast runner, pacing about a 12 minute mile.  My goal of course was to finish the race running all the way through, but then I thought if was I going to finish it, I might as well finish it in 2.5 hours.

Well, not only did I finish it running all the way through, I finished it in 2:28 hours which meant I averaged an 11:30 minute mile.  I was so proud of myself I actually cried at the finish line!  It was a true testament that you can do anything that you put your mind to and work hard at!!  However, I must admit my running days are over now as I no longer aspire to run any long distances...