If you have previously read my blog posts, you know I joined a running group back in October 2018. If you’re new here… a quick recap: me + running (or really any cardio at that) have never been friends. So naturally, I joined a running group. I initially joined this group to help build my speed and hopefully build a passion for running. A little over a year later (and a few injuries), I would say this group did exactly what I hoped! I wouldn’t say that I am “fast”, but my endurance is MUCH better than it was. Aside from that, I have truly fallen in love with the sport of running. I may not always LOVE running, but the running community is truly one of the most inspiring things I have ever seen. From the random strangers encouraging me during races, to the amazing friends I have made… I could not ask for more. During this journey I became pretty close with a girls in my running group. I have never met a more caring, supportive, and thoughtful group of people in my life. These girls truly believe in me more than I believe in myself and they are such an inspiration! From chasing them during runs, seeing their daily Instagram posts, to joining in on their long runs just so I wouldn’t have FOMO. I am beyond lucky to have them in my life.
Going into this running journey, I told myself I would NEVER do more than a 5k. As time went on, I watched these girls set and crush some amazing running goals! I got to a point where I wanted more but held my 5k ground (with a 10k thrown in there). For months, these girls tried to convince me to sign up for our local OUC Hometown Half marathon and I repeatedly responded, “no way!”. It wasn’t until they took me on a 9-mile UCF “fun run” in August that I really started considering it. After them telling me I was basically at a half marathon distance (and I wasn’t dying), I mentally told myself I was going to do it (I must admit, I didn’t physically sign up for the race until 9/30- I was still in denial haha)!
The race was 12/7/19, so I had 3 months to kick it into gear. I had no idea what I was doing… where do I start?? Luckily the host of the race (and my group), Track Shack Orlando, had a 13-week training program for beginners, which I used as a guideline. Since I was still in the running group and running with my girls… I supplemented the program a little bit to better suit me. I planned my long runs with the group- because let’s face it, running with friends is so much better! In the middle of this training, my lovely friends also decided to sign me up for a 15k out in Clermont on the infamous clay loop. IT WAS BRUTAL! I am not going to lie; this race deflated my confidence. It was hot, humid, hilly, and super muddy- but, I finished it! Unfortunately, I managed to mess up my back 🙁 so this also sat me out of training for about a week. Once my back started feeling better, it was back to work!
In hindsight, I could have trained better as I did slack a little. I pulled back on lifting weights (which if you know me, was hard for me to do), I finally got new shoes (Thanks Abby and Track Shack!), and I started to test out race day nutrition. In the blink of an eye, race day was here! I was nervous and anxious. I didn’t know what to expect. My original goal was just to finish… but I knew I could do better than that. I then decided to shoot to finish under 2:30:00- which my running gang laughed at (they knew I could finish way before that). Race morning, I really wasn’t sure what my goal was, I decided to just go and see how I felt. The starting line was a cluster! There were soooo many people! This really made me nervous because I didn’t get to start where I originally wanted to (with a pacer). Luckily, I had 2 of my amazing friends to follow and get me out of the crowd.
The first half of the race I felt good! We managed to catch up to our friend (the 1:55:00 pacer) and I was able to hang on until about mile 7.5. I started running different goals through my head thinking about what I actually may accomplish. I was averaging around a 8:30 min/mile pace at that point and knew I needed to pull back. My amazing husband also rode his bike all around the course to take pictures of me and cheer me on- so whenever I saw his face it gave me a little extra push! I gradually got slower and felt myself falling apart. I had already taken a gel and just wasn’t getting the “oomph” I needed. I decided to just listen to my body. I would stop at the rest of the water stops (didn’t stop before mile 8) and refuel with some Gatorade. Mile 10 was rough! By far my slowest mile, I needed to reassess. And then like the angel she is, my friend found me and decided she was going to finish the race with me. She pushed me! She knew I had it in me. She saw where we were and knew we could get to that finish line with a time that I had ruled out. Mile 13 she really made me pick it up, and that last .1 I gave it my ALL. As soon as I could see the clock I knew I had to do it (I was avoiding looking at my watch)… was I really about to finish my first half marathon with a sub 2?!
The emotions hit. I never would have thought this was possible. Without my friend pushing me, and the support of everyone else, I never would have done it. But I did! My official finish time at the OUC Half Marathon was 1:58:47 with a 9:00 min/mile average pace. I could not believe it! This just goes to show that anything is possible! I am truly the luckiest girl to have so many people that care, support and believe in me.
I am not sure what is next for me… but I do know I am definitely going to stick with running. Clearly, I need to believe in myself a little more and my goals need to be adjusted.
The sky’s the limit!
XO
