WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!

Our bib numbers and side waist belts.

Let me just say how much preparation came in to running this thing! First of all, we followed a 12 week training schedule. This included 3 days of running during the week with 1 long distance run on the weekend. It took a lot of dedication to seriously run 3 nights a week. Especially after working all day, and then going to run in the cold. It was by far the hardest challenge for me at least. I hated being cold. Once I started running though, I would warm up in about 3 minutes so that was nice. Their were other struggles that went into the training for both Heith and I other than just the time commitment. It was really hard on our knees and ankles running on the cement. Heith had surgery on his knee a few years back and it seemed to flare up when he ran on the cement. Especially towards the end where you are running a maximum of 24 miles a week. He ended up just taking the last 3 weeks off of training to let his knee heal up for the big day. I only seemed to have problems with mine when I ran over 6 miles. If I ran less than that then I was fine. So my knee would only hurt on the weekends. The day before the race we went down town to the fitness expo to pick up our packets and bibs. It was a mad house down there! I had a lot of excitement nerves going on in my stomach. I was ready to do it. It was kind of fulfilling knowing that I was about to put all that hard work in action. We picked up a lot of free samples of healthy stuff and headed back home. We had to get our headphones, our waste belts, our time chips, and clothes all ready for the big day. We wanted to just relax that night because we were going to have to get up at 5am. I made us a huge pasta dinner and filled up with as many carbs as possible. We also picked up our energy drinks for before the race and the drinks for afterwards. 5am came super quick on Sunday, and we were off to Tempe. We loaded up the school bus (can't remember the last time I was on a school bus) :) and they transported us to the finish line. It seemed so far away! We got stretched out real good, and ate a few snacks to get that last bit of energy in us. The corral was packed with people but we waited for only about 15 minutes from when the start when off til we were moving. We made a pack to just see each other at the finish line so we didn't feel like the other person had to wait. So one quick kiss and we were on our way. Heith has always ran faster than me in the training so it was no surprise he was out of sight quickly. I was able to see my aunt and cousin at mile 3 which was nice to cheer me on. Around mile 7 it started to get a little rough because my legs were starting to get sore but I told myself I was going to push through it. Since this was my first half marathon my only goal was to finish the race with out walking. I didn't really care what time I did it in, I just didn't want to walk at all. So around mile 12 (which is the most you run during training), my left knee and right ankle were hurting so bad. It seemed like the longest mile of my life to the finish line. I saw a few friends from my soccer team on my last stretch and that helped me keep going as well. I knew my sister was there too but for some reason never saw her! As soon as my feet touched through the finish line my legs felt like noodles. I finished in 2 hours and 16 mins. I walked through to get my medal and some snacks. The medals they give you feel like they are 20 pounds around your neck! When Heith and I met up he was in alot of pain, he could barely stand. Both his knees were swollen and just very uncomfortable. The rest of the day we just relaxed, iced Heith's knee, took Ib Profen, and went to the jacuzzi. We both are amazed we actually did it and our proud that we made the accomplishment. I didn't get any photos of us there because my sister had the camera and we could not find her. But there is still proof we did it!