Hobbler Half

Ok, so... I like running!

Crazy, huh! As I was running down the beautiful canyon, I saw that runners aren't insane, that there is a euphoria that comes.

Sorry it's been so long. I KNOW you have all been losing sleep waiting to hear how my half marathon went :) Well, here it is, my update:

I woke up at 4:15 and ate some oatmeal. Then got dressed and stretched and finished up all the last minute things. We left around 5:00. My group of running buddies: roommates Cailey and Abby, old friend Miriam, and ward friends/neighbors Kellie and Mark.

We drove to the finish line and got there around 5:50. Boarded the bus around 6:15. Got to the starting point. Went to the bathroom. And then waited behind the starting line with my friends. The feeling before it started was unreal! It was such a surreal thing for me because I'm the last person on earth I'd ever see doing something like this.

A little bit about the course: down the canyon, soft rolling hills but with an overall downhill grade. Beautiful scenery, perfect weather, water station every two miles. In the canyon until around mile 9 when we entered a neighborhood.

And then 7:00 came and we were off. I ran for about 30 seconds in silence and just relished the excitement around me. And then on the iPod went. First song randomely selected? Stronger. Great start.

Hit mile 1. Wow, it's already been a mile? I won't stop till I get to mile 3.

Hit mile 2. Wow, two already!!? Ok, a quick sip of water.. I feel great. I won't stop till 5.

Hit mile 3. Started noticing how GORGEOUS the canyon was. I'm going my own pace, my breathing is regular, and I feel INCREDIBLE.

Hit mile 4. I STILL feel great! I am going to run this whole thing. That's right, I will not stop once. I'll slow down for a step or two when I take a sip of water, but that'll be it. I can do this. Wow, who'd have thought..

Hit mile 5. Wow. Now I know why people are running. It is so beautiful here, I'm just cruising along, listening to my favorite upbeat songs. I love life! AH, THIS IS GREAT!

Hit mile 6. EUPHORIA. This was the best mile, I think. Miles 4.5-8 were REALLY really good.

Hit mile 7. I could run a marathon. I totally could. I could run all day and never stop!

Hit mile 8. This was the first time the water station was really anticipated. But ok ok, this is still good... I should run a half marathon once a month....

Hit mile 9. Out of the canyon and into neighborhoods. Ugh, sun, go away! I don't like this... But! Only 4 miles to go! That's just a bit longer than that super short run I take down to center street. Almost done!

Hit mile 10. My knees are starting to hurt. So is my foot.. and my hips. Man, my knees! Ugh, I don't like running through here. Three more miles, still! It's SO short! Just a half hour! Come on.... ....... ......

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eternity

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WHERE IS THE 11 MILE MARK!!!?

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three miles go by....

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Hit mile 11. Oh dear. only two more miles. My knees! There is a girl who stopped and started walking in front of me and... she is still ahead of me. We are going the same pace and she isn't even running. Just stop for a minute. No, speed isn't the point; I will not stop. Ah, I am dying! Who puts themselves into this when not in ignorance!? Aaaand, walk. The first few steps were bizarre. No, the first thirty seconds were so weird. It was like when you get off of those super speed walking bands in the airport. Not that I was slowing down, really, but the feeling in my legs... Really REALLY weird.

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Where is the next mile?

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....Where is the next mile?

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Runa a half marathon every month? Ha, Morgan, what were you thinking..

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OK, seriously!!? It has been 2 MILES I SWEAR!

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I am so THIRSTY.

Just look for the next water stand at 12.

Where is it?

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Where is it!!?

on and off jogging..

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Hit mile 12--WITHOUT DRINKING STATION. NO, NO. Do they not have water for the last drinking station? I'm only a mile away. But I. NEED. WATER. Ah, there it is.

continue on and off jogging.

only a mile left. But I can't. I have to stop. now. where is my second wind? Where!

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Only a quarter or so mile left....

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I am dead.....

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On comes Miley Cyrus's "Can't Wait to See You Again." If this won't pump me up, nothing will. And.... I'm still dead. No pump up.

Hit mark 13. WHERE IS THE FINISH LINE! ? This is much longer than .1 miles.... And here comes Miriam! Hey, Morgan, I'll run to the end with you! Where is it! Just around the corner. desperate: where?....

And there it is. Looms up. And there Caye and Abby are, waiting for me. They cheer and I cross.

I crossed the finish!!!

Get a free waterbottle. I am so shocked I finished. Gulp water. And then the thought, why in the world am I still standing? Sit on grass. Talk, pictures, etc.

Leave a half hour later.

And that was my first half marathon. Was it hard? The end was the hardest thing I've ever done! I'd never run more that 9 miles. And I'd only ran 9 miles once. I was always really busy and didn't really have time to train as well as I'd have like to. But seriously, it was perfect. Perfect weather, perfect scenery, perfect everything.

Will I do one again? Of course! October! Or Sept. But yes, I will be running another in the fall. And definitely running the Hobbler Half again next year. yay yay!!

Well, it's late. I'll add a few pictures to this post tomorrow. But I really want to publish it now, so ya.. pictures will be added tomorrow or sometime within the next few days