A Tale of Two Halfs

Many months ago I did something my middle school self would be appalled at; I took up running. I'm not gonna lie, I never would have guessed I'd become a runner. But I kinda felt like I didn't have a choice at the time. If I didn't run, my options for exercise were severely limited. And so I took up running on the trail behind our house.

After a few months, I finally worked up to running 3 or 4 miles during the week (pushing a double stroller). Somehow, one of my friends convinced me that I was perfectly situated to run a half marathon with her. And I agreed to do it!

12 very long weeks later, I completed my training program and was ready to run my first half marathon. However, as I mentioned before, that week all kinds of sickness rained down on my house and I ended up catching it myself. Despite my illness, I drugged up and ran. I felt like after 12 weeks of hard work I just HAD to complete my goal.

And, thankfully, I did finish! I came in at 2:30:45, which isn't anything to brag about, but I don't think it's horrible for a first timer. The problem with my first half? I had a pretty terrible experience. Besides just being sick, I made a lot of rookie mistakes, like not pacing myself at the beginning and neglecting to figure out how to fuel during the actual run. By mile 6, I was miserable and started getting really negative. I slowed down more and more as each mile went by and I actually walked mile 12, something I was hoping I wouldn't have to do. When I finally crossed the finish line I didn't feel at all how I thought I would feel. Normally after a race I feel pretty awesome, that "runner's high," not matter how tiring the actual run was. After this race, however, I just felt lame and unhappy.  But oh well, I thought. I completed my goal, now I could move on.

I tried to smile at the camera no matter how miserable I felt, so don't be deceived by my smiles haha

But of course I couldn't just move on. I blame my Langlois genes. The next few days after my race, I just couldn't get the bad experience out of my head. Then the racing company sent out an email about an upcoming half just 3 weeks away, describing it as completely flat and an easy run. After wringing my hands a bit about whether I was insane or not, I decided to sign up!

So on Feb 14th, I ran my 2nd half marathon. I tried to learn from all my mistakes first time around. This time I actually ate a decent breakfast before I ran, I made a plan for energy along the route (cliff blocks, gu is disgusting), and made a happy play list (turns out I love to run to anything that makes me feel like dancing, especially those obnoxious pop songs I would normally never listen to *cough* Katy Perry *cough*). My biggest goal this time: be POSITIVE. No matter what, I wanted to stay positive and just finish happy.

And I am SO GLAD I ran that second half. It was an AMAZING experience. Honestly, I would call it downright FUN. I know, right? Running 13 miles fun?! But it really was! I somehow did an awesome job of pacing myself and actually managed to keep myself at my goal 10:30 pace the entire race. The last two miles I was actually kinda dancing as I ran I was just feeling so good. Crazy, I know. In the end, I crossed the finish line at 2:18:45, beating my previous time by 12 minutes! I honestly didn't expect to beat my old time but all that pacing and positivity seemed to work! (I actually came across the finish line faster than my family thought I would, and I could see them running as I came close, trying to beat me to the finish to cheer me on, haha.)

In the end, I really feel like I completed my goal. I ran two half marathons, which is two more than I ever thought I would in my entire life. I'm definitely taking a break from the long distance running for awhile, but I've already made the goal to run the same half next February (flat & easy!!). I know not every race will be such a great experience, but at least I'm more prepared now mentally for how to do my best.