13.1

I ran my FIRST HALF MARATHON!!!!! 13.1 miles! A race distance I said I would never run or EVER thought was possible! I still can't believe it! But my legs sure can! ;) 

My official time: 2:07:11

9:40 average/mile

Stats uploaded from my Garmin:

Lap 1: 9:37; Lap 2: 9:20; Lap 3: 9:15; Lap 4: 9:23; Lap 5: 9:24; Lap 6: 9:36; Lap 7: 9:31; 

Lap 8: 9:35; Lap 9: 9:50; Lap 10: 10:10, Lap 11: 10:09; Lap 12:10:03, Lap 13: 9:50

THE BIG DAY!

A group of us friends, including my running buddy, took off for downtown via the ubahn (train). The half was starting from the Commerzbank Arena here in Frankfurt. Those of us that weren't running the race, split up and would be meeting us at the mile 6 mark along the river and then again at the finish. It was a cold chilly morning and didn't take me long to question my chosen outfit: a t-shirt and shorts. Brrrrrrrr!! Once we got to the stadium, I had to go get my bib and running chip. Funny thing is the lines were formed (if you call it that...it was more like organized chaos and everyone was everywhere) by the bib number which I had no idea what mine was. After some broken up translation, I figured out that you had to look at this huge roster on the outside of the building first and THEN get into line. I put down my deposit for the chip (in case I didn't come back with it???) and went out to get my bib attached to my shirt.

{Hanging out before the race}

My friend and I hung out along the sidelines stretching and getting ready for our run with our husbands at our sides and our kids running around us on the grass/turf. I was such a big ball of nerves! I was also running this race for my Aunt, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I knew she was facing such a hard challenge and I wanted her to know that I was supporting her - even if it had to be half way around the world. I bought a shirt online and knew it would help me run this challenge I was facing as I thought of her. It wasn't honestly much I know, but it was all I could think of with living so far away. Unfortunately, a hug or visit wouldn't work. So I chose to run!

{Me + my running buddy}

Off to get ready for the corral. There was NO WAY I was going to get in the front of the mad dash! I left that for the pros and experienced! But, I did start in the same running time group as my running buddy. I think it was the 1:45 group? It might have been 1:30? I could be wrong...I have since forgotten. But I knew it was in a faster pace group than I wanted to stick with. I thought it would at least help me get out there and get moving. And that, it did! :)

I decided last minute NOT to take my iphone with me to listen to my playlist. They say not to change anything on race day. ;) But I really didn't want to hold it the entire 13.1 miles! So John let me take his mini ipod that clipped to my shorts so I could still listen to music. I would soon regret this decision! Haha Let's just say that we have different music styles! I don't really like the Doors, System of a Down.... I was fiddling with it as I ran through the industrial part of town and just couldn't find something I liked. It definitely helped me run fast! I couldn't WAIT to stop listening to it! Haha In fact, a mile away from the finish, I took out my ear buds and stopped listening. I wanted to enjoy the last part of the race. (And yes, I learned my lesson to not listen to his playlists again!) ;)

{Ready...or not! :)}

When it was time to go to the line up, my stomach was super nervous! I gave John a kiss and walked over to where I needed to wait. He took a photo of me standing next to the "European giants" as I called them and then the countdown began in German. This was IT!!! "Oh my goodness....what am I getting myself into?" This being my first half was making me very nervous! The farthest I ran in training was 12 so I knew I could do this!

After I crossed over the start line and pushed "START" on my watch, we ran in a huddled group in slow motion for the first quarter mile or so until people started to separate and find their own pace. I sure didn't enjoy being ping ponged between people. Being short in stature didn't help being pushed around and getting passed up like I didn't exist. And those elbows! Not fun! But I kept going and after the first 2 or so miles, got into a good rhythm and had more space.

Unlike a lot of people, it seems I can't remember what happened at such and such mile. I just saw things as I ran. :) But a little breakdown of the course, the first couple of miles had us running away from the arena through some woods that then led us through an industrial part of the city going towards the river, followed by a few miles along the river walk that got us to the first water station at mile 6. This is also where I saw my friends standing but couldn't get their attention until last minute as I was running past them. Seeing them though gave me a big boost to keep moving forward. From there, it curved us through some city neighborhoods to streets well traveled to a back road behind the arena that was mostly uphill for a few miles that took us to the second (and last) water station before the finish - around mile 10. Also this hill had us running up one side of the road while we saw the people in front of us running down the other side past us. Wasn't too inspiring but I kept putting one painful step in front of the other. After the uphill and downhill of that, it turned us through a wooded area as we ran towards the arena. We ran along the side of the arena, past the start line and around to where the opening was where we all ran to the finish line INSIDE the arena!! To see complete strangers out there all throughout the race genuinely cheering you on was a lot of fun!

{Pictures at the halfway mark - along the Frankfurt (Main) river}

I was feeling great most of the time! Right IT band wasn't giving me problems like it did starting the week before on my training run and didn't start hurting until mile 8. A week of rest and no running really helped I think. I guess at that point I was in denial and pushed through the uncomfortable pain. It wasn't so painful that I couldn't keep going. So that's what I did. I ran. 5 miles in pain.

The arena was back in view about 1 mile away. I ran to the sound of my feet and focused on the end of the race. Just tried to focus on anything but the pain. I didn't know where John and the kids would be afterwards so I was also scouting out the crowds as I rounded the arena. I couldn't locate them. I did however spot my friend, Jen, who was there cheering me on at the end and took my picture. That gave me more energy to run towards the finish line. :) As I entered into the arena, I heard some people cheering for me. I looked up to my left and saw my family in the seats yelling "Go momma!!" It was really great! I loved having them there to support me! And for John to take the backseat this time so I could run meant a lot!

{Picture Jen took when she saw me towards the finish}

After I crossed the finish line, I felt not only a huge relief and sense of happiness that I was done, but the pain in my right leg hurt so bad I couldn't move for some time. I just stood along the guard rail towards the exit of the stadium where a lot of people were stretching. I was in tears and couldn't move. I finally hobbled out to go find John and the kids while grabbing a banana and water from the volunteers. I was famished and couldn't wait to eat! John found me without much of a problem and broke the news to me that my running buddy wasn't able to complete the race because she got hurt. It was good to see her at the end though; I was still really proud of her! We were out there running with 4,000 other runners. As for medals or souvenirs or anything like that, they don't really do that a lot here in Germany. This race was only 15 euro...so not too bad for finishing the run inside the stadium that's home to Frankfurt's soccer team.

I feel like I'm living proof that if I can do this, anyone can! Just a year ago I started out running. And before that...I always said never. So never say never!! You'd be amazed at what YOU can do if you put in some effort and believe in yourself. It doesn't even have to be running. It can be anything! If it's something you want to do, go for it!! ;)

{Almost to the finish line...}

{My family greeting me after I finished!}

{My running buddy and me}

{Frankfurt friends!}

After turning in our timing chip, it was time to hobble (quite literally!) off to the train to go home. It felt so surreal to have the race over and done with. So much time and dedication was put into running this half marathon that it feels strange to just be "done." So what's next? Rest! And physical therapy! I have a feeling I'm going to have to grow some extra patience of not being able to run for a little while while I figure out what's going on and to heal. But I'll be back and running strong again in no time! :) Now it was time to get back home and put on a party for my cute 2 year old! Today is his day!!!

{Our amazing cheering section!}

Hoping to give the Frankfurt Lufthansa Half Marathon another go next year! :)

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* Roughly 136 miles and too many hours to even count went into training for this half. I started training around Thanksgiving with a few weeks off in the midst of training when I had the flu. Otherwise, a few times a week and every Saturday morning, I was out there running and training for this race. Frankfurt was showered with so much snow this year that we were out there running in the snow most of the season. It was cold but so peaceful! Some good memories were made for sure!

This is what I wrote in my exercise log:

"Today I start my 16 week training program to get ready for the Frankfurt 1/2. This Saturday I'll be running a 6 miler. Haven't gone that far at once since June's 10K race. After I thought this through...I realized I'm picking quite the week to start this training with Thanksgiving and all.  Here goes...day 1/week 1/ of 16 weeks!!!"
November 19, 2012 at 11:04am near Ginnheim

Post race update: 3 days after the race, I can assure you that I've never been more tired in my life except for the weeks after having a baby. I feel like I've been in a sleep coma since the race ended. Just now I am starting to feel normal again and no longer sore.