2:06 was my finish time for my second half marathon. My goal was 2:03, so all in all I am happy with my finish time. I mean come on...80% humidity!? That takes something to run in this type of heat.
The morning started off great, I had 1 cup of quinoa/oat mix with 1 scoop protein powder, 2 egg whites, 1/2 cup of blackberries and of course my 1 cup of coffee.
I picked up my Dad and we headed to the UrbanWildland Race conveniently located on 66th and Portland in Richfield.
For the first few miles I met a gal named Janelle and we chatted about running and which races we were signed up for. After a few miles I let her go because I had a race to run! Around mile 6 I met another girl named Kirsten and we chatted about running as well. She is training for the TC full. What awesome women! Glad I had a few moments with them.
The run was beautiful. We ran through residential streets, the Wild Park Reserve which was surrounded by swamps and acres of trees and wildlife. There is something about being in nature that connects me to God. And there is something about running with 1,000+ people that stirs up emotion in my soul. The rhythm of our foot strikes, the conversations, the blaring headphones, the people cheering on the side streets, the powerful energy of determination.... it all came together to orchestrate moments of thankfulness.
Running and racing is more than beating a time or keeping a pace. Running is about freedom, joy and heartfelt thankfulness to be alive!
My first half marathon that was on June 5th, 2011 was more than 13.1 miles to me. It's a run of victory. A run that marks an important moment of over coming physically adversity. A run to remind me of God's love for me. I had to stop running for almost 2 years after I was in a serious car accident where a drunk driver t-boned my car. I got a bracelet engraved that says "I run because I can" and will wear it during my race to remind me that running is a gift to be cherished and if my body allows me to...I run.
