Finished

For those who've been following the half-marathon saga, I just need to say "thank you." Without your support, whether it was physical or just mental I don't think I would've finished.

Yup, I finished IT!

I finished in 2 hours and 44 minutes. Not bad for a 53-year- old broad who didn't run anything but run her husband crazy three months ago.

How was the run? you ask.

Well, more than 300 people in all shapes, sizes and ages showed up. It felt overwhelming. As we started out it just amazed me how fast everyone else seemed to be running, while I jogged my way along.

Nothing can prepare you for that moment when you see your son running towards you. And I'm not talking about when he was a little guy learning to walk. This is at the 4.5 mile area and my son was running back to the finish line. I had yet to make it to the 7 mile mark. Umm. Did I say I was as slow as a turtle? Chad finished in 1 hour and 30 minutes. But there he was at the finish line, yelling, "Sprint it Mom!" I think he was getting even for all the years I've yelled that at him at the finish line.

And nothing prepares you for when a 4-year-old and 7-year-old run out to finish the last 50 yards with you. And naturally, they cross the finish line before you do, but it still made me cry.

Oh, don't get all excited. I did not run the entire 13 miles. I walked part of it. I would count to 100 or 60 or some odd number while running then allow myself to walk to a tree or fence post and then it was back to running.

How do my legs feel?

Well, I haven't worn heels this week. Not a good idea.

But I did jog/walk two miles on Wednesday. I've walked two miles on Tuesday and today, Thursday. I plan to run 4 miles on Saturday.

I'm not giving up.

I think I've found a new passion, even though I'm slow.

Four more days

In just four days I will have completed a half-marathon. What has surprised me the most on this mid-life crisis journey is the number of people who actually have read my silly posts about how far I ran and how long it took me.

Today for instance:

I called Woods Cross Police Chief Greg Butler to get information on a fatality for a short story for the newspaper. When he said how old the woman was who died, I sighed.

"You're 50 too?" he said.

"I'm 53," I said.

Then he asked me when my race was. I don't think of the event as a race. If I did that would mean I would have to run fast in order to win and I'm not going to run fast to win. I'm going to jog/run/walk and finish.

I was surprised he knew about it. He did because he's been following it on Facebook. Seriously.

I ran into people in the store and they ask. It has become a topic brought up by my neighbors.

I am overwhelmed by the support and

Scared.

What

If

I

Don't

Finish?

Seriously?

OK, I will finish. I know I will. I mean I have to. My granddaughters are expecting me to finish. My daughters and sons are expecting me to finish. My husband said he knows I will finish. My daughters-in-law believe I will finish. My sons-in-law will be there.

And my cousin Beth Dunn Harringtonsaid she will be there.

She's taking up walking and I'm really proud of her. I've been following her progress too and she's amazing.

Oh, I learned something today.

It seems yoga will make your body produce noises.

I didn't know that. I thought it was something I ate. Changed my diet several times.

You see, I do yoga to warm up my body before I run/jog/walk.

And for the first 15 minutes I'm running/jogging bodily noises happen. I've been very grateful to jog only with my dog, Jade.

Well, now I know. Seems I'm bending them out of me.:)