It's Official

I am registered for my first Half Marathon!  EEK!

Here are the thoughts that are going through my brain:

• I have run 11.5 miles at most so far.  The race is 13.1.  I can do that.
• The time clock officially stops after 3 hours and 15 minutes.  I could walk the last 5 miles and still make it in that time.  Phew.
• I really hope I don't twist an ankle or something.  I don't want to be picked up by the loser bus. 
• It feels weird to say that I will literally run from Ocean City to Assateague Island.
• It starts at the OC inlet and I will immediately cross this beautiful bridge:

• There is an enormous and very steep bridge at the end to get to the island.  Now why would they put this bridge at the END of the half marathon?!?!  To mock me?  Maybe.  Seriously.  Look at this thing:

• But it will be worth it to say that I ran my first half marathon and it ended up here with these beautiful wild ponies:

• Here is the official map:

• Josh's dad and brother are registered for the half marathon.  Josh is registered for the 5K that day in OC.  Josh's mom is assigned to cheerleader/camerawoman/pick-me-up-from-the-hospital-girl in the case that I don't make it up that bridge.
• I have no interest in a full marathon.  Ever.  

My Second Race

I ran yet another race!  It was another 5K and was sponsored by my school's PTA.  I beat my old time! My last time was 30:45 and yesterday my time was 29:54!  That was my only goal!

Josh's parents came and Brian (dad-in-law), Josh, and I all ran the race.  We all beat our old times.  ANNNDDDD we all placed in our age ranges!

Brian crossing the finish line

ME! crossing the finish line

Josh crossing the finish line

Me getting my GOLD medal for placing 1st in my age range! (Women ages 20-29).  It also turns out that I was the only runner in this group, but that's not important...

The three of us with our medals.  Josh got a silver medal and Brian received a gold medal!  (It's also not important that he was the only one in his age range!).  I am holding a basket with a coffee mug and a gift card to my favorite local, organic coffee shop that I won in a raffle :-)

Overall, not a bad day!  I also ran an 11.5 mile run today when Josh's parents left!  And I ordered new running shoes that should come in this week sometime!  YAY.

My Very First Race!

I ran my very first race yesterday!

The Ocean City St. Patty's Day Boardwalk 5K is officially my first race completed :-)

I ran it with Josh, his dad, and his brother.  Mom-in-law was there for support and picture-taking!  I LOOOVEEE themed things, so I was excited to dress up for St. Patrick's Day.  Plus, how can you not love a run on a nice Spring (almost) day next to the Atlantic Ocean?

I finished in 239th(!) place with a time of 30min and 45 seconds.  Not too bad for my first one, I think!  I was 30th place in my age group.   Exactly 238 runners finished before me and exactly 238 runners finished after me!

Josh's dad actually finished 4th in his age group! (And way before me, I might add).  Unfortunately, they only give out awards for the top three finalists in each age group, so he wasn't publicly recognized, but I still think it's pretty awesome, especially considering it was his first race.

Since the race was sponsored by an Irish Pub on the boardwalk, Shenanigans, all of the runners got free beer when we were finished.  Which we very much enjoyed at 9:30am.  Which also promptly required a nap immediately after said beer was finished.

I am registered for another 5K hosted by my school's PTA on April 9.  My only goal then is to beat my time from this run... even if it's just one second faster!

Here are some photos from our event:

All of the racers right before the race!

For some reason, I was in love with these balloons.  Do you like my clover necklace?

At the starting line.

Josh's dad crossing the finish line.

Josh's brother crossing the finish line.

I am crossing the finish line.

Josh crossing the finish line.

The four runners right after the race.

Me and Josh right after the race.

I am enjoying EVO, a local craft beer, after the race.

After the beer, in the cold, on the beach, right before the nap.