Alton Half Marathon 2015 Recap

Last weekend I did something that I honestly never thought I’d be capable of… I completed the Alton Half Marathon, which was my first half marathon ever!

When I registered for the Alton Half Marathon, I was beyond excited for several reasons.  First, it’s nearly impossible to find half marathons on Saturdays, and I prefer not to do long runs on Sundays.  Second, I’d finished the Hot Chocolate 15K in December, and I thought going from that to the half marathon should be relatively easy.   Then on February 4th, I fell and sustained contusions to both knees and my right shin, as well as pulled a left groin muscle and a low back muscle, which resulted in sciatica. My right foot was on fire

Um, ouch.

I had to drop out of my body pump class at the gym, because I couldn’t do squats or lunges.

Returning to training after the fall was hard.  I mean HARD!  Couple that with the fact that I’d reached the point in my weight loss journey where I injured my knee the last time, and my brain kept telling me “You can’t do this.  This is where you failed last time.”

Fortunately, I have and awesome husband and some great friends, who I’ve asked to hold me accountable to my goals, and they did just that!

I don’t recall ever being quite as nervous before a race as I was at the starting line Saturday morning.  Unless you count the time I got off the Metrolink at the wrong station before a race, but that’s another story.  Anyway.  I kept telling myself that it didn’t matter if I had to walk the whole darn thing, I had to finish it… even if only to prove to myself that I could.  I took my Advocare Catalyst

, which helps repair & protect muscle tissueand Advocare O2 Gold beforehand, so I knew my muscles could withstand the run, if my mind could.

I still stink at pacing, so I did have to walk parts of it.  I also stopped to take some photos along the way, because 1) I could, 2) it was a gorgeous day, and 3) it was a beautiful course.

Even still, I finished in under 3 hours, which was my goal.

You know the saying of “A journey of 1000 miles begins with a simple step?”  Well, so does a race of 13.1 miles.  LOL.

Although she finished 17 minutes ahead of me, Abby hung around to cheer for me at the finish line.  What a friend!

When I did cross the finish line, I said I’d never do it again…

By 10 p.m. Saturday, I was already debating several half marathons for the Fall.  LOL.

Amazingly, I was not incredibly sore afterward.  In addition to the Advocare Catalyst and O2 Gold, I took Advocare Nighttime Recovery at bedtime, and was able to dance during worship Sunday morning.