The Tyler Half

(pre-race jitters, driving to the starting point)

Well, I did it again, as crazy as it may seem. I ran another 13.1 miles.
A while ago I befriended a girl at the gym. We met while we ran on the treadmill. Occasionally I would catch her looking at my speed and distant, and if we're all being honest here, I sometimes checked out what she was running. Finally one day she said, "Thanks for being my silent running buddy. I wanted to stop then you showed up and helped me finish."


Since then we have become running friends. I ran my first half and subsequently she entered and ran in her first, and second and lots of other races. It had been a year and half since I ran my first half and she motivated me to do it again. I remember the day, we talked about it and I came home with the determination to do it again. I called up a friend and said, "hey wanna run a half marathon with me?" She said yes and the rest is history. We began training a few weeks later in the middle of the summer. The only way to escape the heat was to get up at 5 am and beat it, those were hard days. It all paid off yesterday!

Throughout the course of training several other girls joined in the running fun. We had so much fun going on our long Saturday runs and stopping off for a smoothie afterwards. However, due to pneumonia and several other leg injuries, not to mention crazy schedules some of our devoted running buddies couldn't run in the race.



(miles 8 or 9, giving some of my fans, aka Log and Ben a "high five", check out the guy behind me, don't know exactly what he's smiling about, also his shoes. I read about them in this book, crazy to see)


So those who could saddled up for a trip east to Tyler Texas. (Have you even ever heard of it?) We had a great time, we went to Olive Garden and pounded pasta the night before, then woke up early for what looked like perfect running weather(and it was!!).


(mile 10, Wes drove passed me in the car, I was walking. He said, "don't quit now only 3 miles left. Then I pointed to the water, "just getting a drink sweetie" I replied. I haven't mastered the art of drinking and running at the same time.)

It was a HARD run, hills up the wazoo. They killed me and my time, but I finished and can put it down in the record books(my journal of course). Thanks for all who ran with me, motivated me, supported me, and cheered me on(either personally or mentally its all the same). I loved it and can't wait to do it again!

(the finish, check out the medal, s! Don't know if you can tell by our faces but we are glad to be done!)

My neighbor called today and asked me if I won. That you might all get a good laugh out of that one, clearly he doesn't understand the word elite!