Queens Half Marathon

So fun running with you ladies!

Saturday morning July 30th I got up at 4:15AM from a relatively sleepless night. Thankfully my "real runner" friend, Erin, told me that this is normal the night before a race. I've been preparing for this half marathon for several months now. Over the last several years I've done several 5k's, one 8k and two10 k's. A few friends challenged me to consider doing a half and I just laughed at them. You see I'm not a runner. I'm becoming a runner. I wouldn't even let myself say that until I could run ten miles. Just a few short years ago I was carrying around 65 more pounds than I do today. In my head I still think of myself as that girl most days. So the idea of running 13.1 miles seemed out of the question.

I'm not sure how or why but I committed and registered for this race. My FIRST half marathon in the heat of summer. Thank goodness for runner friends who got me out there. Robyn, Neil, Joyce...thanks so much for pushing me during training.

The race itself was pretty flat (minus a bridge at mile 11 or so) which helped me push through the heat. Training on those Central Park hills paid off I guess. It was much more shaded than I thought as well which also was an incredible relief. New York Road Runners did a great job of supplying us with gatorade/water stands every mile & a half or so. They also had sprinklers to run through which I used on top of dumping cups of water on myself. Rookie mistake....I got my right shoe wet but it dried pretty quickly.

Crossing the finish line!

Just after the finish line!

For my official race results, go here: http://web2.nyrrc.org/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi/43217.1.569368712486087606.

Here's my unofficial race time:

Check out a clip of me crossing the finish line.

I have amazing friends that came all the way out to Queens to cheer for me....

Looks like Lady GAGA also came out to cheer us on as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xhN2lWzfao.

Julia called this my trophy....ummmm Shake Shack....great reward!