I'm taking a running break. Nothing major. I'm going to do some walking and some small runs. Nothing long or intense though. I'm trying to figure out the best way to go about increasing my speed. I learned from the half that I have bad posture(remember the back crackin' at mile 5?) I've heard there is a book called Chi Running that helps with posture and speed, so I'm going to look into that. So, no worries runners, I'm just taken a break. I'll be back :O)

So, I bet you wanna know how it went...

Overall, it was amazing! I will definitely do another one, and I still have my site set on a Marathon in 2012! Jason ran with me and that made it that much more awesome. To complete an athletic event with anyone makes you feel closer to that person, but to complete it with your spouse. It's like you've conquered the world! The first 7-8 miles went along quite smooth. During mile 5 my back started hurting pretty bad so we stopped in someones driveway so Jason could pop my back. The TNT girls right behind us were kind enough to stop and make sure I was alright, then chuckled when we told them what was going on. At 5 ish is also where I took my power gel and a cup of powerade and was pretty sure I was gonna spew all over those expensive College Hill houses. I told myself I was going to continue to run unless I actually started actively vomiting. I never did. After that, we rolled onwards for another 2 ish miles.

Then we hit 9 miles. Or as Jason and I like to call it, the mile of death! The mile was completely and totally walked! Let's be honest, it my even have been hobbled! AFTER the fact we had many runners tell us that mile 9 is your "break down" mile. The mile where you want to quit, and where your pain is the worst. I pretty much agree. It was sheer will getting through the 9th mile! Once I saw the 10 on the road though it all changed. Mentally, I kept telling myself, "All you have left is a 5k!" That made miles 10 and 11 a little easier. Mile 12 was almost like mile 9. You're so close to finish, yet it's SO far away! We could see the hotel that the finish line was in front of and it seemed a million miles away! Not to mention we had a slight(and I do mean slight) incline that may as well have been a mountain! My already screaming calves were completely protesting and quivering. You know the movie Aliens, where the alien pops out of the man's belly and dances on the diner counter? I was pretty sure my calf muscles were going to tear of my flesh like that. I could seriously envision them flopping on the side of the road. They hurt so bad!

Ok, so we get up the mountain, I mean mole hill, and we start running again. The bridge is in veiw! People are lined on the roads, we are near the end!! Time to step it up. The last 10th of a mile was the best! That's where all the spectators are. They are cheering you on, yelling for you. About 20 feet in front of the finish line, waiting for us to come through was my Grammie! That was one of the best parts of the race! Having someone there to cheer you on, is so awesome. I high fived her, then Jason grabbed my hand and we ran through the finish line together. It was one of the most awesome moments of our marriage!!

Today is the day!

I'm hoping for 3 hours and 15 mins or less....