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This is a 5K Right?!

No. It most certainly wasn't. Half marathon #2 is in the books and my hips HATE me today.

 Yesterday, I completed 13.1 miles in the Publix Half Marathon alongside my friends, Naomi and Noah with the support of The Kyle Pease Foundation.

 To say I wasn't ready is an understatement. I'm fairly confident that if either Naomi or I had said to one another, "Let's not do this", we probably would have bowed out. I hadn't trained enough, I knew my body was going to hate me (and it does) and with the business of the weekend, I was dehydrated and hadn't eaten.

 We got to the start and I made a point to take a quick look from the start line backwards to take in the sea of blue...it's one of my most favorite things to do at this event as it's a picture perfect reminder of all the hard work that's put into getting 40 athletes and 150 pushers to the start. 

 I found Naomi and as we spent 3 minutes waiting for the official "go ahead" all I kept thinking was, "I have no clue how the hell we're going to do this." And then we were off.
I have learned now that when I do events like this, all sense of timing and giving a shit go out the window. There's no PR, there's no plan....it's just do the damn thing and try to make the best of it. This is why I SUCK as an athlete, but it's also why I love doing these events.

 Here's how the day went:
Miles 1-3...me joking about random crap, Noami burping
Mile 4...me realizing my shoes were giving me blisters
Mile 5...potty pit stop
Mile 6...a little tire pumping from our kick ass support, Cannon Cyclery
Mile 7...my hips screaming for help
Mile 8-ish?...rally corner for some much needed hugs and "good jobs!"
Between Miles 8 & 9....my incessant joking about this being a 5k and all down hill (other runners didn't find that funny)
Mile 9...tears from me...I hit a wall.
Mile 11...someone said, "Here's a beer!" and I took it and it was great. Best Natty Light EVER
Mile 12.5...holy shit, we're almost there!

 It was long and awful and yet it went by quickly and was wonderful at the same time. Honestly, the day already feels like a bit of a blur. 

 When we finished, I got to put Noah's medal around his neck for the 2nd time in a row and then....Naomi put mine on me. I cannot begin to explain to you the feeling of finishing something like that and getting to hug the necks of two of you're favorite people. I would never do anything like this if it weren't for them. 

 I looked at Naomi afterwards and said, "I have no idea how the we did that, but we DID IT!".

 So, I'm back home in Colorado. I'm walking like I shit myself. I'm debating and doing this thing again...and my heart, while a little sad that this weekend is over, is full.

 If you're reading this, then you're probably one of the awesome people I call a friend who either donated to this cause, sent me love and well wishes, gave me a big hug or did some combination of the 3. THANK YOU. You make weekends like this possible.

 If you haven't donated, but love this story and what the Kyle Pease Foundation is doing for kids like Noah, I invite you to contribute to the cause...HERE


#togetherwewheel

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