Yes indeed!

After not having run more than 7 or 8 miles, I decided 7 weeks ago to train for my first half marathon. Today is the day. It is a gorgeous run:

http://www.deadwoodmickelsontrailmarathon.com/

Through the Black Hills. My goal is less than 2 hours, I'll post back when I'm done (and able to type).

Here we go! My wife will take me to the start line in about 30 minutes, so I wanted to just jump on and thank you all for the support and encouragement here. It is your example that always inspires me to take on new challenges so that I never get stuck walking up the down escalator! LOL.

Jeremy

Wishing you the best Jeremy! :tu:

I remember my earlier running days of 1/2's and full marathons. I predict you'll come in under 2 hours. :claplow:

What is your planned post run meal? :eat:

Good for you, Jeremy. Sounds exhilarating.

Good luck and have a great run.

Thanks for the positive prediction! I didn't quite make that, but that's okay ... here's a summary ...

WHEW!!! What a run. Just a quick checkin. That was amazing.

I kept a steady 9-minute mile pace for the first 5 miles, then we hit this huge grade ... it was uphill for 3/4 mile ... so I said, no way I'm stopping, but certainly had not trained on the hills so I slowed the pace. Picked up fine coming down the back end (very steep DOWNHILL this time) and really opened up. About mile 9, I started to feel queasy in my stomach, and realized is was just from the liquids I was taking, so I took a quick trip to nature's porta-potty and was back on track. Then mile 11 my legs felt like LEAD they were just aching from my feet to my hips. We started out at around 40 degrees and it was up to 80 in full sun ... I slowed my pace again, but kept plodding. There was one section where I said, okay, I'm going to stop, walk fast, and just to that pole ahead ... I started walking, and two guys came up right behind me and said, HEY LET's GET GOING so I jumped back into pace and jogged the rest of the way in.

My little girl was there and screamed DADDDY when I reached the finish line, it was great ...

Still recovering. I finished in 2 h 16 minutes for a 10:19 pace. I won't complain one bit, especially considering that pace was my first time running over 9 miles and this was over the hills across the stream and so forth!

Thanks for the support and encouragement. Whatta run!

Thank goodness for the hot tub afterwards.

And for the post-workout meal? It was a heaping plate full of french toast with pecans and maple syrup with a blueberry muffin on the side and cranberry juice. SLURRRRRP.

Jeremy

congratulations jeremy!

hope you're not too sore to keep up the running the following week ;)

That's great--good for you! Nice post w/o grub. :spaz: Now all you need is to treat yourself to a good massage. That and as jtchen22 suggests to get back out for some more. :tu:

Well done, Jeremy!!! I know what it feels to finish your first half marathon. I've run two of them so far, and a full marathon. But the first half marathon will always be something special, maybe because it was my first race ever.

Kudos to you, again. You must be very proud!!! :tucool:

That's great, Jeremy. So happy for you. You did great! I'm hoping to make my way to a half marathon some day. I'm just thinking about a 10k right now. You are great inspiratio for us -- I guess we all are for each other. Good work and thanks so much for telling us about it.

Nice! There's no better motivation than actually training for an event. Congratulations on doing it, a half marathon is a long way! :tucool:

The scenery looks FANTASTIC! Good job on finishing in such good time! Oh and your meal afterwards sounds so heavenly!