The Donna 26.2 to end Breast Cancer...my first 13.1!

What a great weekend! We woke up Saturday morning and I took my girlie to Junior Runner's club. I was able to run an easy short run with the kids. Then we headed to Jacksonville Beach for packet pick-up and the expo. Who knew I would enjoy this so much! Giveaways, shopping, all related to running!

We used the shuttle service to go to the expo. Everything was working well. We had our game plan for the morning. We left plenty of time for the transport, or sober thought. We headed to the shuttle service by 5 am. They said all runners needed to be on a shuttle but 5:30am. We didn't actually get on the bus until 5:30 or 5:35. Our friend who was running the full was staying beachside and they had tons of people waiting and not a single shuttle!

By the time we got to the runners area, let's just say chaos was going on. We didn't end up in the correct corral, my feet were frozen, but we had glove warmer inserts! The race started and we were off.

My little feet were so cold they felt like blocks of ice hitting the ground for the 1st half mile. They gave some good advice to hold on to your top layer on this extremely cold morning in case the wind was really strong on the beach. While I was running along at a nice and sustainable pace, here comes my friend Pam! They had all kinds of transportation issues but made it. I got to hug her while running and she was off with her running buddy for the Full marathon. She did amazing and is such an inspiration to so many of us!

The spectators along the course were great, very supportive. The causeway wasn't bad on the way out. The beach run wasn't bad for me, different but not bad. I missed the wind picking up there.

Turn around, headed back. They did a great job with water and Gu stops. We hit the on ramp for the causeway, the last 3-4 miles, and here comes the 1st place marathoner. He was flying! We cheered him on as he went by.

Then we started climbing the tall causeway. By this time I fell in with a Galloway pace group. The wind was blowing so hard I had to keep my head down so I wouldn't lose my Tuff Girl visor by NeverQuit. I was praying the entire time that the wind would die down and that my girls would have strong legs for this climb and wind.

Headed down the off ramp and getting ready to take the last half mile I started getting a bit emotional. I was so excited to actually be finishing my first half marathon, I was moved by the purpose of the run. So many folks running were obviously impacted by breast cancer, loved ones, survivors, friends.

The finish went well, I found my family and friends freezing. Talked to a lady who flew here from LA to run with her nephew in honor of her sister who survived breast cancer. Met back up with Amber and then the real chill set in. I couldn't stop shaking!

Great experience overall. The Princess half marathon is in two weeks. My sports massage is tomorrow.

Guess what.....I ran 13.1 miles today and I ran it well! I'm still a bit giddy!

First Half Marathon...oh my!

So, I'm not the best at keeping things current on the blog.  Training has progressed nicely, I had a little bit of an injury in December which kept me from running for about a week, but that has been worked out.

My friends and I have been training hard, primarily for the Disney Princess Half Marathon at the end of the month, but my faithful training buddy and I are doing the 26.2 Donna half marathon this weekend in Jacksonville Beach, FL.  She can't make it to The Princess, so we are so excited for this race!



There are so many reasons I'm excited about this race!  First and foremost, because not only are two of us running our first half marathon, but our friend and breast cancer survivor is running her first full marathon!  She is such a huge inspiration to so many of us.  She cheered me on at the finish line of my first 5k, so I think it's rather fitting that I get to return the favor on Sunday when she finishes her first full marathon!

This race doesn't just say it's trying to end breast cancer, they mean it!  70% of the proceeds go directly to the Mayo Clinic research department (where the race starts) and the other 30% goes to the Donna foundation that supports families and those going thru treatment for breast cancer.  This is so important to me, I have several relatives (my Grandmother, my favorite aunt ever, my Mother-in-law) and friends of the family that have survived this disease.  With the family background being what it is, I'm so likely to experience this one day.  I'm fine with that, God knows already and will provide exactly what I need.  But if they could just cure it all together, well, I'd be just fine with that too.

Ok, this is a bit selfish, but we get to run on the beach for a decent distance.  It's on hard packed sand, and those that have done this before say it's no big deal from a footing stand point.  I LOVE the beach!  So, to get to run for a great cause, with great people, in a beautiful location breathing in salt air, PERFECT RACE WEEKEND! (but what do I know, this is my first!)

I will make sure and update after the race.  I'm anxious and so excited to get going.  I feel like a kiddo getting ready to go to Disney (oh wait, I get to do that in 2 weeks!)  If I could go to bed now, I so would!

OH wait, last weekend we did our first family 5k!  All three of us ran, I paced with the kiddo to make sure she paced herself well.  Hubby took 1st in his age group, kiddo took 4th in hers, and another friend of ours son took 5th.  I was so excited to get to share running with the family, what a great weekend!

So, now to finish listening to the Extra Mile podcast on the weekend and get ready for the fun weekend ahead!