Race Day!

So the half marathon started at 6:15 AM ... so early! Which meant for my Georgia team, meeting at 4:45 to talk group pictures and walk to the starting line. Amanda and I got up around 4, dragged our butts out of bed, and started getting ready. I'm totally not a morning person, so even though I was super excited, I still struggled.

Looking cute for the race was a priority (hey, we all knew I wasn't breaking any world records out there, so it was a good thing I looked cute). I'll admit that I was totally that girl who put on makeup ... not much, but at least some mascara so it didn't totally look like I just rolled out of bed. And I had a really cute hair ribbon, and a Team Challenge face tattoo. And of course my decorated singlet too!

Our group met for pictures and then began the trek to the starting line at Mandalay Bay. I was a little disappointed to find out that one of my friends, Betsy, had changed her corral number, because I had really hoped to run with her and Jennifer. Oh well.

It was freezing outside ... seriously, it was so cold. I think it was about 38 degrees in the morning and while it did warm up a bit during the race once the sun came out, it was still really cold all day long. We got to Mandalay Bay so early and it was so cold, so a group of us from my team went into the hotel and went to the bathroom and warmed up a bit.

I think the most annoying part of the race (and definitely something I'll know for next time), is that since Jennifer (and Amanda, though we couldn't find each other before the race began so we were both on our own) and I started in Corral 21, it took us over an hour to even make it to the starting line. We saw everyone starting on a big screen, and heard fireworks, but man it took forever before we were even close to starting. I started running in sweatpants and a hoodie because it was so cold, and ended up just taking those off and leaving them on the street as it warmed up a bit. I did run the whole race with gloves on (with hand warmers inside too) ... so much for trying to look cute.

There's not a whole lot to say about the race other than we ran ... and ran ... and ran some more. Jennifer and I stayed together the whole time, and it was nice to have a friend by my side to keep encouraging me and keep me going. It was hard to remember to pace ourselves with a running/walking regimen. That's how we had trained, but once you're out on the course and there are bands and hundreds of spectators watching, it was so easy to get caught up in the adrenaline of the moment and just keep running. We had to remind ourselves that we didn't train to run the whole thing, and built in our walk breaks every 2 blocks or so. It worked out well, and I'm happy to report that I really felt good for the majority of the race. I think by about mile 8 and 9 it was getting to the point of "Ugh OK am I really still running?". By that point, we were running off the Vegas strip and through some neighborhoods and there weren't as many spectators there. It was so amazing being a part of Team Challenge. There were so many complete strangers that we ran by that cheered for us. All of the Team Challenge participants wore orange singlets, so it was easy to pick us out of the crowd. We had so many people cheering as we ran by, yelling our names (lucky I decorated my singlet right!) and thanking us for what we were doing. It was a great feeling and definitely made it easier to keep running. Our coach, Max, ran with us for awhile through mile 10 or so and it was awesome to have his encouragement. And as we got closer to the finish, our coach Mona ran with us through mile 12. They are both such incredible people and it meant a lot that they helped us get through the season and turn us into runners, and then helped us finish the race too.

Jennifer and I crossed the finish line together -- holding hands because it only seemed appropriate. My parents, Aunt Sue and Uncle Vinny, and our cousin Kevin were all at the finish line cheering me on. It was a really emotional moment and such a really sweet victory. We certainly didn't break any world records, but it was such a great accomplishment for both of us. I had such a bumpy year and a half prior to starting to train for this race, and it was so amazing to cross the finish line knowing that I had completed such a great task. It was definitely a moment I'll never forget! :)

After crossing the finish line, we got lots of snacks, and then went to the Team Challenge after-party. I devoured some PF Changs and got a massage ... it was so nice! Knock on wood, I really wasn't as sore as expected after the race. I really thought I wouldn't be able to walk, but by the Grace of God I felt really great! Maybe I was more prepared than I thought I was!

And it's a good thing I wasn't too sore ..... because the night that followed was definitely a nice treat! More to come on that!