Seattle 1/2 Marathon

36, 456

That is how many steps I took yesterday. When I got home and saw the number I really wanted to walk around the house or jog in place to reach 40,000.

But the mean hilly 1/2 marathon earlier kept me from doing it.

The Amica Seattle !/2 Marathon was yesterday. In the cold (thankfully not wet!!) weather, I once again wondered what the hell was wrong with me. Why did I sign up for this???

The first part wasn't so bad. Some hills, some flat. I was feeling good enough that I was jogging here and there. Then the real hills came. Some were more of an incline than others, but the they just seemed like they wouldn't end.

My last 9 miles was the same last 9 miles as the marathoners. So being constantly surrounded by runners helped keep me going. The fact that I knew a good friend was doing the full marathon ending in these hills made me more resolute to not stop. I breathed hard, I cursed (not too loudly!) and I groaned. But I didn't stop.

My time wasn't a PR, like one always hopes. The fact that I didn't feel the need to stop on the hills or remind myself that I had cab money. That was huge for me.

My speed wasn't there, but my endurance has improved.

I felt good enough after I had some chocolate milk and food to change into less damp (and less stinky!) clothes to wait for my friend to finish her race. This wasn't her first, but I knew how tough the last 7 or 8 miles were going to be for her.

Standing in the cold wasn't the best idea I ever had. I had to keep reminding myself to keep moving. But I realized that I never really stick around to watch people crossing the line.

There were people crying as they crossed. Family members in tears cheering them on. I didn't know their stories. I had no clue who they were. But I teared up every time I saw it.

So here I sit the day after with aches and pains. For the first time in a long time my knee and foot don't hurt post race. Let's be clear that my legs and butt are making me groan every time I sit or stand. And my time was, frankly, crap.

And I'm completely good with all of it.