Made It (Sigh)

Too tired to fully explore everything the way I want to right now, I am posting something tonight as a sort of bookmark for the event: I might have exacerbated the injury to my left big toe (also known as the hallux, Latin fans), but I did finish my first half-marathon this past Saturday in two hours and three minutes, just a few minutes past where I wanted to be. Keeping the toe injury and the lack of altitude readiness in mind, I'm okay with that finish.

Having gotten to our hotel an hour-and-a-half later than hoped after a tire almost blew out and had to be replaced, the boyfriend and I had less than 12 hours to acclimate to the 8,500-foot altitude before getting up at a little after 5:00 a.m. to head to the start line. After standing outside for an hour and fifteen minutes in 48 degree weather, I was off with a 12-minute first mile that was my longest. Yes, indeed, I ran negative splits (increasingly faster miles) for the most part up until the last couple of miles, where I ran out of steam--and, I think, air. The hardest miles were the first few, where I was doubting my ability to keep going, and the last few, where the mountain scenery (gushing stream on the left-hand side, pine and birch trees on the right, mountains and blue sky everywhere) was no longer working its charm because every particle in me was gasping for the finish line.

I managed a sprint and a smile at the end, though, and one more silent thanks for the dog who couldn't participate but who had pulled me through all the miles that got me there. I think she was the happiest of the three dogs when we got home, but I've already told her: No more running until the toe is x-rayed, and no more longer distances this year. We'll be okay.

(P.S. I forgot to mention a couple of weeks ago that I had another first for the summer: My first medal! I was first in my age group for a local 5k with around 400 participants. It's been quite a summer for the running, and I hate to take it easy now, knowing all the good fall runs coming up, but . . .)