My First (and Last) half-marathon mile by mile...Rated R for adult language and threatening violence

So I have always said there is no way I could run any farther than a 10k....ever. But its been a bit of a bucket list thing, especially since D has run one and I have really enjoyed running since Ainsley started Mothers Day Out in January.

A friend told me that once you get past 6miles it gets a little easier (yeah right) but I was running out of Spring time runs and Seabrooke half marathon seemed to be the last of the year until the fall, so after some decent longer runs I felt like it could at least be done I decided to sign up....

So there I was at 5AM on my way to Seabrooke TX with two friends who are training for the London marathon and today was a "light" run for them...great.

The race is small, like 700 people small, and is mostly a trail run. The course was a double loop, meaning you had to run the course twice and parts of it doubled back on itself, so there were several parts that you ran past four times...never mind the crazy people who ran the full marathon on Sun who have to run some parts 8 times!

This is pretty much how it went....

MILE1: Excitement! I actually ran with  my camera, haha, snap a couple of pictures while running...make 2hours my goal

MILE 2: Ok, so this "trail" run thing might be nice.... Notice  trivia signs along the trail to think about while running, cute idea...Awww, Aggie dude with a cowbell cheering for us, Yay!

MILE 3: trail opens up to Bayou and Bay...beautiful...notice bayou stinks a bit....which reminds me of the 10K I ran 5 yrs ago where it seemed everyone stank so bad and I weaved in between everyone trying to avoid the smell..... turns out I was pregnant with Ella  and didnt know it yet...which is why my smell was so crazy that day

MILE 4: Spend the whole mile counting days and wondering if I could possibly BE pregnant...that would be a really good excuse to stop running

MILE5: lady in front of me at water stop trys to pour water over her head....but instead it lands on my foot....continue with very wet toes..DANG IT!

MILE 6: worst mile of the whole thing...it is now that I realize a half-marathon is in fact 13miles and NOT 12 and I am NOT half way through, SHITE....see Aggie dude with bell, again...decide goal time is 2hours10min

MILE 7: I take that back...THIS is the worst mile of the whole thing...I have to run through the finish line and NOT finish...seriously, whos bright freakin idea was that, couldn't we have run around it at least???!!!...want to stop so bad...give evil eyes to everyone sitting in chairs cheering

MILE 8: see sign that says "GO TRACEY" pretend its for me...then get mad that its not..reward myself with a jolly rancher to suck on....mmmm, watermelon....take a deep breath and it falls out of my mouth and on the dirt path. CACAHUATES!

MILE 9: listen to favorite running song "Galvanized" on repeat..Hate that song now....Aggie Dude, if you freakin ring that cow bell at me one more time I am going to stop running (yay!) and come over there and Kick. Your. Ass.

MILE 10: trivia signs annoying the crap out of me....who freakin cares how many teeth a dolphin has...especially the second time I have read it today, and I keep missing the answer sign...whose great idea was that, Im going to find out and Kick. Their. Ass.

MILE 11: Notice I cant smell the bayou anymore...I bet there is no blood going to my nose and that is why I cant smell...maybe  I should stop running...see crazy marathon friends...they are chatting and smiling while running...want to Kick. Their. Ass.

MILE 12: want to stop. want to stop. want to stop. want to stop......pretty sure my wet foot is covered in blisters, where is that lady who poured water on my foot, Im going to Kick. Her. Ass.......think I'm a absolute idiot for bringing my camera,  want to Kick. My. Ass..... see girl who fell and is being taking away by ambulance....decide new goal is just to finish

MILE 13: see my candy on the trail and laugh to myself....laugh at how small the race is when a cop directs a truck with a goat in the back of it through the middle of the race... think of other humorous events along the way.....start writing this blog in my head just to keep one foot going in front of the other

MILE13.1: Yeah you forget about this measly 0.1mile, but its the best part!......see people in chairs cheering, want to give them all hugs!......see Aggie dude, ring your bell Im almost done!.....see friends already waiting and cheering, I love them!.....finish YAY!

So I think I should never run farther than 8 miles because something evil starts to come out in me!

I think long(er) distance running is very similar to giving birth. In the beginning its exciting. Then the further into it you get you start doubting yourself, and think what in the hell was I thinking ??!!  I will NEVER do this again! But after your body heals and the endorphins and adrenaline erase your memory of the pain, mostly what is left is a great sense of accomplishment, and a desire to do it all again, someday... (granted a baby is much better reward than a medal)...Which one I will actually do again...time will only tell :)