We DID IT!

The race is over and I almost made my goal. I ran 13.37 miles in 2 hours and 28 minutes. (According to the Garmin). I started the Garmin at the start and stopped it at the finish and those were the numbers. If I go by the "Official Time" It was 13.1 miles in 2 hours and 36 min. I don't know how they figured the miles because I don't think the Garmin can be wrong. They must have drove it for the mileage and you can't drive the exact mountain running trail. I am going by the Garmin. Obviously they were off by .27 miles. SUCKA! We also started 7 minutes later because I did not want to run in the pack and I was waiting for the bathroom. I can't stop on the trail, I had to get that part over with before hand. It was a much better experience than my first race and I would definitely do it again. Beautiful running terrain, great weather, great playlist. I was really impressed with my playlist and must tell the story. I just picked all the songs I wanted on it and put them on in no particular order. As it turns out someone knew what songs I would need to hear at certain points during the race. I hit mile 9 and had a short little hill to go up, Suicidal Blonde came on and gave me a quick burst of energy to bound up the hill. I hit mile 10 and my body was DONE! Keep the Faith came on and gave me renewed faith that I could do it. After Keep the Faith, Lay Your Hands on Me starts with my new favorite running slogan. "If you want to free your body, you have to free your mind." I spent the last 3 miles of the race trying to free my mind and break down the bloody wall in my head. I didn't stop running! I ran the WHOLE way! I knew if I stopped, I would not be able to get going again. My best pace was 7.48 my worst was 15.33. Until the last 3 miles I was ahead of my 10 minute mile and thought for sure I could do it, but my legs just wouldn't move faster. It evened out to an 11 minute mile and I am ok with that. I finished and I was no where near last. Thanks to Tiffani for posting good luck and Maren for her good luck phone call. Thanks to my dear hubby and kids. They were at the 1.5 mile mark and it was so awesome to get a hug on the run and a high five. I don't know if I motivated them or not because I haven't been able to walk normal. Maybe Wednesday! Thanks to Becky, the best running partner in the whole world! Without her this whole thing never would have happened. She is the best motivator. She always says the right thing and helps you focus on the accomplishment and not the results. It's not whether you win or lose, it's if you finish the race!