The day we did the Half Marathon

Today was the day I have been waiting for and working towards for over three long months. The Half Marathon. We {that's hubby and I} chose to do the Inaugural Dubbo Stampede. People ask why Dubbo? Why not the Sydney Blackmores or something? Well, there are a few reasons we chose Dubbo. One is that it was our first half marathon and if I was going to be running 21.1km non stop I wanted it to be relatively flat. It was in some parts and gradual hills in others but no where near like the hills I have trained on! The other reason is the people. Less people. I hate the dodging of people in big races. Also, the people are just so lovely in the country so where better to be?! Also, some friends of ours were part of the committee who ran the event so we wanted to encourage them and be part of it!

So anyway, all in all it was a great race. My hubby was with me the whole way which helped me alot in the pace stakes! He is super tall and I am short so it was an effort to keep up and it was the best pace I have run so far and sustained it for the whole way. WOW.

There were moments where I thought I didn't want to go on. That was about the 18k mark when I knew there was only 3 to go...mostly an uphill slog. Somehow I dug deep; I thought of my friend Nat and I kept going. I let out some grunts. I almost cried, but I kept going. When we reached the entrance to the zoo I saw my friend Sarah and the crowd cheering us on. I saw my family and I sprinted to the finish. I had done it. I did it for them, I did it for my friend, I did it for ME. This is the first thing that I have done for me in a long time that has taken so much of my time and energy. It had given me a sense of purpose and a passion for running. It has made me know that I CAN finish and I CAN achieve what I want to. This will not be my last race. It has only just begun......