My first half marathon!

Wow after months of training the weekend had finally came where I was running my first half marathon. Days leading up to the big day I was getting nervous, the dreams started and it was coming to quick! So that friday night I skipped soccer, I didn't want to hurt myself since I did all this training! So it was interesting just watching my soccer team play soccer but it was worth it for sitting out. Then saturday I opened, and basically made drinks because I was trying to get my mind off the big day. After work  I made sure I had everything I needed such as Running outfit (bra,tank top,skort, Shoes, socks, knee brace, arm band) made sure I had some shower items, and gel packs, icy-hot and such. then Paul and I started our trip to Port Angeles. I hadn't been to Port Angeles so I was trying to enjoy the ride but wow was I nervous. I was drinking water (more then what Im used to--probably because I was nervous and to stay hydrated!). We finally arrived in Port Angeles and went to get my race packet. It didn't feel real until I had my race packet in my hand. At that point standing in the room with other people picking up their packets, and looking through the expo things it suddenly felt more real then ever! Once we got back to the car I wanted to see what number I would be tomorrow morning.

My race bib

This made it even more real. Actually seeing my race number in my hand. Anyway after we dropped it off at the car, we walked around the town to check it out and to kill some time before heading to the hotel where we were going to share a room with Jaime and Sarah.

Port Angeles

Later we all meet up for dinner (Jaime, Sarah, Tiffany, Will and the kids) to help us carb-load it up for the big day. The food was okay, I wasn't that hungry more nervous then anything! After dinner Paul and I went driving to find where I would be starting tomorrow morning. After seeing where I would be in the next 12 hrs it once again felt more real! But on the way back to the hotel the sun was setting and heres some shots of the sky.

Sunset

Finally the day had came, I barely slept the night before with all the noise, and my brain not being able to turn off because it was probably thinking of the race. My lovely phone went off at 5:20am (thanks alex- we didn't need a wake up text at that hour since the race didn't start until 9!) But by 6:30a I got up and got ready in my running clothes. I added some sunscreen, a little bit of facial sparkle powder and made sure i had everything ready to go. I went back to bed and tried to sleep for another half hour. It didn't really work out so well but at least I tried. Around 7:30 I forced myself to eat a banana and a clif-bar. I wasn't hungry at all but I knew it was all because I was scared! this is the first half marathon in my life. Right before we left to the car, Tiffany and I took a quick picture and off we went to our different starting lines. Paul and I got to my starting point and I pinned on my bib number, added my chip timer to my leg, and took my alive for my leg. I then headed towards the lovely porta-potty. But as soon as we got to the field where they were located at there was no way I was able to have enough time to go before the start of the race.



This is the lines of people waiting to use the bathroom.. guess who didn't get a chance to go..

9 am starting to come faster, I was lined up in my time area. I went between 10-10:30 min pace. As I stand there alone I was so nervous, thought to myself "can I really do this? Will my knee hold out?"



Last water before the starting of the race



freaking out!



around mile 2-3



9am came and the gun went off. And off we went running. At that moment I thought "okay here it goes, i had some mixed emotions, no backing out now.." I didn't bring my water and wished I had some at that moment. I figure I would just take water at the water stations so I didn't have to carry my water bottle.  I saw Paul one last time and off we went down the road. Mile one felt great no knee problem, but boy was it warm!! Mile 1 we ran up this little hill road and do this turn around and though some farm lands. around Mile 2.5 I saw Paul again, taking pictures. it was good seeing someone I knew because I usually have a hard time the first few miles, then I get past that point and I get my mind off of running. Running though the farm lands was a little hard, freshly cut grass, hay, and flowers everywhere I was having a hard time with breathing but I knew it was just all these factors. I never really have a hard time breathing but I think it was because it was all freshly cut and the air was thicker. Once we passed that we ran on cross the street and down in to the forest. it was beautiful I thought "okay here it goes, i had some mixed emotions, no backing out now.." I didn't bring my water and wished I had some at that moment. I figure I would just take water at the water stations so I didn't have to carry my water bottle.  I saw Paul one last time and off we went down the road. Mile one felt great no knee problem, but boy was it warm!! Mile 1 we ran up this little hill road and do this turn around and though some farm lands. around Mile 2.5 I saw Paul again, taking pictures. it was good seeing someone I knew because I usually have a hard time the first few miles, then I get past that point and I get my mind off of running. Running though the farm lands was a little hard, freshly cut grass, hay, and flowers everywhere I was having a hard time with breathing but I knew it was just all these factors. I never really have a hard time breathing but I think it was because it was all freshly cut and the air was thicker. Once we passed that we ran on cross the street and down in to the forest. it was beautiful running this trail, everything was new and very exciting. it kept my mind off of running. I had a little knee pain mile 3 but it was probably the alive just had started to kick in. but other then that I was feeling great. Yes there were hills on this course so I tried my best by running up them and walked as well because I didn't want to hurt my knee or over work my knee! Mile 5 I think I saw Paul again, and then I was off in the woods again. Around mile 6 I took a gel champ. I had to have these 8 year old girls open for me because my hands were so sweaty that I couldn't open the stupid packet. Note to self: preopen the packet before running! the gel pack wasn't that bad, I chewed some and basically just ate it quickly. it tasted much better then the gel that you have to gulp down. Remember I wasn't able to pee before the race, well every bathroom I passed was full so I kept going. At every water station I would take a water and then the next one take a Gatorade. I think that seemed to help to do that! At Mile 6-7 I believe thats what it was, is where I saw Sarah and Jaime holding signs for me as I ran past! It was good seeing them because it was getting hard to run but it was good to have that encouragement. As soon as I passed them I ran a half mile and there was paul. Showing me twix bar! I thought it was a good idea for twix at the finish line so that was encouraging me but at the finish line i didn't want to eat those. Anyway as soon as I passed him I knew there wasn't any more places for people to really encourage me to run. so it was just me and everyone else running to the finish line. As soon as I passed paul i ran over this walking bridge where it was over this river, it was pretty amazing. I was just enjoying the view of everything. it was great keeping my mind off running.Around mile8-9 I took another chew thingy with more water.  As soon as I got off the trail from the woods, I saw ocean. The ocean water smelt good. I thought okay I see ocean It can't be that far off now, Im almost there.I haven't ran more then 10 miles so I knew that the last few miles were going to be very hard. as soon as I ran around a corner around mile 11, it smelt.Mile 11-12 smelt horrible. i think we were running by a sewage plant or something but man it was horrible. Mile 12 came and I got excited. I thought "okay Alyssa just look at the water look for whales your almost at the finish line... you can do it.." I tried to look at the water but it was hard to do that and run at the same time. so I just kept running. I ran and as a soon as I got closer to the finish I knew it was time to put my game face on and push myself faster then ever. I ran passed a few people and saw the clock ticking away, 2:16 I passed the finished line. As soon as I passed I was handed a metal and had a post run drink, and this lady holding on to me to make sure I was okay.

My official chip time 2:15:30!! Not bad for my first half marathon in the warm weather!

finish line

right after running my first half marathon, 13.1miles

After the race, I was able to use Tiffany's hotel room to shower and then cheer her on!





Us after finishing our races

After cheering her on, we were off to head back home. I wasn't hungry all day, and the next day after. I wasn't that sore until monday night, and no knee problems! Over all a very good first half marathon. I can't wait to run more either to beat my time, or to run with tiffany!