Wenatchee Half Maraton

I took my best friends to Wenatchee to run the Wenatchee Marathon races.  Rachel, Kait and I ran the half marathon, Christina, Amy, Janet and Megan walked the 10k.  It was a great drive up and we had a nice dinner, we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express it was perfect.

Moring came and my alarm went off and I jumped out of bed (after snoring all night like shreik, ask Janet) and said "I am going to run a race today"!  I got ready with my GF's and off we went to the start line.  The weather was sunny and clear, perfect running weather.  I was not really feeling myself that morning but I tried really hard not to show it.

I put Ashleigh on my leg (see story below) she gives me strength and I was ready to run.  About 20 mins before I got really really nervous, I was with my newbie Kait and I did not want her to see me scared.
Gun went off and I HAD TO PEE - not good.  I stopped the very first place (waited way to long).  Got back on the trail and I felt as though I was in a full sprint the first 4 miles. 

I paced a guy that had a LIVESTRONG shirt on basically the whole way.  I don't want to leave out the dudes who carried a keg the whole 13 miles - crazy!  It is all I can do to carry GU, shot bloks, water, cell phone and Ipod.  The river was beautiful and there actually were a few cheering squads on the trail.  Everyone said it was a flat course - well I say two enormous hills and the rest rolling hills.  Maybe it was just that I was off not sure.

At our turn around point I was so grateful and started to speed up a bit.  I took a picture of Kait and Rachelle when I passed them going back.  It was pretty cool to be able to do that while running the race (I always take my phone with the camera). 

I was starting to feel pretty lousy by mile 8.  I was hot and I was not doing as well as I thought I would of.  After mile 9 I felt like I was going to be okay.  I knew I would not PR but I was going to finish under 2 hours no matter what.
I hit the 12 mile mark and a ambulance came by and that was not very encouraging.  All of the sudden I saw my GF's on their 10k walk and I passed them.  They all cheered me on so I got moving.  As soon as I saw the bridge I started to sprint.  I got to the top of the bridge and wanted to quit, some dude cheered me on like I was his sister!  I want to thank him because I kept on and finished at 1:49:10 placed 4th in my age bracket.  I could not PR but one thing I do know I am ready for Tacoma!
Bring it!