I can do hard things

I may have told you how I was tricked talked into running the Provo half marathon and started training with only a month to go. I was nervous to run it by myself. My last half was run with my sister Julie. She is a runner and not one to stop once she's started and she kept me going the whole time. This time it was just me running all alone, fighting the epic mental battle of "I'm tired" vs. "Just keep going". I was afraid the first was going to win out more than the second. I told everyone I'd probably cross the finish line around 9:30 (figuring that I'd be walking more than last time and last time it took us 2:16)
After getting up at 4:30 A.M. to go catch the bus that took me up the canyon, I stood outside in the freezing darkness for 2 hours. That was not very enjoyable. I was really glad that I had chosen to wear pants and a long sleeve shirt.
Finally at 7 the marathoners were off. 15 minutes later we took off. I'm not a huge fan of the beginning of a race. There are just so many runners and you're trying to get a good pace and maneuver around the slower people which doesn't always work well. Oh well, just part of the experience I guess.
I made sure to stop at every water station and at about mile 4 I found a good "running buddy". I actually don't know this girl but she kept a great pace and I just stayed with her. I ran with her for about 5 miles until she just stopped. Then I was on my own again.
I came better prepared for this race. Last time I was starving at mile 6 and there was no food. ANYWHERE. This time I had a small power bar, a couple GU chomps and some vitamin energy pill thing they gave me last week in my swag bag for the 5k. (That swag bag is still the best, the one for this race was pretty lame). They did have an orange slice at mile 9 and I gladly took it. At mile 10 my right knee and my poor toes were hurting. At about mile 10.5 I heard someone yelling out my name. I was really confused because all my friends who I knew were coming were going to be at the finish line. I turned and looked at the cars sitting at the stop light and in the very front car was my friend Jennifer who works on the floor above me at work and use to go to plasma at the same time. I was SO happy to see her and have someone cheer me on. I think that was one of the highlights of my run (second only to crossing the finish line).
At mile marker 12 I could see the finish line but it didn't seem to be getting any closer. :( I was tempted to walk at that point. I was so tired. I think mentally this was the hardest stretch for me. "Just walk for a few seconds", "You're really tired", BUT the other side said "Are you kidding?! You've run this whole thing, you can't walk now!" So I didn't.
I made sure to take out my earbuds as I got to the end, gotta make sure I can hear all my "fans" cheering for me. Didn't work. Not a soul calling out my name. Not even the announcer guy. Lame. I couldn't believe it when I saw the clock telling me I had actually beat my last time of 2:16. That's right folks, a new PR (personal record. don't worry I had to ask what PR meant too) of 2:13 and I did it ALL BY MYSELF. Go me!
I went to my car to drop my shoes and a layer of clothes and get my phone. Sure enough I had a couple missed calls and text messages. Katie had just gotten there with her kids. I headed back to the finish line and found them. They had just missed me. I did tell them 9:30 and I crossed really close to 9:30. Good thing we started 15 minutes later than I thought we would since I ran faster than I thought. Guess it didn't really matter. Aubrey and Jay had been on the other side where the marathoners were finishing. Oh well. I guess we'll say it's the thought that counts. I was glad they were there.

This was after my trip to the car so I don't have my medal. If you could see my feet, you'd also see I have no shoes on. Jenae and Aly also ran (obviously), they're in Aubrey's ward across the street from me.
After the race I was starving! After breakfast, I went with my roommate to get a massage. Sadly the wait line was 4 hours so we didn't get one. After that I went and picked up a pizza I had won and then ate more than half of it. Don't judge. I nap followed shortly after. I was just going to sleep for an hour or so, but then 3 hours later woke up to my roommate knocking on my door and calling my name.
I rolled out of bed and got dressed for our Relief Society Appreciation dinner that the Elders Quorum did for us. It was fabulous!! The food was great, as well as the ambiance. The entertainment was a bit ridiculous, but considering who did it, was not surprising.
This morning I was pleasantly surprised to discover that, while I'm sore, it's not even close to the pain I felt after my last half.
Moral of this long story. I can do hard things. I know I had some heavenly help. I'm quite sure I couldn't have done so well without it. It was a great experience and we'll see what my running future has in store for me.