The Half

We packed up the civic, headed to the white mountains, and checked into the local Best Western. I shared a bed with Ruth, the R.S. president from University 3rd Ward. Jeff and Steve slept on a cot and on the floor. The other bed was shared by Bridget (my old U3 R.S. Pres) and a girl who's name I forgot. Anyways, we ran the half marathon in Eager AZ.

I have only ran a half marathon once before. It was when I signed up for the Whiskey Row Marathon out and back. Turns out I couldn't do the full, so I turned around at the half. The only problem in that, was that the half Whiskey started an hour later. Everyone thought I was the fastest halfer. I was really the slowest full marathoner, who couldn't complete the race. I remember I got so many high fives, and thumbs ups and cheers I felt like a fraud.

Anyways, back to Eager. I was excited to race. Then I saw the bright yellow school busses which would be transporting us 13+ miles out, and got even more excited (i love the school bus). After the ride, we got dropped off at the Baptist Church of Nutrioso. I immediately found the slide in the back of the church and used it as my own personal stretching machine. I made up some stretches, all aided by the slide. I have a feeling the other racers thought I was taking limberness to a new level. The race started 10 minutes too late because every one had my idea, wait till the race was almost ready to begin and then run into the port-a-potty to take care of business (great minds think alike). Yet, we didn't realize we all had to walk 3/4 mile to get to the starting line (as to be exactly 13.1) miles away from the finish. On the walk I met Alan, a tall, black, lawyer. He was training for the Chicago Marathon. I told him I was a teacher, he said he always wanted to be a teacher. I think people who make a lot of money, like to say that to teachers. I don't know why. Anyways I ran with Alan for a few minutes, then I had to break free and haul it.

I ran really fast sometimes. Especially on the down hills. But sometimes, I ran super slow and walked a bit. That was on the uphills. Anyways, one time I googled my boyfriends ex-wifes name. It turned out, I could only find it once. She had run a half-marathon in 2 hours and nine minutes. I hadn't remembered that until I saw the clock, as it blinked 2:08:43 when I crossed the finish. Even though Bridget finished 23 minutes ahead of me, and that boyfriend is long gone, I still beat his ex-wife's time. Sometimes when you don't win the race per se, you still beat someone's ex wife's time. I ate alot of fruit at the finisher's table. I met the winner of the men's run. He ran the half in 1 hour and 19 minutes. That guy was a teacher too. My next race is in Camp Verde....you know I want the age group hardware. Now that I have just moved up an age group (30-34) yikes.