Rock n' Roll Half Marathon

i finished my first half marathon!  i almost thought that i wasn't going to be able to run (even though i had already paid) because the night before we were looking at the race information closer and it said that you had to have picked up your race packet at the expo which was the day before.  it said "no exceptions" and that i wouldn't be able to pick it up the day of.  we decided to try anyways since we already paid and luckily i was able to get my number and tracker. it made me more stressed out the night before though.    

there were thousands of people running the half marathon (around 19,000 and around 5000 for the marathon) and they put you into "corrals" according to your estimated finish time.  i put 2 hours for my finish time but for some reason they put me in corral 2 (out of 28) with people who would finish in 1:38!  as a result of this i was being passed up the whole time. that was a little discouraging but i was mainly aiming at finishing.  the race started at city hall in phoenix and ended at the cardinals stadium at asu.  they blocked off the streets where we ran and it was a really fun course.  there were bands playing every mile or less and it really got my adrenaline going every time i would hear one play.  they had cheer teams in between the bands and water stations to keep you hydrated.  it was really exciting!  

i ended up finishing a little less than my estimated time at 1:55 for the 13.1 miles.  i was pretty exhausted after but since i had been training and working up to it i didn't feel that bad.  immediately after they gave me a little finishers medal and free food.  i loaded up on as much food as i could for me and jason because i wanted to get my moneys worth :).  they then had a post race concert- vertical horizon.  i remember them from the 90's and they had a few good songs that i knew.  it was nice sitting in the grass relaxing and listening to them play.   

jason's brother brendan ran the full marathon and this about his fourth.  he actually qualified to run in the boston marathon which is really impressive.  i plan on running a marathon someday- hopefully in the next few years!  it will take a lot more training but it is something that i want to do.  after finishing the half i feel it is more accesible.      

before the race

 nearing the finish line

 me & brendan

 vertical horizon