the 4th half.

this past weekend was my 4th half marathon.

and boy, besides my first one ever, it was the worst. 

i started off thinking that i would pray when i felt defeated.

i would pray for different friends, people i bbsit for, family, friends, ect.

and then i realized i needed much prayer during the race too haha.

but praying was hard, i'll be honest. 

i couldn't keep my thought process long enough to think what i wanted.

but when 'baby' came on, i prayed for the Orten girls. to love Him and follow Him.

i started off beasting it, running all around 8:55 pace.

i was going to PR if i kept that pace, and i was following a girl who was wicked consistent.

but at about mile 3 i knew i would not be able to keep that pace {it was real humid}

so at around 7 i had to pee sooo bad and had to stop.

i let this woman {who i found out was named april} just go do her thing.

from that point, i wanted to stop and just cry.

i wasn't going to PR and just felt so defeated.

i was in pain and was reminded why i don't race by myself.

around mile 7.5 i started running with a woman, named kristy.

she is a mom of three and 33 yrs old. she even went to mt union back in the day!

we both started off too fast and were so beat.

so we ran the rest together, and had it not been for her, i wouldn't have finished.

i would have walked, but i knew she wasn't going to wait for me if i stopped LOL.

but i finished, in 2:03:43.

and felt every minute of it.

but i was barely tired that night so it was all mental.

i slowed down significantly the last half of it and averaged 9:20 pace.

not great, but not my goal at all. 

molly felt the same way and ashley, too.

it was just a hard race for all.

so i'll do another one someday--NOT alone!

i am glad it's done, and can't believe i survived.

i run cause i love the running community.

they're awesome and it's brought me to so many people i wouldn't have met otherwise.

and if it hasn't been for april (who i saw at the end and told her thanks.  she sprained her ancle and ended up finishing around when i did so i should have stuck with her) and kristy, my race wouldn't have been even what it was.

love that type of 'family'.  there is nothing like it!

{before the race.  i was drenched in sweat after!}

afterwards, i found bobby and stuck with him.

when molly and ashley finished, we were to meet them at the end.

well we spent almost 1.5 hours trying to find them!

it was like finding people in the 1990s {as bobby observed} haha.

we ended up using 3 different peoples phones; calling dad to get john's number, and then having him try to find ashley's number. 

eventually we got a hold of them and just met at the car.

it was kinda funny and i'm soo glad that i was with bobby.

had i not been with him i would have been screwed!

but i am thankful i can run and use my body.

and i love that my bro and SIL are so hospitable.

the 4th one is under my belt!  onto the 5th :)