Well I completed my first ever half-marthon today when I participated in the 2004 Kentucky Derby Festival mini-marathon. I had two goals going into this event........

1) Finish the race!
2) Finish in the allowed time (3:16.5= 15 minute mile average)

I finished the race in around 2:55(give or take a couple minutes, haven't seen official time yet). WHile not a spectacular time, I couldn't run a mile before a couple months ago! So I just wanted to gloat a little

OMG!! Congratulations! You must be at the top of the world right now. Way to go.

Cheers,

Friday

P.S. there are two things that make it pretty much impossible for me to run, much less a marathin - and they both say "36DD" on them. I have not yet met the sports bra that can cope with me well enough to permit running.

Congratulations! Major accomplishment!

So, you thinking about doing another?

WoooooHooooo!!!!!

I haven't ran much for years, but I remember how good that "second wind" or "runner's high" felt, nothing like it!!!! I"m pretty jealous, as far as that goes, but my legs at 43 just don't like running like they did when I was younger, so I just stick to walking, and I don't get the high from that.....oh well, I still get the aerobic benefits.

Again, GREAT GOING!! Keep it up.

Congrats to you, mrschmeltz!! You should be mighty proud of yourself!

And chiperoo, BTW, your "dream" and "reality" are moving fairly close together, I'd say.

Appreciate it everybody As for doing another......I will probably make this an annual event I do. But other than that I might do some 5K or even 10K's, but I don't think I could do this more than once a year.

This might sound gross but next year I will remember to tape my nipples up. I had read an article about it, but didn't really take it seriously......but by races end my nipples were bleeding from the friction of running 13 miles. Very painful!

Congrats!!! I'm happy for you!

Congratulations

Go for the full:-))

Time is does not matter when it is about mini/half or full Marathons. It is the FINISHING:-)

The reason, the motivation for me to start a Marathon training was NOT to see the winners, the Masters on races, but to see enthusiastic finishers:-)

Here is a quote from my gym log about this:

"When I started to run I did not have any race goal: simply wanted to fight back the first signs of aging. My dream, to be part of the Marathon magic was born one year ago, 100 yards from the start/finish line of SD Marathon.

We were sitting there with my husband, waiting for our son (he was running the full Marathon). It was 10:30 AM – 3 hours after the start of the Marathon, and 3 ½ hours after the start of the half Marathon. The pro/master and fastest amateur Marathoners already arrived, but still hundreds of half-Marathoners were on the road. To finish this 13 miles course over 3 1/2 hours means mostly walk. No, it does not mean any less accomplishment, effort. It simply means a different way to overcome this obstacle. They arrived running, jogging, walking, limping, sweating, in solo, in couple, in family, in groups. Old, young, slim, curvy (in 4-40% BF range), healthy, ill – very diverse group, but with the same enthusiasm on their faces: “I DID IT!” Who cares about time, competition… They ALL DID IT. They all were part of the (half)Marathon magic. The spectators were enthusiastic too (as I experienced on many other races) giving a cheer, shouting encouriging words, applauding even for the ones who hardly could walk. Oh my… How much I wanted to be among them! Sweating, limping, but finishing.

That was the moment, when my dream was born: "I want to be there, among them!” I turned to my husband, pointing to the finish line I told him: “Next year I will be there.” "


mrschmelz, congratulations again, you are a great inspiration for all of us:-)

See you in Boston??

A full marathon? Wow. I am not sure I will ever get to that point I would probably have to be able to easily complete a half-marathon before even THINKING about it.

Goals for next year......under 2:30 and be at 15% bodyfat when running it. I have a whole year to train now I guess.

Ahhhh ... the fun of running. I remember (or I am still trying to forget) the fun of distance running.

Taping nipples, greasing thighs, etc. LOL. The things runners put themselves thru ...

Congrats! That is so awesome!