Start to Finish

I used the restroom for the second time before I got on the bus that would take us to the start line. As I was sitting there beside Tia when I began to feel nervous, scared, and excited about the half-marathon. I was nervous because I never ran over 10 miles before that event. I was scared because I remembered how I felt after I ran 10 miles (dizzy and clammy). I was excited because this would be a new milestone in my life.

As we rode the yellow school bus from the start to finish line, I saw the course that I would have to run. I made sure to take some mental notes of landmarks along the way. There was a warehouse near the last downhill stretch next to a housing complex; a slight turn before the last downhill stretch; the junction to Red Mesa which at that point I felt it was already a long distance; abandon wood structures left from a Navajo summer ceremony; a large shallow valley; and finally the volcanic dikes that connects to the Shiprock monument. Immediately after we got off the bus, we got in line to use the restroom again.

At the starting line, there were people stretching, jogging, deep breathes, and running or sprinting. We stood and waited at the end of the main starting line. I was worried about starting out too fast and burning out before half way point or sooner. So at the start of the half-marathon I forced myself to run at a very slow pace up the slight upgradient hill. For the first mile, I was feeling very comfortable that I considered skipping my one minute walk but I reconsidered since it was only the first mile. After I took my one minute walk, I started to pick up the pace towards my training pace. The five minute per mile marathon runners started passing me at mile two, and they gave me additional motivation to complete strong.

I ran, according to my Nike+iPod system, a steady pace of 11min51sec per mile for the remaining distance. I was pretty much a solo runner nearly the entire distance of the half-marathon until mile nine. Before mile ten, I started to gain on the stragglers who either started out to fast or hit a mental barrier. There was a guy limping and a lady whom seem to struggle with motivation.

I knew that I was on the last stretch when I past the warehouse near the housing complex. I could see the finish line when I got off the main road and hit the dirt path towards the finish line. I finally made it and feeling good! I don’t remember looking at my finishing time but I remember that Izzie was at the end. All I need to remember is that I started and finished with the love of my life.