Saturday, September 10, 2011

Half Marathon

Well, I can check that off my bucket list.  The funny thing is it hasn’t actually ever been on my bucket list, and I’ve never really wanted to run one.  I mean, don’t get me wrong - If you know me you know I love to workout, but I’m more into the group fitness thing and not so much the running thing.  But then a couple months ago some of my girlfriends invited me to run this race with them and I thought, what the heck.  I’m not pregnant and have time to train and I have awesome girls to train with.  Thus, this is how I spent my morning. P1010466

P1010463P1010458     It was GREAT!  I was actually really surprised by how much I enjoyed it.  The weather was Perfection, the course was awesome, (down hill at the beginning and then mostly flat the rest of the way) and I had fabulous friends with me.  My only regret is that I wish I would have pushed myself a little harder the last 3 miles.  I really wanted to finish in under 2 hours and so when I had run 10 miles in 1 hour and 28 minutes I thought, “I have 32 minutes to run three miles” and so I slowed down a ton.  Stupid – I know.  According to my watch I finished at 1 hour 56 minutes and 30 something seconds.  I’m still waiting for my official chip time.  Here’s a wonderful picture of the girl who finished about 2 seconds before me.    Poor Ryan, he felt so bad he didn’t get me…I don’t really care.P1010444

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P1010469They both started screaming there brains out when they saw me run through the finish.  They would only stop when I was holding them.  P1010452This is Jessica C, or as my sisters and mom know her, “Jessica Twins”.  I use that name to differentiate my two Jessica friends to them because no big deal this girl had twins not even a year ago.  She was my training partner and I had so much fun training with her and going on long runs and chatting the whole time.  I could NOT have done it without her.  We ended up not staying together during the race but we should have because our times only ended up being about 3 or 4 minutes apart.  I love her.  She started crying she was so happy to finish under two hours. P1010453Here’s the rest of the group.  Jessica, Amanda, Jessica, me.  I’m so proud of us.  The biggest bummer about the whole thing is that poor Amanda pulled her groin muscle half way through the race and was in tons of pain and had to walk a bunch – but amazingly she still managed to finish with a respectable time.P1010471Apparently I didn’t get the memo that we were all wearing our just past the knee workout pants.P1010473Ryan was super supportive every time I went on long runs and was a good motivator.  He was always giving me goals and tips.  Sometimes it was annoying but he’d just say, “I just want you to be all you can be”.  Why do I get the feeling he’s going to push our boys a lot physically.  Good thing I can be there to balance him out and remind them it’s just for fun and we’re proud of them no matter what.  Anyway, Ryan said he’d clean the whole house by himself multiple times if I finished in under two hours.  I don’t think he thought I could do it.  Looks like I have a break from house cleaning for a while!P1010475P1010476One other downfall…my second toes took a beating.  That’s not purple nail polish.P1010483But the rest of me feels great!  Had to take some muscle pics after feeling so invincible :)P1010477P1010478

13 comments:

The Harrisons said...

You are such a hot mama!! Way to go Cheryl. Awesome job and I'm proud of you for doing it! I could never motivate myself enough to accomplish that!

Steph said...

oh man - you are freaking JACKED!!!!! holy hot mama!!! i want your body!!! ryan is lucky to have someone so hot and fit as you!!! you rock - congrats!!!

Mike said...

Way to go #290. I am very proud and happy for you. A big proud papa bear. I love your fitness and committment. Was this race only for girls? or were there also some men?

Joy said...

Congrats! Wish I could have been there to cheer you guys on because you know I would never run that far. Good to see the faces of all my girls again! Miss ya!

Ali Snow said...

You have such big muscles. I can't believe it. Actually I can. You're muscles have always been huge. You're outfit looked cute. I'm proud of you. I want to hear more about it.

Brenda said...

All of you are so amazing! I miss you girls! Congrats on such a great accomplishment :) And enjoy Ryan doing some of that housecleaning - don't let him sneak out of it, you totally deserve it!!

Amanda said...

My excuse for never running a half marathon is that I don't have biceps like those to pose after I'm finished ;) You're amazing and I wouldn't doubt you could run in under 2 hours at all! Go Cheryl, Go!

DC Diva said...

OH MY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO FIIIIIIRRRRRRMMMMMMM.

If only Dr. Zimbari could see you now.

You look like a freaking body builder, sister! You look great, even w/ crazy fishbone braids!

I seriously love that pic of you, sweaty, hair in fishtails, amazing rock-hard body, holding 2 babies. You do hair, you run, you mommy, you smile through it all. Story of your life. Way to do this for yourself. Of course you met your goal. OF COURSE YOU DID!

Love you and am so proud of you.

mccall said...

i don't feel lazy at all sitting in front of my computer, in my underwear, at nearly 11:30.

you rocked it! and of course you look amazing, but that is no surprise at all. i am so proud of all of you!!! congrats, cheryl!

Heather said...

Congratulations on a job well done! You are such a buff and tough woman! I hope you get your money's worth out of your new housekeeper Ryan :)

Tracy Peterson said...

You are amazing! Good job, Cheryl!

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lys said...

You are amazing! Wow, I wish I looked 1/2 as good as you do after I had my second baby. Oh wait, I've never in my life looked 1/2 as good a you. Congrats on your finish!