Colfax Half Marathon 2015

Okay so today is the big day. It's 4:30 am and I'm awake and waiting for Brittni. Seriously only crazy people wake up before the sun to go on a 13.1 mile run....for fun....and pay for it. 

I'm sick .....like really REALLY sick. No voice, can't stop coughing,  hard to get a good breath, fever sick. Oh joy. Just my luck right.  I'm NOT missing this damn race. I've trained in rain, sleet, snow, wind and hail. I'm NOT missing this race. I've loaded up with cough drops and jolly ranches to suck on and keep my throat moist.  Here goes nothing . 

Our first task was parking. Thank you BrittnI for 1) owning a tiny car 2) offering to drive us and 3 ) being a Rockstar driver in congestion.  I would have panicked,  ran someone over and smashed into cars while trying to park. Bless you Brittni you saved us and many innocent people and cars. We actually found good parking pretty quick . First obstacle conquered.  

I planned to meet the other MRTT ladies near coral N for a group picture at 6:15. They have a special skirt that makes them easy to spot. I can't wait to get mine and be among the cool kids. I spotted the skirt on Mary right away and found my other crazy people. The running groups....crazy, nice, loud, funny,  encouraging and sweet. That sums them up for you. Brittni and I ended up laughing so hard at them. One gal was yelling as loud as possible " MRTT LADIES OVER HERE FOR A PICTURE " Over and over . She was a riot. 

my shameless selfie at the start line 

my motivation bling. Both bracelets from Carleeh and my sole sister beads from my IG pal Tracy who was running a half the same day. 

Brittni and I at the start 

my crazy MRTT gals. 

 The race started about 7 for us since we ended up at the back of the pack in coral R. I knew we should have lied about our times dang it. The first mile went quick with all the Dodge and weave we had to do around the walkers. The 2nd mile was through the zoo so of course we had to snap some pictures. I'm here to have fun people.

Mile 6 and I felt Great. Brittni got her 2nd wind and we kept moving one foot in front of the other. By now Carleehs bracelet was coming in handy. I was reading them off at each mile. Thanks again Carleeh, what a great gift .

mile 11 was tough. Brittni had never gone past 10 so this was the moment it would test her will. I tried to encourage her and read off the words from Carleeh on my bracelet. 2 .1 left. We got this Brittni.  It was all down hill and we started to see more supporters along the route. Nothing gets ya jazzed like cow bells, signs and water guns right. Plus the dude in front of us was cracking me up. His conversation with his friend went like this:
1: your feet are slapping the ground. You need to pick them up.
2: I know they are slapping the ground. I'm F'N tired you're lucky I'm still standing upright.
1: well you should really pick them up .

Oh man I literally laughed out loud at them for the next mile . It only got better and guy 2 even pushed guy 1 . I was feeling his pain for sure.

 WE DID IT !!!! We made it 13.1 miles in under 3 hrs. I'm SO proud of myself and Brittni.  We laughed, we cried at the finish but we never once gave up, we never once walked more then our 1 minute interval and we had fun. I couldn't have asked for a better running buddy to spend the day with. Thanks for the memories Brittni.  Until the next one.