Half Marathon, here I come!!!

*WARNING: The following is literally the ramblings of an over active mind, right after a cup of coffee. Be ADVISED.. it might not make any sense AT ALL!!!*

Okay.. so before I go off on how excited I am... I just want to say [for the record] that I am slightly disappointed. The 1/2 marathon I am doing on SATURDAY (!!!!!!) does not technically meet 1/2 marathon requirements. It happens to be .6 miles shorter than an official half. BAH!! I have decided that because it's my first and my goal is a pace... I won't miss running that extra .6 miles anyway. ;o) My goal is to run a pace of UNDER 10 minute miles. I have NEVER done this on a run longer than 10 miles but GEEZE!!! If I can do it for 10, I'm going to make this body do it for 12.5. I have thought about changing my goal to a slower pace, but in my heart my goal will always be to run it in 125 minutes SO.. that's what I'm going to declare it to be! ;o)

I am SO EXCITED to get out to Colorado and run this thing!!! I'm also EXCITED to get together with a few of the gals in the comp who happen to be in Colorado!! Last I heard there will be a total of 4 of us at the event.. entering in 3 different categories. YAY!!

I must admit that while I'm really excited, I am also apprehensive. I honestly don't really "get" the elation that people have when they finish these things... I mean, if you've trained properly than you've ran the distance before... so what makes it different when you get a fancy t-shirt to run? I hope to experience some great THRILL when I cross the line BUT... I think my body will be too busy hating me for me to be thrilled. I LOVE running 8 and 9 miles, those are my favorite runs... but when I run 11 and 12 miles, my body gets pissed! It seriously punishes me. I suppose I should be grateful it does what I tell it to, even when it doesn't like it! Mind over matter... ain't that the truth?

I'm also really excited that this run is sponsored by Heart Center of the Rockies. I really don't get overly personal on this blog BUT, my dad had a major heart attack at the ripe old age of 53 (and a weight of a whopping 185 lbs)! We are talking a quin bypass surgery that later resulted in a collapse of some of the grafts, which resulted in stenting, which resulted in a huge mess. Bottom line, I have GOT to take care of my body and my heart. Every doctor my dad has ever come in contact with has told him that his heart disease is genetic (as well as poor diet) and well, I want to be around for my kiddos. When I started my weight loss journey, my resting heart rate was between 110-120. Right this second, after a cup of coffee, my heart rate is 80. I know that running is a fantastic way to keep my heart healthy...

On another overly personal note: We will be moving out to the area this half marathon is in in the next couple of months! I'm very excited to scope out the town I have picked for my family to live in and to walk through some houses that could be my new home! YAY!! Can't wait to get to Colorado!!!