First off, lets talk about HOW I am NOT a runner. So 5 weeks ago, Nat convinced to start running with her. I knew I had to do something to get this baby FAT off of me & get my energy back up. So we started running, she started slow at 3 miles..then progressed up to 10. GOODNESS sakes I thought I would never get passed the burning lungs. BUT WHO KNEW…it passes. I felt great, my legs were getting used to it…I actually enjoyed running.
Well she finally convinces me to do the 1/2 marathon & thanks to a friend, who couldn’t run, I was able to take her place. A few days before said race we read the course description:
The Gunstock Half Marathon is a trail run through a working ranch. Don’t expect paved roads, get ready for some hills, and watch out for horse apples and cow pies!
The race follows Jeep trails, cow paths, dirt/gravel roads, paved roads, and sometimes open pasture. There are 4 steep hills on the course, topping out at 321 feet above sea level….blah blah AAAHHHHHH!!! What the crap was I thinking, I just started running…I don’t REALLY HIKE, can I do this?
So the week of the race I freaked out, I really wasn’t sure I was going to make it to the end. BUt I committed to doing it & I wanted to do it. This was my most trying, busiest & stressful week EVER. (I was in charge of Halloween Ward Party/making 3 costumes/running in preps of race/making sure my diet will keep me alive during race/Trick-O-Treating/etc.)
Friday night I could barely sleep, tossing & turning, dreaming of sleeping in & missing the race. I worried about my back….which I slept wrong on earlier in the week & was sore. BUT I was excited, I picked up Nat, we got our Numbers & stretched. GOODNESS everyone there looked like REAL runners..I was just pretending to be. But none the less we started running, right away 90% of the pack passed us by….but I figured that was ok, my goal was to finish & NOT finish LAST.
THE RACE was HARD, really really hard. UP & down hills, over cow pies, rocks, roots, sticks & more FRESH cow pies. MY body was not cut out for this. Nat was keeping me alive, she was motivating me…“we can do this, NO, WE ARE DOING THIS!” At mile 5-ish a couple of guys were on their way BACK to the finish. AAAAAHHH really? Are we that far behind? IT was ok, we will finish it. Through mud, a stream, a water treatment plant, through beautiful hiking trails, and back again…my body SCREAMED at me, but we made it to the end. After most people had already left to go home, after the award ceremony had finished we made to back. Nat of course beat me, that girl can gazelle run like crazy and she bolted to the finish at the end. I was slow or else I might have passed out…but I did it.

Rach! you are awesome! I wish I were there to scream you through the finish!! you are awesome honey!!
YOU ARE AWESOME!!! GREAT JOB!
RACHEL! THat is so awesome girl! I am getting tired just reading what went on in the race for you! You are inspiring! I need to get my butt in the gym pronto.
That really sucked.
Let's do it again on Thanksgiving. 😉
You rock! I'm always impressed by runners, it almost makes me want to start…..almost : )
i am so proud that you did it. and stuck to it. and finished it.
you are great. that is all i have to say. great.
you are awesome!!!
i am so proud of you!!! that is so neat that you did that….was jase really not there at the finish line?