FINALLY.....Air Force 5k & Half Marathon Recap!!

Wow!! So can't believe I am just now sitting down to recap my first half marathon from this past Saturday which was held at the Wright Patterson Air Force Base.  This is such a big and growing race that gets bigger each year it seems.   This was my third attempt at getting to this race.  It wasn't easy this time either as you all know.  With it being a year ago to this month I found out that I had three blood clots in my left calf.  Then that to finding out that I had thyroid cancer.  So I was put on meds for the blood clots, including giving myself shots in my stomach and was scheduled for a total thyroidectomy then about six weeks after that I did my radiation.  But that January 1st I was signed up for the Air Force 5k and the half marathon.  I knew the 5k was just going to be walking with my daughter, daughter-in-law and granddaughter.  I was kinda glad to do this 5k with them to not only spend time together doing something fun and healthy, but to hopefully see first hand what this Air Force Marathon event was about.  Even though I was sure glad I did the walk I kinda regretted it just a bit because I wound up getting a small blister on the bottom of my left foot =(  But anyway, more on that later, back to after I signed up.  So after all my health issues and getting radiation and getting settled into my thyroid medicine I was finally back to slowly working out around the end of January.  It was slow going but it felt good.  Once it warmed up outside enough for me to go on a run outside I was thrilled.  But that was short lived.  Around the beginning of May I was noticing a lot of pain in my right foot.  I wasn't sure what it was other than it hurt.  Especially when I first woke up or if I had been sitting for a period of time.  That's when I found out I had Plantar Fasciitis.  My podiatrist recommended the boot and icing and stretching and also pt.  So I did what I could for my foot and also did some research about people with this same condition and did they still run.  Most did.  My PF was bad but I don't think as bad as what some people get so I decided that I was still going to train for this half marathon.  So in June I got with a girlfriend and asked her if she wanted to train with me too and she did!!! Wonderful.  So I found us a twelve week plan that was good enough just to get us to the finish line.  I didn't do speed or hill work due to the PF.  We ran on our own mostly during the week but we did our long runs together each Saturday.  We trained through the hottest summer here in Ohio in thirty years!! We lucked out on some of our long runs but most were through the heat and humidity even though we ran at 6:30 in the morning.  Then, we got to our twelve mile long run and my girlfriend wound up getting a stress fracture of her left tibia.  I know she was disappointed for sure as so was I but I was also scared.  We had come to far for me not to still run this race!  But I would do it all by myself.....well not totally I get that but still!! But, either way I made it!  And my girlfriend was right there with me taking me to the race and taking some pics and was there when I started off and was there at the finish line!  She knew how important this was to me and I love her for that!! Thank you girlie!! Now for a few pics!

My bibs and my my medals!! Wore my half medal all day long!

This was taken right after the 5k

How awesome is that Stealth bomber?? That was flying over just seconds before the full and 10k took off.  Then right before all of us half marathon people you got to see several parachuters with the American Flag.  Totally awesome! 

Me about 10min before my run.  It was a gorgeous 48 degrees.

Me at mile 9 giving high fives to my family who came out to support me!

Even though it was mile 9 I was feeling pretty good.  The blister on my left foot was pretty bad but my PF foot was just barely sore.  It wasn't until around mile 11ish that I was feeling really tired and wondered why was I doing this again??

Finally!! This was right after the finish line.  I had been stretching and my girlfriend wanted a pic!

Me again and feeling pretty good except for that stinking blister!

All of us standing around talking about the race and of course them telling me how proud they are!

Me listening to my daughter Ashley and just loving the fact that my family was there!

Ummm yea! It so hurt!  But not bad if this is all I got right?

Again.....me!  So so happy!

Like I said, my goal was to just finish!  But in the back of my mind I was hoping that I finished under 3 hours.  I only walked through the water stops and then a big part of a hill.  Not bad considering!  I did finish under the 3 hours but just barely!!  Even though it was a pretty rough training time, I feel like I did everything the way I should.  I made sure I took care of my PF, I made sure to be careful what I ate especially before my long runs.  I made sure to get plenty of sleep but most important I tried to just relax and have fun.  I was so sad that I didn't get to do this with my girlfriend but we have already vowed to do this race together next year and I can not wait!!