It is hard to believe that we did it, well I guess harder to believe that I did it. Running 13.1 miles that is. MJ and Wendi Stephens ran together and finished 3rd, their picture is included above. She is awesome, fast, inspirational and my wife and I love her for motivating me to get this done.
About two weeks ago we did a long run of 11 miles and for some reason at mile 8 of that run my left knee began to bother me right in the joint space. It worried me, but with some rest I continued to run and train. On Sat. for the half marathon I kind of figured it would hurt, but in reality it hurt a lot. All the ups and downs, mainly the downs, took their tole and I had to walk a little. But to be honest it was the struggle that made that two and a half hours great. The last .1 mile was the best. I turned off the last bridge and I could hear the group yelling for me, and I got really emotional. Just to know that this major challenge of running 13.1 miles on a morning with 20 mph winds and a wind chill in the teens made me tear up. What and accomplishment. Everyone in the group did well and I am so proud to have been a part of it.
Just a few examples of a 13 mile distance:
From the Waldron's house in Lemont to interstate 80 is about 13 miles
From the 315 exit in Bourbonnais, IL to a little past Peotone if you ran on I-57
From Childress, TX to Estelline, TX
