Richland 1/2 Marathon

Once again I had a wonderful weekend in Richland 

and doing the Richland 1/2 Marathon on Sunday. 

My cousin Meghan and I took her 2 girls (Lily & Chloe) 

and drove over on Friday afternoon.

It was a great relaxing weekend with some of my family. 

Pam, Paul, Craig, Ryan, Emily & Paige. 

Sunday morning the weather was very cold and windy.

We got all dressed up in our outfits. 

We got to the race about 30 minutes before the start and went to

 find the start line. 

It happened to be right by where we got to park, it was so cold and windy that

 we went and got back in the car until about 5 minutes before. 

We all decided that it was too windy to wear the headbands and tutu's. 

So we didn't run with them on.

OK.... Off and running. 

Only 382 did the Half Marathon in Richland.

One of mine and Pam's goals is to finish a 1/2 marathon in under 3 hours.

Meghan and I weren't really ready for it but off we started running/walking. 

Pam is the blurry one in front.

Meghan had a sore thigh and at about mile 6 it really started hurting her. 

So at the point we just walked the rest of the way.

This is Pam passing us after the turn around. 

Look at her hair, that shows how windy it was.

About mile 7 Paul found us, he had
Lily and Chloe in the cougar behind his bike. 

They were checking on all of us. 

Pam was by this time had a pretty good lead in front of us. 

We knew that she would just run like Forrest. 

"run Forrest run" 

Lily cheering grandma on. 

By the 9th mile,

 Meghan wasn't sure if she was going to make it to the finish line. 

I kept telling her, you have made it this far, you can't give up now. 

So we kept walking. 

Meghan was walking with a limp by now. 

I tried to keep her talking about different things,

 like what we were going to have for dinner. 

I was trying to keep her mind off of how much longer we had and how miserable it was, 

but also making sure I wasn't being the 

cheer-leading, Tinker-bell that Pam did to me the last half.  

Mile 10 she wanted to call her dad to come and get her. 

She said "but I don't want you to finish alone" 

I said "that's ok" and kept walking. 

Then she said "ok I can make it" 

I yelled "YES" 

I was excited that she was going to make it to the finish line, 

no matter how long it took us. 

The police had the roads blocked of and blocked the intersections 

when the runners/walkers were going through. 

By this time Pam had already finished. 

She did it.... 

She came in at 2:52:23

My aunt rocks!!!! 

Who would have ever thought that at age 63 she would be 

running 1/2 marathon's and doing triathlons,

 and doing them as fast as she does. 

She kick's my ass at the time thing. 

So proud of her.

And  of course she came in 3rd in her age group. 

She seems to always come away with something extra. 

Bummer for her, she then has to sit there and wait for Meghan and I to finish. 

She had lots of company. 

Thank's to all of you for being there. 

Meghan and I were still plugging along. 

She was in a lot of pain but not giving up. 

We were freezing and our hands were swelling up. 

Look at this.

They look like sausage fingers. 

HURT like hell... 

The police kept asking Meghan if she was OK and if she needed a ride. 

She would say "no I'm fine, but thanks" 

I know how she felt, so proud of her for not giving up. 

Cant you see the love in her face for me. LOL 

Paul and Ryan checking on us and making sure we were going to make it. 

Lily running to support her mommy. 

This is just what Meghan needed. 

Off to the finish line. 

Poor Meghan was to the point that she was walking like both her legs were

 "peg legs" 

LOOK... 

It's the finish line. 

And NO we didn't finish last, there was 3 other people behind us, 

although only 1 out of the 3 finished. 

I didn't care how long it took us, I just wanted her to finish. 

And she did!!!

Another half marathon in the books. 

It was a wonderful weekend. 

I'm again so proud of Meghan for finishing her first half and Pam for finishing under 3 hours. 

Meghan already said she wants to run her next one. 

My next half is going to be my under 3 hours !!!

Next, the Wenatchee 1/2 marathon April 21, 2012.