I ran my 7th half marathon today! I’m still shocked because last year I only ran 5K’s.  And last year I weighed 180lbs in March and 160 lbs in Oct.  And now I weigh around 130-133.  I’m trying to get under 130, hopefully by March- spring break in Havasu. . But I need these holidays to be over so there’s not desserts everywhere.

My first 5K. March 2010

The Freedom Run 5K was also my 4th day of running in a decade!  I got a medal for the 5k walk. I finished in 43 minutes.  This was also three months post pregnancy.

I also just finished up week 3 of 18 for training for the Sand Hollow Marathon.  We’ll see how that goes.  lol  But in 5 weeks is the St George 1/2 marathon that I want to PR in.  So I need to beat my Bryce Canyon PR of 1:54:44. I think I can, I think I can.  With the help of all the classes I do at Desert Fitness and Aimee Langston is training me once a week with speed workouts and hills, I should be able to.

So…The secret Hostess Half Marathon.  Who doesn’t want to run, eat a donut, run -eat another, run- another donut, run- eat a cinnamon cake, run- eat a Twinkie?  Well that’s what I did!  I was worried about getting a stomach-ache, but I think it gave me lots of energy. lol.  I met a lot of people from FB in person and had a great time.  I met Shannon from www.stgeorgemom.blogspot.com and we run the same pace so I had someone to talk to, which makes 13.1 miles go by so much faster!!!  And she’s doing the Sand Hollow Marathon too, so I even have a running partner to train with now.  Because I can’t imagine running 20 miles by myself, or 18 or 16 or even 14. lol.

December in Hurricane is cold.  And it was 25 degrees at 8:am.  It’s only cold if you’re standing there not running.  My hands finally warmed up about 2.5 miles and at the turn-a-round I took off my long sleeve top that was under my jacket. I gave it and my gloves to Mike.  Mike and the boys were at the second stop.  Evan had a sign and a cow bell cheering everyone on.  :) The hardest part of this race is running after stopping.  I finally feel good then I have to stop to eat.  I didn’t carry my water pack because I knew I had to stop to eat so I drank the water supplied.  I carried my phone in the belt clip that I usually have on my water pack.

Here was the first stop.

We passed a few horses.

Since I live a mile from here I pass these horses all the time.

2nd stop, first time seeing Mike!

Here is the best fan!

This sign was made for my first half.

Shannon and I running.

I took a big bite. LOL

Pretty I know.  But it’s proof I ate it.

4th stop.

4th stop. I had a cinnamon cake.

This was the turn-a-round. I LOVED the tree!

And Melissa (just out of pic was volunteering in the 25 degree weather 7 months pregnant!

The best crew at a water station!

The finish line was at the park.

Mike and the boys went to McD’s after the turn-a-round then met me at the finish just in time!

Finished! I LOVE the medal!

I finished in 2:02.  I thought that’s pretty good for taking my time at the stops.  It was hard to eat fast and wash it down with water.  My running pace was 8:52/mile.

All the runners before the start.

Can you spot me??  I stole this pic from FB.  Thanks Cory for a great race that was not sponsored by Hostess but by a runner who loves to eat Hostess.  And I was lucky enough to run this secret race.

Thanks for reading!

Amber