Less than a year ago it was a struggle for me to run a single mile without stopping. 

Yesterday, I ran 13.1 miles.  Only stopping briefly to sip guzzle water and gatorade, since I haven’t quite managed how to run and drink at the same time.

Seeing the finish line for the first time

The Parks Half Marathon was my first, but it surely won’t be my last.  To my shock and delight, I was stronger at the end of the race than I was at the beginning.

I have to thank the coaches at Fleet Feet (Gaithersburg) who designed a great training program.  After having success with both their 10K and half marathon programs, I would highly recommend any new runner trying to reach a goal to find a similar program.

The Fleet Feet Crew

Without a doubt this was a key to my success.  I’m not sure if I would have been able to accomplish this on my own.  I learned a lot, got stronger throughout the process, and even made some friends along the way.

Currently I don’t have a longer run than this planned for the remainder of the year… so it’s time to start plotting the next big one.  Perhaps I’ll knock off one of the 40 for 40’s next year.  Any suggestions for my first {gasp} marathon?

It’s amazing to think how far I’ve come in a year.