A little over 4 months ago I got this crazy idea to run the Corning Wineglass Half Marathon. For a number of reasons, it was a bucket list thing and a personal challenge to myself. Ben was going to start school and Cassidy was going to turn a year old, a lot of changes were going on.

So I ran. A lot. My training schedule was 12 weeks long with two short runs (3-4 miles) on Tuesday and Thursday. Then a longer run on the weekend that gradually increased up to 12 miles. Some runs I was lucky enough to do with friends, others were by myself. Thankfully we had a beautiful summer so most runs were outside in the sunshine and I only had to do the dreadmill a few times.

Saturday afternoon we headed down to pick up my race packet at the Corning Museum of Glass.

We spent the night at Andy’s Aunt and Uncle’s log cabin in the woods. I love this place and these people! My friend Tracy had actually signed up for the race so her and her husband spent the night as well. Becky came to cheer us on too!

Andy fixing Uncle Dan’s computer.

Aunt Bonnie made us an amazing spaghetti pie dinner with salad, homemade bread and chocolate cake. We enjoyed spending time together the night before the race.

The morning of the race Tracy and I had to get dropped off in town so we could take a shuttle to the start line. It was FREEZING (yes, actually low 30s) while we waited for the buses.

The most beautiful sunrise over a corn field at the start of the race.

Almost ready to go!

And we’re off!

The course was absolutely beautiful. Hills and streams, horses and old houses with barns. The leaves were also just starting to change to fall colors. Cell phone pics while running really don’t do it justice!

There was an injury though. Around mile 8 I forgot to pick up my feet and didn’t clear a pothole ;-) I wiped out and scraped up my hands and shin. There was a bit of blood but I got up and kept going.

Mile 11. Are we there yet?

The finish line at 13.1 miles! Timer on the left was for the full marathon that had started after us. Timer you can’t see is on the right. My goal time was under 2 hours 30 minutes and I came in at 2:24 :) I’d also wanted to run the entire race, which I did except for walking through a few water stops.

I made it!

Medals were beautiful.

Tracy and I. She finished 8 minutes before me!

Some of the other finishers coming in.

The signs Becky had made for me :)

We went out to lunch afterwards with Tracy’s family.

Home, showered and wearing the super cute race shirt! People have asked if I’d do another one…maaaaaaybe. Probably ;-) I was worried about my knees because they’d been pretty achy after long runs (even with new sneakers) but was pleasantly surprised they were ok after the actual race. I was sore, but now a few days later am feeling fine. So yes, there may be another some day. It was such a hard, awesome, personal growth, find something inside of you experience. Still not quite calling it “fun” yet though :)