In Alaska the summer solstice is a pretty big thing here being that the sun never sets, so they like to celebrate with running(??? Who does that?!). Well, Clayton and I are fools and accepted the challenge this year. Ok, really it isn't that bad. For the marathon coarse, you run 26.2 miles in the mountains and throughout the city on a fairly level coarse with some hills. Truly though it is scenic and just plain beautiful! Half marathon is not quite as awesome, because it is only 13.1 miles it doesn't go in the mountains at all, just through the city, but still scenic and still beautiful! So Clayton ran the full 26.2 and I ran the half. His race began at 8:00am and mine at 9:00, but they shared a finish line. This created a small problem. My last half marathon time was 2 hours and 19 minutes, and I was already starting an hour later than Clayton. Also, Clayton had a goal time of under 3 1/2 hours for his full marathon. I knew he could make his time, or even beat it. Me....I wanted to beat my old time for sure, but 2 hours is what I was really going for. Problem is, I hadn't been running/training for this AT ALL. I decided literally days before the race to do it. I knew I was in good shape, I have been working out regularly for a while now, but running is different. So be it! I still wanted to do it. I just couldn't let Clayton pass me before the finish line, there is just no way! So I had no choice but to "book it"! I really wanted to be there at the finish for him!
This is at the starting line with my good friend Mandi before the race. Nervous and totally afraid he was going to whoop me!
Me crossing the finish line!!! 2:00:09!!!! Are you kidding me?!?!?!
Whoo-Hoo!!!! I did it in 2 hours!!!!
And I got to see Clayton finish his race too! Here he is in the black coming around the bend.
And his finish time...3:29:42! That is crazy fast if you ask me. He took 42nd out of all the men, and finished 46th total out of over 1,200 runners. Needless to say, I am SO proud of him.
After our races, we were both feeling it. But, a picture had to be taken!
And one with all of us too. Casey and I made the kids' shirts. They were pre-made with My Dad ROCKS! 26.2 miles in ____. So quickly after he finished, I wrote in his time before we met up with him. It was pretty cute. The kids were so pround of him too, they love their shirts and loved showing them off to the other runners.
All-in-all, it was a good time. I am glad we got to do that together. I love having good physical health and a strong body and I am so grateful that he and I can do things like this together! I hope we have another 30 years of this!
1 comment:
Great post! You guys both did awesome! I'm very impressed. Clayton, of course, did an incredible time, and Kari, your time is awesome especially without even training! I knew you had that time in you! Way to go! The kids shirts are adorable too. Love it!
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