Oops, I Did It Again.
So, I started training for my second half-marathon in January (as mentioned in this post). My training started out pretty well, and I ran at least twice a week mostly and tried to keep up with my long runs, but life got busy (wedding planning and school and other life-in-general stress) and I lost track of how much time I had before the race, and I didn't feel ready. (Not feeling ready could also be a teensy bit of laziness on my part. Just a TEENSY bit.)
So I decided not to run the race. I would go to Atlanta, and cheer on Anne Marie and my friend Cheryl, and just be a spectator. Cathy would be a spectator too, since she is just recovering from bronchitis and really shouldn't run 13.1 miles right now.
Yesterday was that half-marathon.
And I totally ran it!
I think I was scared to run because I knew I wouldn't improve from my first race, and I didn't want to feel like a failure. But my sister Cathy (that sneaky, sneaky girl) was all, "Why don't we just run a little, and see how we feel? We won't run the whole thing..."
Here's me and Cat before the race:
Yeah. She tricked me.
And then it was just FUN. Beautiful day, beautiful course. We took it easy, not running too hard, pushing ourselves every now and then. It was so much fun, laughing and running with my sister, watching all the other runners and the spectators. We kept a good pace, and Cathy didn't let me slack too much. We even got to see the lead runners because the marathon course crossed paths with the half marathon course at several points - that was AWESOME. Dude. They were kicking so much ass - it was really motivating. At mile 8, Cathy wisely decided to stop, and so she did. But she was like, "Finish the race." And I kept going. And I finished!
Here's my medal.
I might have more pics of the race eventually, but I didn't bring my camera -- I assumed I would have access to it later since I wouldn't be finishing the race. Ha. Next time, I'm going to be more serious about my training, but it was nice to do a race in a very stress-free sort of way.
[Note: since I'd done a half before, I felt okay running it even though I didn't feel completely ready. I am in NO WAY advocating just waking up the morning of a half-marathon and deciding to try and run it. You gotta train, baby. I guess the point is: I wasn't motivated to run it, even though I physically was ABLE. And my sister and Cheryl and AM helped me get motivated -- that morning!]
In general, that's the kind of runner I am. I don't like to get caught up in my time because I'm a slow schmoo, and if I'm not enjoying something, I'm just not gonna do it. So, I try to keep running fun and light and not a competitive thing. (Now, that's just me. My friends (coughcough Cheryl and AM and Cathy coughcough) who are fast schmoos do things differently, and I like that. Cheryl rocked the half, and AM rocked the FULL, and I'm so proud of them. Cheryl finished almost an hour before me and when I was coming around that last bend, I saw her waiting, and she ran me into the finish line, which totally rocked. She even cheered me past a couple of runners.
Woo-hoo! Team Schmoo rocks.
In other news - knitting news - I've been knitting a little opera scarf with my Noro Silk Garden Lite, and I ripped it out. It just wasn't working for me. (Although, I will say that I love that pattern, and I'm going to knit it again, but with a swingier, drapier yarn.)
Here's the farewell photo:
Farewell, opera scarf.
Instead, I decided to copy Molly! and make a mini clapotis with it.
Yum. I love this yarn.
And the Forecast? She is literally 20 sleeve rounds away from being done. I'm predicting a finished post by next week. No promises, though.
Comments (45)
I ran that race too! The Half. It was a great race and I will be back to do it again next year. I read your blog in Chicago but my mom & dad live in Atlanta. It was a challenge to train for a 1/2 in Chicago since the weather is not good - for example the Cubs are snowed out today - in April. We also don't have hills - yikes. But I love the shirt and the medal and I ran it in 2:15:32 so I was very happy.
Oh, and did you notice we ran past a knitting store called Knitch? My mom & I went Tuesday after the race. It's a beautiful knitting store if you get a chance to visit.
Posted by Sarah Palmer | April 11, 2007 1:40 PM
Well, if nothing, this post shows that AM's still alive! :)
Posted by Jomy | April 4, 2007 2:22 PM
Hey Carrie
Congrats on the 1/2!!!!!! I bet you felt great after you got the medal! I run too..... All your aches and pains go away afta gettin the medal. Maybe, you'll be up in my neck of the woods someday running Boston.
Posted by edie | April 4, 2007 7:21 AM
I've been reading your blog forever (maybe over a year now?) and just wanted to say how much I enjoy it. Additionally you and your sister look SOOOO much alike. I bet you get that a lot.
Can't wait to see what you've been knitting,
Lo
Posted by Lo | April 3, 2007 7:08 PM
You are my hero for running that race! Super cool medal!
Posted by Jenny | March 31, 2007 11:45 PM
Delurking! Been reading your blog for over a year or so..you are so much fun..reminds me of myself when I was young..haha! Hooray for you for doin the half even when you didn't want too. And hooray for you for rippin out th Silk Garden. Thanks for the motivator...i'm heading out for a run now!
Posted by Lisa W | March 30, 2007 12:11 PM
wheee! Once upon a time I wanted to run a half marathon...For one reason or another I stopped training after I hit 6 1/2 ish miles *sigh* better get back on it. Congrats!
Posted by may | March 30, 2007 11:43 AM
Hello!
I'm French and I'm a student at the university. For my English course I have to do an expose and with my friend we have chosen "Knitting". I found your blog and it is very interesting, that's the reason why I'm writing you.
I just have some questions and it will be nice if you could answer me quite rapidly :-)
So, I'd like to know why you like knitting, since how you have practised it and what you think about the knitting stereotypes and cliches.
Thanks a lot ;-)
I let you my email address: karole_25@hotmail.fr
Posted by Carole | March 30, 2007 6:57 AM
Congrats on the 1/2!!! beautiful medal too. Im a runner who's moving to Atlanta this summer so I'm looking at that medal like, yeah, I want one of those peaches...
Posted by Emily | March 30, 2007 5:15 AM
Congrats on your race!
Posted by Meredith | March 29, 2007 10:24 AM
Hey!
I just have to say, I love your blog. It's one of the ones I check every week :)
Posted by "torrance" | March 28, 2007 5:00 PM
You rock! I want to do something where I get a georgia peach metal. :)
Bye bye, opera scarf. Nice knowing you.
Love that purl idea from maggie for the clapotis!
Posted by frecklegirl jess | March 28, 2007 3:42 PM
Woman! You won my little contest! Send me your snail mail address and let me know if you want the book or sock yarn (if you want the yarn, let me know which yarn/color).
Grats!
Posted by HibiscuitsGirl | March 28, 2007 11:55 AM
Yay for you running a half marathon! So impressed. I had some big plans on running the AIDS Walk out here in July, but it sure doesn't look like it's gonna happen right now since I haven't ran since oh,...September? Ishould really get off my ass.
Posted by Stacey | March 27, 2007 10:12 PM
Yay for running marathons! I have no idea what that's like. Getting off the couch to get more chips is a physically demanding sport for me. Hell, just thinking about marathons makes me tired. I'm gonna go get a soda.
(The mini-Clap? Totally adorable idea.)
Posted by HibiscuitsGirl | March 27, 2007 9:25 PM
Very cool on the race -- what sort of training plan did you use?
Posted by Jenny | March 27, 2007 8:19 PM
That is SO COOL you and your sis ran the race! And how neat is that medal? Sheesh, all we get for road races around here (Track Town, USA- Eugene, OR!) is a t-shirt if we pre-register! Good for you! I'm a slow schmoo too, so I'll keep your inspiring race in mind next time I'm huffing and puffing up a hill on a run!
Posted by kelly | March 27, 2007 5:20 PM
I ran it too! I wonder if I saw you - I was back with the slow group too. It's way more fun back there! I ran for a while with Raquel, she's the knitter that you saw in a bar and posted her pic from your camera phone (I think?) on your blog a few months ago!
Congrats on the great run!
Posted by Carolyn | March 27, 2007 5:07 PM
delurking again to say 'wow' - you runner types amaze me:) for me, 'running and laughing' is an oxymoron!!
(please let anne marie know this reader misses her in blogland! i see she's password protected her blog, so hopefully everthing's OK!)
Posted by brenda in toronto | March 27, 2007 4:30 PM
Congrats on running! the only place I've been running to is to the freezer for ice cream or to the bathroom to pee. Yay for team schmoo.
Posted by biglug | March 27, 2007 3:15 PM
That's totally how I did the last 1/2 I ran -- i trained for a bit, did one six mile run, then did nothing, then ran for a little bit, just a ways, and ended up running to the end. Isn't it great? So glad you did that...... YAY!
Posted by Rachael | March 27, 2007 12:59 PM
You soooo Rock - it really is great to have sisters - especially the kind who inspire, goad, push - whatever - you to do and be your best. Scarf "was" lovely and I'm sure it'll be lovelier in it's new incarnation. Can't wait to see completed forecast!
Posted by robin | March 27, 2007 12:06 PM
you go on that marathon! good for you! sorry i missed you in NYC, but, you know, i was having a baby ;) next time for sure!
Posted by gleek | March 27, 2007 11:45 AM
Congrats on the half marathon!! Woot!
Posted by lynda | March 27, 2007 11:08 AM
Congrats man! half marathons are nothing to laugh at. especially the way you did it. You are more "trained" than you thought!
Posted by lomester | March 27, 2007 10:57 AM
Dude, the most important thing is to just have fun. I was just reading that running marathons and such are no longer about competition but about lifestyle and leisure, or something like that. Anyway, screw fast runners! Slow and fun is the way to go! And you know what, I have noticed that the faster people aren't as friendly as the not-so-fast people. Rock on!
Posted by Mariko | March 27, 2007 9:54 AM
Way to go on the half! I want to do one too - just for fun and as motivation to train. The question is: how do you get over the 3 mile slump? I can run three miles, then I can do no more. I think I need teamies to help me through...
Posted by maya | March 27, 2007 9:23 AM
congrats congrats! that's the thing about running for me - some days it's easy as pie, some days every step is a chore. but i'm not sure it would ever be easy enough for me to run a 1/2 marathon.
Posted by carrie m | March 27, 2007 9:21 AM
Great job on the half. I am so glad you just did it for the fun and had a great time. Congrats!
Posted by Lara | March 27, 2007 9:05 AM
Congratulations on the race. I have thought of taking up running, but I just can't seem to stick with it. Any pointers?
So long little opera scarf, it was very pretty, but I am sure that yarn will make a great clapotis. I love the colors.
Posted by Tina | March 27, 2007 8:37 AM
Congratulations!! You Rock!
Posted by Michelle | March 27, 2007 8:00 AM
LOL... I have a tricky sister too... kudos to you for finishing the race!
Posted by reluctantmango | March 27, 2007 7:15 AM
congrats on the race!! i thought the opera scarf was quite lovely...but i bet it's going to be even more super-fantastic as clapotis (most things are!)
Posted by Cristina | March 27, 2007 12:17 AM
Congratulations, girl. You rock. And I love your whole approach to running. I think I need to go this way b/c I do want to keep up with my running, but as soon as I stop "progressing" I get frustrated and quit for a while (or a long while...). I'm now going to think of you when I run (or begin to run) again: happy schmoo thoughts, skipping along, having a good time but also getting fit at the same time. Sounds like a winning plan.
PS: I have one more sleeve to go in Forecast, and then button bands, and then buttons....It feels so far away right now, but I'm so excited to see yours soon!
Posted by kodachrome | March 26, 2007 11:40 PM
Congrats on the half-marathon! That's quite an accomplishment!
Posted by Jess | March 26, 2007 10:59 PM
Wow, congratulations! I didn't even realize y'all were doing that *this* weekend. Y'all are amazing. Hooray!
Also, that yarn is gorgeous! I think the mini Clapotis is her destiny.
Posted by Courtney Q | March 26, 2007 10:52 PM
That's awesome! Good on you! I can barely run a full mile, but I can cycle like a mofo. And thanks for the comment on my blog! I love Elise too, almost too much maybe.
Posted by Melanie | March 26, 2007 10:01 PM
So, the whole time that your sister was coughing in NY, she had bronchitis?! Oh, it's terrible to be sick on a trip :(
But it seems that she recovered and was in high enough spirits to motivate you to run a half marathon?! Damn. Can I borrow her on days when I'm down and don't even want to go to work? ;)
PS The Noro lite is lovely!
Posted by Veronique | March 26, 2007 9:51 PM
Dude, you ROCK!!! My laziness would have won out. I am so proud to be your blogging reader. Keep it going
Posted by Nubiancraftster | March 26, 2007 9:39 PM
Way to go! We were thinking about doing a mini in Indianapolis this spring, but my husband has had some health issues. Hopefully next year. I just read your 100 things. I have colitis and mucho debt too! Whoopee! Very cool medal too.
Posted by Sonya | March 26, 2007 9:21 PM
That's incredible -- congrats to you for doing the whole 13 miles! And, scarf looks great, aloha to it and hope you like the next one you knit better.
Posted by Kathode Ray Tube | March 26, 2007 9:17 PM
You are AWESOME! I totally have to trick myself into things like that (although by "things like that" I don't mean anything LIKE a half-marathon--just, like, getting my ass out of bed for yoga). Yay for your teamies for getting you into it! And big yay to you for finishing!
Posted by Ashley | March 26, 2007 9:16 PM
Very nice! Yay for running, and nice medal! that sg lite is so nice to work with, I love your colorway!
Posted by Julia | March 26, 2007 8:58 PM
Oh Carrie! Good work! Congrats on the run.
My hubby ran the Vancouver 1/2 marathon last year and I could not believe how loud the start was with all the shoes slamming the pavement. I can't imagine being in the middle of it!
Nice scarf too!
Posted by Lisa | March 26, 2007 8:50 PM
Fantastic, congratulations on the race!
I suggest Handmaiden Sea Silk for your opera scarf. That is some seriously drapey stuff.
Also, if you purl the stitch you plan to drop in your clappy, you won't need the stitch markers.
Posted by Maggie | March 26, 2007 8:36 PM