Half marathon part 2

So it is now about 18 hours since I finished the half marathon. The question is...how do I feel? I feel tired and sore. Sore in places I excepted to be sore legs, lower back and butt. But also sore in places I did not think would be sore my arms and upper back/shoulder area. As I think about it though it does make sense for all the areas to be sore. I mean it takes all your muscles to stand upright for not only the 13.1 miles but all the time before (which was about an hour and a half) and all the time after ( about an hour). Plus we walked not only the 13.1 but probably another 2 miles or so between walking to and from the hotel, to the start line and from the finish line. So that I am sore just about all over is not all that amazing. What is amazing is that I am moving at all.
So time for some stories about the half marathon....
Walking friend had a hotel room for us to stay in Saturday night so we went down to Houston to the Hilton right by the George R. Brown Convention center which was where the start and finish were by. Now a I say by because the start was actually not right out the door for us half marathoners but about 1/2 mile or more away but it was a good way to warm up your muscles before the walk. There were 16000 participants in the Half and full marathon and I think at least a quarter of them were staying at the Hilton. Everywhere you went there you ran into someone associated with the marathon. It was nice to already be there in the morning to not have to get up way early in order to drive there, find parking and all.We decided to get up in time to go to one of the prayer services in the convention center before hand. SO we were over at the GRB by 5:45am once the service was over we waited our turn in the port-a-potty lines then went to the starting line. Well not to the actual starting line yet. With 16,000 people you can imagine we weren't standing in a single line but we went to the gathering place and got in line for the starting line. Good thing we had shoe chips that told them when we crossed the start line or my time would have had an additional 10-11 minutes on it. Everyone was really nice. We got to talk with several people around us while waiting and got the benefit of a seasoned half marathoner who didn't really give any advice but just shared his experiences with us. Walking Friend and I were together till the start line line then she took off but we knew that would happen, she has a much fast nature gait than mine. but I was rarely out there with out someone near me that was pacing with me. For a while I walked with a couple of ladies and we chatted a little, but you don't really talk during one of these things, it was more words of encouragement or amazement as the miles moved on. For me miles 8-11 were the worst. Mainly because the cops started opening back up the roads and we were forced to the sidewalk and the volunteers had shut down the water stations which you know three miles really isn't that far to go in between water but we had been getting water/Gatorade every 1 1/2 miles and that late in the race it was missed. Next time I know to make sure I bring my own water bottle for that possibility. Somewhere between mile 10 and 11 I "hit the wall". I was very suddenly in despair and ready to just give it up, I was having a hard time not crying I was in such a state of despair. But I bucked up told Satan to "get behind me and push not hinder me!" I also turned off my mp3 and went on without music. Kind of felt I needed the solitude and since my glutes were hurting at this point I wasn't keeping pace with the music anyway. But doing so gave me the opportunity to walk and talk with a couple of other walkers and that help me to keep going. by mile twelve I could not believe I was doing it! We could now see the GRB in the distance! Since the weather had been wet when I stepped on a manhole cover I nearly bit the dust but didn't! Thank God on that one cuz if I had gone down I don't think I would have been able to get up again. the two I was walking with said it is close but not close enough to drag you across we will send someone for if you fall! LOL! I said OK! And proceeded to avoid all manhole covers! now most of the way there were people out there cheering you along your way which was awesome but at the finish line well starting about 1/4 mile out from the finish line you had TONS of people cheering you along. Calling out your name because it was on your bib with you number and telling you you can do it and how great you have done. it Was hard not to smile and wave back at them. and was even harder to not be in tears BUT tears would have wasted precious fluids and energy so tears waited.when I crossed the finish line I was soooooo excited and proud of myself even though I knew I had been over four hours in doing it it didn't matter that I wouldn't get the medal or shirt I DID IT! but then I walked into the GRB and a volunteer placed the medal around my neck and walking friend was there and we hugged and cried. Now crying probably would have been more if I hadn't just walked 13.1 miles and was in need of water but we cried nonetheless.then went and got me water and my finisher shirt.
IT was an AWESOME experience!!
Will I do it again? I have to admit that yeah I will. But the next even I am training for is....well not deciding that for at least a week and not training for at least 13 days. they say to give your body one day for every mile to recuperate so 13 days it is. I am going to enjoy this accomplishment for a while before moving on the the next goal.
IF any of you who read this go out and are spectators cheering on the walkers/runners in events like this THANK YOU a MILLION times over. You were awesome. And to those who not only cheered us on but had orange slices water or whatever to help us with energy God Bless You. Thanks for the miles of smiles.
I DID IT!!! WOOHOO!!