Sunday, May 23, 2010

The Half Marathon~Running 13.1 Miles

Remember last year's marathon experience?  Emily ran the 4th leg on a relay team...7.6 miles.  Here she is just leaving the exchange chute in 2009.
This year...the half. Just over 13 miles. If one can run nearly 8 miles, does 13 sound like that much more? Umm...Yes...I think it's much harder than any of us non-runners can imagine!  A marathon runner must get up early for breakfast and a little coffee.

Hubby and I went to Fargo to join Jake as her marathon 'support crew'.  (Line decided she didn't want to go.)


There were about 17,500 runners...add to that their support people...Well, the Fargo Dome was full of people.  So, surprise, when we ran into a few of the runners that were there from Aberdeen.
Last year's weather?  Cold.  Here are just some of the thousands of runners lined up in the starting area.
This year's weather?  Warmer...but raining.
Runners didn't report to the start line until they absolutely had to!
By the time Opening Ceremony was finished...
for the Americans,
for the Canadians,
in English,
and in Norwegian,
...it was pouring.
I put my camara away for fear it would get wet.
While Emily was running, the 3 of us drove downtown to cheer for her.
We caught up to her just before she reached Mile 10.
Then quickly, back to the Dome to watch the finishers...Here she is...
She's the one coming under the finish banner...on the right...
Notice her time?  Under 2 hours...
She did sooo well...
Next...the support crew must locate their runner down on the floor of the Dome.
And, there's a lot of runners there...without their cell phones...
How would we ever find her!
The medal is pretty sweet...
Definately a Keepsake.
Congratulations, Emily.
Congratulations to all runners...
5K, 10K, Relay, Half and Full Marathon Runners...
It is an amazing accomplishment.
You inpire me!

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Good for her! I walked the half in 2009 and it was an awesome experience. It takes dedication and training, but it is well worth it! Glad you got to cheer her on!

Nancy

jdavissquared said...

that's awesome! i've always wanted to run a half marathon. I actually trained for one with my husband when he did his full marathon last year, but i didn't actually do the half. {i so regret this now!} someday, i'm determined to do it!
Yay for her! They're so fun to watch too!

Cathryn said...

Congratulations Emily! Way to go! Wooooohoooooooo!

Kathy said...

Congratulations to her! That is a huge accomplishment. I give all runners credit...I could never do it!

Matt will be here in Chicago to run the marathon.....and I don't believe he has even started training yet....oh to be young again!

Lori said...

Congratulations Emily!!

Suzanne said...

That is such a huge accomplishment. My DIL just ran a half marathon and finished in under 2 hours too! So fabulous!

dee begg said...

Wow! I would have not even made the first mile. The medal is really cool and she will have great memories of this event knowing her "support" team was there for her.

Oklahoma Granny said...

Woo hoo! Way to go, Emily!

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