The Phoenix Marathon and Phoenix Half Marathon- 2014

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The Color Run

Neon Splash Dash

The Phoenix Marathon

The World’s Most Supportive Husband

You get the point!

So last year when I ran my first marathon Jacob announced he really wanted to do the full in 2014, and of course I was so so so supportive! If you’ve had in inkling to run one you really should, it just a life experience like no other! I wasn’t sure where my body would be during the race, but decided a half marathon was fair no matter what and not too strenuous, but still an awesome challenge- so I signed up gladly.

We have spent six wonderful months running together. I’ve never blogged about all the night runs we do together, and the huge Saturday runs, and the times we go to buy Honey Stingers/Shot Bloks and new shoes or socks together, but I’m telling you, getting fit together is one the sweetest things that can happen in a marriage. The endorphins, the body upgrades, the bragging rights, and pain through injuries and extra hard days, are all just that much sweeter with your significant other by your side. And can I say- crossing the finish line together is something seriously amazing too?

Jacob had a serious injury happen about 6 weeks before the race- just enough time to make most people quit. I honestly thought he would, a pulled IT band is no joke- that’s what I did during my marathon last year and it took a month of rest to heal. It ousted him from his heaviest training, and I wondered if he’d go on even with a serious injury. He missed three weeks of training and then jumped right back into it and decided full or no race at all.

And you guys, he did the full thing- and he did it pretty quickly for an injured guy who only got to do 2/3rds of his training. We live track each other through an app on our phones, and it was amazing to see him hit walls and then push through!

Let me recap the day:

3:45 AM- get up, get dressed, fill Camelbaks, and make sure we had everything
4:15- Pick up our neighbor and drive to the finish line/bus pick up
5:00- Say goodbye and head to our different locations
5:30- Arrive at starting line, and try to stay dry and warm because rain was rumored to come in, and some small showers passed through during my hour wait. This was also the time to use the bathroom, because that just needs to happen before you start!
6:25- Starting line, meet up with sister running the half who stayed at my parents and walked over since it’s less than half a mile away. At this point, the rain started coming down.

6:40- wait for the crowd to push through the starting line, start my app, hit play on my Half Marathon Playlist, and set my goal to make it under 2:30. I also zipped up my jacket, because how it started to rain! Imagine Dragons started me out with “It’s Time” because nothing pumps me up and reminds me it’s time to begin like that song!

6:45- Pass the slow moving runners right and left, and I also started watching my step. The downpour came, and wet feet are no joke! Also, running on the painted lines in the road can cause slipping, so I felt like human frogger navigating.

6:47: Rihann’s “Umbrella” magically comes on my playlist at perfect timing- I ran doing all I could not to sing along to “It’s pouring rain” in the chorus. I was pumped and just smiled as this song got me through the first wet 15 minutes.

6:55- The rain stops, I’m still dry and remove my jacket, and proceed to enjoy the next two hours- one of the funnest races of my life! I even stopped to think “I love this! Running is so amazing and I’m seriously having a blast right now!”

At mile 9 it rained again, enough for the jacket to go on for a half mile, and to create amazing wet ground for the race photographer to grab this shot:

And you know how I wanted to make it under 2:30, well, I started 10 minutes later than the start time, and I was thrilled to have made it under by 10 full minutes!

Did you know it’s tradition to hold up the number of race you’ve completed? I’ve now run 2 official, and trained for 3 with a wedding and bronchitis stopping my other. 1 Marathon, 2 halves, and many more to come since I’m a full fledged addict now!

And then I welled up with tears, I just couldn’t get over our proud I was of him! And of course, I knew just how much it means to accomplish the goal, and how overwhelming the moment is!

That Jacob Whiting of mine did it- with so many odds against him, he conquered this!

And one of the proudest wives in the world to hold him up when he’s ready to collapse!

All these people felt so much love and support from her- Mom- you’re the best! 
We all had amazing times on this race and exceeded expectations, so we were pretty proud of our medals!

And I just can’t say enough how proud I was of this boy who couldn’t walk for a few days.

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