.: Bryce Canyon Half Marathon

This last weekend I went down to the beautiful Bryce Canyon to run my very first half marathon. When I first signed up for it I was sure that there would be no way that I could run 13.1 consecutive miles and not die. Or worse. Get a stress fracture. But I did it. Really I did. With only FOUR bathroom breaks. That is why i take off a few minutes. You think that is dishonest? Well don't. Besides. I am really just guessing at my exact time. I never looked at the exact time. How many times can I say exact time?

But let me begin my story. We started the party Friday morning at seven when we all went over to {neighbor}'s house to eat some peanut butter and jelly french toast and some blueberries. delicious. I was the last one to get there. I am always late these days. But that has nothing to do with this. Anyway. We packed up and began the trip. It was sure to be a great thing. A group of hilarious clever people and one long run. The drive really wasn't bad and we listened to some really interesting things. When we got down there we didn't even know where we were going to sleep. We just lived life like a bunch of hippies. Sort of. No weed was involved.

But we went up to the actual Bryce Canyon to see the amazingness of it all. We got up to the gate and asked the old man what there was to do in this great place. His responce? Nothing. No he said the actual word "nothing". I thought that was strange. But he was being sarcastic. I somehow forgot to pack my sarcasm on this trip and suffered greatly for it. There were a lot of blatant jokes that I did not get. It was embarrassing. But we went in and did some hiking in unauthorized areas. The things they are hiding from us is amazing. Good thing we don't follow rules, us hippies. We went down to the town where we would be starting the race and had a look around and then went to the end where we got our packets and shirts. I somehow forgot my size while I was signing up and put a large size. The shirt fits long wise, because shirt makers forget that showing your belly is generally not attractive, but width wise I could add a few pounds and still allow for another human to fit in there. What a shame. Maybe I can sew it so it fits.

Anyway. We drove around looking for a place and instead found a KOA swimming pool. None of us had swimming suits but decided that we needed to go in there. So the girls wore our running shirts and shorts while the boys wore their running shorts. Us girls looked like we had snuck in while the boys didn't. We spoke a little about how girls can't really be spontaneous with all of our precautions and such while we soaked in a pee infested pool. I felt like a real rebel.

Once we dried off we went to find a place to lay our heads. In the end we found an LDS church parking lot that looked to be calling our names. We parked unpacked and began to warm up our pre cooked noodles and sauce. I have never loved food so much in my life. I ate like a queen. or a pig. whatever. We then sprawled across the green grass and talked. Once we made a few friends and laughed too much we decided it was time for bed. The girls went to the treehouse while the boys slept in the truck bed. It was all very kosher. I happened to wake myself by my sleep talking and one of the girls laughing at me. I felt like it was going to be a long night. And it was.

We woke up at four a.m. and began packing back up. We then got ready did a little giggling and went to the busses that took us to the starting line. It was freezing. We were wearing little clothing being that I was told by everyone that it was going to be SOOO HOTTT to run there. Little did they know was that morning time is cold. I didn't know either. So we shivered for hours until they told us to come get ready. It was pretty exciting. This is really happening. I was excited, hungry, tired, and had allergies. At the beginning it felt like we were a bunch of cattle being herded through, but i was with the girls and we just talked.

Once we passed the starting line at 6:08 I was sure it was going to be great. We talked for the first part and then I made the mistake of putting in my ipod and turning on a podcast about religion. Sheesh. I became sucked in and slowed down. Note to self? Don't do podcasts. They are great. But not while trying to keep up with your friends. So i lost them. And then I stopped at nearly every bathroom stop. It is okay. I expected that. Other than that I felt great. Especially when I turned on my music.

The place that it turned south was about mile 12. The reason? Once I got to mile 10 I was sure it was smooth sailing from there. I have done 3 miles tons of times. Too many times in fact. I figured it would be quick and easy from there. But it wasn't!!! I felt like I was dying a slow and painful death. I have never run a longer 3 miles of my life. It was awful. And even worse was the last mile. The random turns tricked me into thinking that i was done just around this corner and I would be done. But it just taunted me. Finally I turned a corner and saw the sweet relief of happiness. I sped up. Not sprinted because I don't do that when I have just had my hopes up for the last ten minutes. I ran through the little finish line at 8:18 and went to get my chip cut off my shoe. I then went straight for the bathroom. My bladder can only take so much movement and 2 hours and ten minutes is way too long for that. After the bathroom I went to find my friends. I searched for years and finally found them. We did some talking and I decided to go grab my camera. I walked up and down the road trying to find that stinking church that we stayed at. Once I found it I heard the announcer say that they are starting awards. I started to run and then realized that I had just run for too long and wasn't going to race to see my friend get his award. I got over there and found that they hadn't done his group yet. So we just relaxed. Saw him get his award. and went back to camp. We took a few pictures and began to find the pool again. That is where we bathed. Gross hu. We put our sweaty bodies in that pool to clean up. I have never been more disgusted with myself before like I was then. But we did it.

We then ended our fast food fast at Arby's. it felt so good. I have never loved Arby's. But this time. I was in love. Anything that was greasy and would make me slower than a hog for days on end I was down for it. And I am now suffering for it. But with a smile. Once we finished we proceeded to head home and the drive was great. The run was great. The company was great. In whole I will look back and just enjoy thinking about how fun it was. Here's to being healthy, with no stress fractures, and happy!!