30 before 30: Run a Half Marathon

I'm attempting to complete a list of 30 things before I turn 30 in September, and I've got my hands full!  I don't recommend allowing just five months to complete 30 things!  But there is no time to waste because there is fun to be had.  You can read the rest of my 30 things here.

I began to consider myself a "runner" after I had Asher, and after I ran my first Shamrock Run, three years ago or so--note the after.  Husband loves to tell his side of the story that day, as it goes something like, "Cassie and her friend didn't think I could do a 5k, so I signed up, showed up and ran the race and beat her--without any training."  Duh.  When I came to the finish line, damp and sweaty and feeling those extra pounds, I wasn't excited.  On top of my Husband rubbing his non-exercise-regimen-fitness into my face, there stood the seasoned athletes, lined up at the start line for the 15k, with their sculpted legs and tiny tanks.  Those are the real athletes, I thought.  And I wanted to be one.

I know it sounds demoralizing to be so hard on one's self, but I think that way sometimes, and believe me, Husband wasn't happy with my attitude.  I'm not sure where it exactly derives from, but in a way--a big way, having that attitude with myself, helps me to do more, get better, run farther and get quicker.  I just have to be careful to be nice to myself in the process, and allow growing pains to occur.

That summer, I ran my first half-marathon and finished at 10 min. miles.  The next year, I ran the Shamrock 15k, and I was quite pleased with my time.  I finished 9.3 mi. at an 8:59 min. pace (a PR).  The next month I ran the Portland Race for the Roses half marathon and finished at exactly 9 min. mi.
Shortly after the Roses, in the spring of 2010, I got injured.  I dealt with an on-off again back injury for almost a year and a half, and it was truly depressing.  Running had become such a love of mine, and I could hardly wait to push myself again. 

Finally, this last Spring, I was able to get back into the game.  I ran the Shamrock Run in March and Rock n' Roll Portland half marathon in May, and had a blast!  Besides some technical difficulties with my Map My Run app not lining up with the course (should have known) and telling me I had completed more in a shorter amount of time than I really had, it was a good race.  My family was there, and drove to different points in the course to cheer me on, and it was so neat to see my growing kids excited to see me run by in the swarm of runners.  My goal was this: beat my half marathon PR pace, which was exactly 9 min./mi.  Guess what I finished with?  Exactly 9 min. miles.  But I'll take it.

Don't you just wish you were there spectating and cheering? 

It's going on my list of things to do!

There I am in the green.

Just kidding.  That is Kara Goucher, world champion and Olympic runner.

I was just a few steps behind.

Portland, Oregon is such a run-friendly city.  People just grab their coffee and sit on their porch to watch the spectacle, while others tote their little ones and hold up signs that read,

"GET KARA!" and

"SIX MONTHS AGO, YOU THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA,"

while clapping and yelling words of encouragement to complete strangers.   

My kind of city.