2nd Annual (well for us anyway)...Fargo Half Marathon Weekend!

The weekend we had spent the last 12+ weeks for has come and gone.  It was an amazing time with some great people....

Before I get to the weekend itself, I want to give a big shout out to my family.  Training for a half marathon( I can't even imagine how much more time would go into a full!?!) takes a lot of time and energy!  So thank you Josh for putting up with me being gone a few nights a week-sometimes it would just be for an hour, but those long runs aren't just long for the runner I know, they are long for the other parent at home making supper alone or double checking homework.  And if and when Josh was gone or busy I had my parents--I appreciate your love and support so much and I couldn't have done half the training I was able to do without the love and support of my family by my side :)

Michelle and I left town Friday around 11:00--we wanted to get to Fargo early enough to pick up our registration packets--the dome experience is breath taking--to see that finish line and know what you are going to have to endure to get there--woof!  They have vendors set up the night before and everything a runner could ever want available for purchase!!  The medals were all lined up waiting to be handed out the next day and the race routes were up all over so you could view your running route!  We made sure to sign the We Will Remember Boston Banner and get our Boston bracelets!  We also learned that the finish mats(that give you your final time with your chip) were from Boston!  What a neat feeling that was!
Next we were off to have a big (carb loading) lunch!  We ended up eating at the Spitfire Grill and it was delish!!  We had a steak and pasta combo--yummmmo!  After that we hit up a few stores and grabbed our breakfast items for race day!  We spent the weekend at Josh's buddy's house-Timmy Lystad--who was a great host :)  Friday night we stayed up maybe a little later then we should have and had a little more fun then we should have ;) but it was all part of the weekend fun!

Time to grab a registration packeet and prep for the big RACE DAY!



A very empty Fargo Dome



The medals hung-ready for tomorrow!!!

Saturday early morning around 3:30 I woke up to the sounds of thunder and lightening---by the time we had got up and started getting ready, it was only raining slightly, so we left the house at 6:15 and headed to the dome!  We waited in a long car line to pull into the dome and got there just in time to use the bathrooms(one last time) and walk outside to find our pacer!

Ready...Set...RUN!!!!



The dynamic trio--nighty, night gals...time to do some running in the early am!


We did have a goal to finish close or under two hours this year---and the first five miles looked promising!!  But then the legs get tired and the mind gets a little weak(at least for me anyway) and by mile 11 I felt like my feet were bleeding due to the huge blisters on the balls of my feet!  My shoes and socks were soaked from the rain and humidity and had rubbed my feet raw :(  I finally yelled at Michelle enough to GO! and she finished five minutes before I did (she at 2.15 and me at 2.20) but it's still an improvement from last years time of 2.22-so I will take it as a win and push harder next time!!!  ...oh yes, there will be more halfsies in my life :)

The amazing part about racing in Fargo is the crowd!!!  They make the race so much fun that you literally can sometimes forget(even if just for a moment) what mile you are at!  It was incredible to see and hear my good friend Lacee and her sister Cherish cheering us on around miles 5 and 7!  Then at mile 10 or so our hubbies were there with cameras rolling and clicking cheering us on again!!  Those moments will always stick out for me :)
People come out on their lawns and cheer with cow bells, pots and sticks, blow horns, etc.  One of my favorites is the Bloody Mary Thon--a group of girls who have a Bloody Mary bar set up in their lawn :)  People make great and very creative signs too:
*I will give you $100 to quit now
*Bet you thought this was a good idea 4 months ago...
*Run faster, the guy in front of you is farting
*Worst parade ever
*Run like you stole something
*Run fast, the beer is waiting for you at the finish line
*Go Random Person Go!

And of course the GRAND moment when you turn down the corner and finish your race with everyone cheering and clapping as you cross that finish line in the Fargo dome takes the cake!!
We hung around the dome for a little while longer, giving our feet and legs a rest and just watching runners come across and reach their goals at the finish line--it's an amazing community--these runners!!!  One I'm extremely proud to be apart of :)

After the race we went to our favorite breakfast restaurant, the Cajun Cafe and had something to eat--then headed back to Timmy's for showers and naps!  After we rested up, we met up with some others for supper and drinks and had a fun time helping Dacia celebrate her birthday :)  Bed felt good that night, even if it was almost 1:00am before we got there :S


Celebrating at Three Lions Pub after the race



Our support team--what a great group of guys!!! 



Sunday morning we slept in, packed up and grabbed some breakfast.  We did stop at Beyond Running in downtown Fargo and Momma got some new shoes!  I'm straying from the asics and giving brooks a go--hopefully I will run like the ND wind blows (one of my favorite signs we saw along the race)
Overall, another amazing weekend and experience in the books!  A HUGE thank you to my parents for keeping our kiddos this weekend---they get excited when Ma and Pa are gonna leave town to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa, we know they get spoiled rotten, but that's what a Grandparents job is to do sometimes--are we're OK with that!