Pacer???

                                                                          This is Amy!!

So I have run my first half marathon in 10 YEARS!!!!

10 Years older but guess what????  I didn’t let that stop me!!!  It was absolutely amazing!!!!  I mentioned in my last post about a PACER.  I had seen people carrying signs with a time on them like 2:00 or 2:30 or 3:00 and so on.  I knew of them but I was not sure exactly what it meant or how it worked or what the point was.  Leading up to this race I was questioning EVERYTHING about how in the world was I going to do this.  I had a million “What If’s” running through my head!  

In a conversation in the hall at work one day, Amy walks by and casually mentions she is the Pacer for the Half Marathon.  My ears perked up.  I asked what was her time.  3 hours!!! My head was spinning and I was so excited!!!!!  I did the math and thought, “I can so do that!”  Then she said she was doing 2 and 2.  Ok, well, I do run/walk anyway so that should not be to complicated and I think I can handle that.

  Of course then the negative comes in......”What if the 2 minutes is more like a sprint and it takes me 2 minutes to recover?” “What if she REALLY means 2 miles running and 2 miles walking?”  Don’t deny it, you would have done the same thing!!!!!  

After I got over my fear and had a few more conversations with her, my Hubby, Scott (my long legged co-worker) and other’s, I figured I could do this!  It was going to work because by now my determination was overtaking instead of the negative!!!!  

My reasoning turned to 

1- It’s been 10 years

2-I’m 10 years older

3- My last half marathons were 2:30 and 2;40’s

4-I CAN DO THIS!!!!!!

I found Amy the day of the race and I met a ton of women that I absolutely adore from a running group in town.  I had only commented and read post on Facebook and never REALLY met them in person with the exception of those that work at the hospital.  THEY ARE AMAZING!!!!!!  

We had an incredible time during the race.  We talked and laughed and sang!  It was wonderful.  

What did I love most about having a Pacer??

I didn’t have to think!  

I didn’t have to worry about.......

Was it time to run?

Was it time to walk?

Where is the next hill?

Will I be able to drink at the next water stop?

What mile am I on again?

Am I really going to make it?

Are we done yet?

I could trust that Amy had it all under control and I just needed to listen and HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!!!

All of that to say.....If you have ever questioned or even considered running with a PACER.......DO IT!!!  

You will NOT BE SORRY!!!!!!!!