My Half Marathon Journey

I was an avid runner after college, not exactly fast but I could go far. At the end of 2016, I set my New Year's Resolution for 2017 to run 3 half marathons during the year. I started training November 2016 to run my first half marathon of the year in January of 2017. And I did just that!

In January, I travelled to Chicago by myself to run the Chicago Polar Bear Dash along the banks of Lake Michigan. This is by far the coldest race conditions I had ever run in. A the beginning of the race, the temperatures were near 0. By the end of the race, my gloves were frozen from the mixture of sweat and the freezing temperatures. But somehow I managed to pull off a Personal Best of 2:25:50. I thoroughly enjoyed the hot tub at the hotel that night! On a runner's high from doing so well in the race, I signed up for another one in February.

In February, I faced the crazy Michigan weather and ran the Ice Cube Half Marathon in Mount Pleasant, MI. I completely expected the run to be about the same as the Polar Bear Dash, but I was dead wrong. I started the race in a sweatshirt and ended the race in a tank top because of the unexpectedly warm weather. With the warm up, the race was basically mud for 8 miles of the 13.1 miles and was very slow. But I got it done and finished with a time of 2:31:32.

To continue the running streak, I did the Rock Cystic Fibrosis Half Marathon in March. All of my training was paying off because I set another Personal Record that still stands to this day of 2:19:59. I was ecstatic with this time and once again signed up for another race the following month.

In April, I travelled to Toledo, OH for the Glass City Half Marathon. This race was the hardest race I have ever done and that speaks volumes because my first half marathon in college I didn't train at all for and somehow still finished. I've always had some knee issues but nothing that hindered my running too much. That all changed during this race. Starting about mid way through the race, anytime I was running down hill my knee would completely buckle underneath me. The race definitely humbled me but I managed to finish in 2:40:35.

My final half marathon in 2017, was the Chicago Spring Half Marathon in May. I decided to finish my series of half marathons in the place where I started the year. It was a beautiful spring day. My mom and grandma both travelled to Chicago with me to see me at the finish line which if you're a runner, you know that the finish line can bring you to tears! I concluded my year with a time of 2:29:28.

Comment below your favorite half marathons that you have done that I need to add to my bucket list!