already the start of a new weekend and i’ve still yet to document the previous. for shame. dang my busy schedule and lack of internet at my apartment! anyways, i had an EPIC weekend (last weekend) as i conquered a half marathon! yayyyyyyy!
friday:
i got to work from my home office and that night i went to pick up my official race day packet. then we went to dinner and i carb loaded on some pasta, then did a short jog with my pops to keep my legs loose for race day!
saturday – RACE DAY!
months of training, preparation, everything… all comes down to one day. i was excited and nervous. i honestly was wondering what i had gotten myself into. i knew that i was ready. i knew that i was capable of rocking it. and the time had come to shine…
6:00AM: wake up, isotonix, coffee, 1/2 power bar, stretch
7:00AM: head to the starting place(get a few butterflies)
7:15AM: runner’s to the starting point
7:28AM: shotgun start and GO!
when the shotgun sounded a got a HUGE surge of adrenaline. it was unlike anything i’ve ever felt before. ‘some nights by fun.’ was the first song on my playlist and as i set off i couldn’t help but get a giant grin on my face, realizing the awesomeness of what i was about to accomplish…
5 miles in:
that smile on my face is actually real! i had my tunes rockin’ and i felt great!
6 miles in:
girl look at that booty, I WORK OUT. just shy of halfway and i was havin’ fun!
7 miles in:
and then the fatigue starts to set in… still feelin’ good tho.
10 miles in:
the smile on my faced is real,but only to trick my mind into believing we are still having fun. around mile 9-10 my legs started to kill… they were like, “emma, we’re kind of tired, and i think we would like to not be doing this anything.” and it was then when i truly understood how much of a mental game running a marathon is. i could have easily gave up, but i didn’t. i have come this far… only 3 miles to go… this is what you’ve been working towards… you got this!
miles 12-13:
this was the biggest mental battle… i was so close, but so far away from that finish line. just a little bit more. and then the wind picked up. but when i made that final turn and saw the finish line i pushed with every single thing i had left in me.
the finish line:
1 hour and 58 minutes on the nuts. when i first started training, my goal was to finish in under 2 hours. so as soon as i could see the clock i hauled ass to make sure i made that goal.
holy moly i did it!!!!!!
my whole family was there to support me <3
evolution of a marathon…
couldn’t have done it without my trainer/ daddy
thirteen point freakin’ one.
after oodles of pictures documenting the moment, we got some egg mcmuffin’s and headed back home to relax. mom and i then went to get hands down, the best pedicures EVER. the woman gave me like a 20 minute leg massage and i thought i died and went to heaven. was amazing. the rest of the weekend was pretty relaxing. still in awe that i actually ran 13.1 miles in 1:58. it was both the hardest and the most amazing thing i have ever done. and a feeling i will never forget.
emmapdahl.wordpress.com 
How awesome!!!
Thank you so much! Definitely the hardest yet most amazing thing ever!
Congrats on the run and the time! You look proper chuffed. Entered my first half marathon coming up in Sept, only just started running a few weeks back so like reading others stories for the inspiration. Hope I look as fresh when I’ve done mine!
Thank you!!! So happy I was able to share my story with you – best of luck on your half marathon!! Can’t wait to read about ! :)
So will you do it again?
YES! I don’t think I’m going to become a marathon fanatic, but there is honestly nothing that can compare to the feeling of crossing that finish line! A wave of satisfaction and accomplishment.