13.1

About one year ago Heidi inspired me to try running. She'd never been a runner before yet last fall she prepared for and ran an impressive half (1:57:58, here's her write up of the run), so I decided I should give it a try, too. I ran sprints in my earlier years and always poo-pooed long distance running, but Heidi convinced me to give it a shot. With that in mind, we ran a half together last Spring, on Valentine's Day weekend and had a wonderful time together, despite the fact that neither of us were quite as prepared for a trail run as we should have been - I think we got around 2:30 but I'm not sure - here's the post from that race.

Then late this summer Heidi randomly mentioned a 10k that went through one of our favorite places in Dallas, the arboretum, so I signed up and ran a few weeks later (photos in this post). I loved that race and immediately signed up for a half marathon, the same one Heidi ran last Fall. I actually trained for it and loved experiencing the improvement in my speed and endurance over those couple of months of training. Pretty crazy that I now consider a four mile run to be short... I also loved being able to run with Evette - "Daddy more run!" she'd tell me while I was stretching before a run - she loved it.

I ran that race on October 26th and got 1:57:21, practically the same time Heidi got last year! I had a wonderful time. I was able to drive down with a couple friends, the weather could not have been better, the course was great, I was in-shape and ready, and I even met a new friend along the way who I spoke to for a few miles of the run. And at the end: my favorite ladies in the whole world to cheer for me.

The Ayres and I before the race

Evette eating oatmeal at the train station on the way downtown

Waiting for Daddy

Just a half mile to go!

Final stretch!

Gasping for breath like a beached fish... But I did it!

Wahoo!

On the train back home

 Can't wait for my next race... Not sure which it'll be yet (or how long - 26.2 seems rather daunting) but I'm stoked.