i did it!

that is all i could say for 24 hours after i crossed the finish line.

well who would have thought, that i, talise would a. run and b. pay to run and c. run a half marathon. it has always been on my bucket list, but it was one of those things that i didn't know how i was going to accomplish.

i have a couple of friend who have been VERY encouraging in my new found interest in running. on morning not long after my first 5k run, i found a training schedule for a half marathon. and so i, i began to train for this adventure.

as the weekend came about, i was like a little girl on her first day of school i was so nervous. i had so many questions. my friends were giving my pep talks, setting a bed time for me, buying me gels and stuff. i was in a different world. as we walked towards the beginning of the race, there were lines and lines of people waiting for the porta-potties. getting their last minute jitters out.

we then started the race. i had begun my journey. i felt SO great. i really felt like i was doing great. i had a great playlist and friends by my side encouraging me. i started to get into my own groove and pace. as i was running i really was just focused. i was doing well, until i came across a hill, and this is about mile 4, where i am just about at that point where my body recognizes that we are running the way, but borderline just want to quit. and it was at that moment, i found just passing another friend who had flown in for the race. i hadn't seen her yet. but how encouraging it was to see her, and for to encourage me to keep going.

there were multiple times that i found myself be cheered on by complete strangers, it took me by great surprise what an impact it had on me, that these strangers cheering me on, had on me. it was the best feeling ever. and it honestly encouraged me to keep going! at one point, i saw the first runner, making his way back to the finish line. i had so much longer to go. but this man, as he ran by, we all cheered him on. we were really in this all together.

i kept on moving along, and did really well until i hit my wall and did i hit it. i didn't know what i was going or how i was going to finish. it was amazing that again, at that moment i had a friend by my side encouraging me to finish the race up. and so we ran together to make it to the end. with a mile and a half left in the race, i found for the first time a familiar face on the sidelines. it was my hometeacher! i wouldn't have ever expected him to be there. but it was at that moment that he became more than a hometeacher, he was a true friend. it was at that time that he ran the last mile with me... just as i started that last mile, i was overcome with a severe cramps. so much that i couldn't walk. but then again.... i had friends supporting me to finish the race. i made it... happen and i found myself RUNNING into the finish line.

running a half marathon was an amazing experience, one that came with emotions and memories that i would have never expected. this truly was an accomplishment! maybe are astonished that i did it -- maybe a bit of disbelief -- but i do have witnesses! and ... i DID IT!!

the biggest lesson i learned form this, is that if i, talise, could run a half marathon, how many other things could i do if really believed in myself.