I Ran a 1/2 Marathon and Met a Blogger Friend!

2.02.2015

I was going to have this post up last week, but two things happened. First, I was waiting on the official race pictures to come through since I figured there would be a few I would want to include in this post (and I was right!). Second, and more importantly, I was too emotionally distraught over the ending of Parenthood to focus on anything as silly as a race recap. I'm tearing up just thinking about it! Man, that show.

Anyway, back to the point. Two weekends ago, two really fun things happened.
1. I ran half marathon #8.
2. I met a blogger friend!

I signed up for the Miracle Match Half Marathon after reading Tamara's recap of the race from last year. She was doing it again this year, and we decided to run together! We've been reading each other's blogs for a few years, but we'd never met in person. I figured I knew her well enough by now to be fairly confident she wasn't a sociopathic killer, but just in case, my mom decided to come with me. You really can't be too safe these days.

Waco is about a two-hour drive from my parents' house in Dallas, so my mom and I had to get up at dark thirty to get there in time for the 7:30 start time. We almost didn't get up at all because my alarm was set for Wednesdays only (why?), and my mom had woken up to hear alarm then immediately turned it off. Our saving grace was my dad, who set his alarm so he could be awake to see us off. Thanks, Dad!

Two hours later, my mom and I sat anxiously in the car while I planned our meeting spot with Tamara. When she and I saw each other across the parking lot, we ran toward each other with our arms out in slow motion like Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler in that last scene from Armageddon.

Okay maybe not. But the point is: she was not wielding a sharp object or wearing a ski mask. What a relief.

Tamara is a tad slower than me as far as running goes, but I decided to take friendly chatting over a chance at a PR, and we ran together the whole way. It's really just much more fun to run with someone than to run by yourself anyway, and if your like me, those opportunities are rare so you have to snatch them up!
^^Thumbs up is my default pose. All day long.

We were not, shall I say, out to break any records. I stopped to pee approximately one tramillion times (my bladder has decided it hates me and wants to be the size of a walnut), and we just ran and walked and chatted away for about 3 hours. We both agreed that if we lived closer, we would definitely be friends.
^^^ We saw this sign along the route and stopped to take a picture in front of it. I'm supposed to be fake running. It looked less lame in my mind.

The course was extremely hilly, so I was glad I wasn't going in for a PR. The scenery was beautiful! We ran around Baylor campus, through the park, and even through the zoo! We wound through exhibits and saw rhinos and wombats and some other animals I can't remember.
^^^ Right around mile 11 there was the option to take a .1-mile detour up this giant set of stairs called Jacob's Ladder. We figured what the heck. At the end of the race we got this clip-on ladder thing that we hung on our medal! (This is where I would hashtag "I run for the bling")
^^^The thumbs up. Seriously. Someone stop me.


Check out this awesome picture of us crossing the finish line! Probably one of the best race pics I have, and they were free! Winning. My mom had gone to Sbucks for coffee, but she made it back in time to cheer us on to the finish. I love my parents. They don't understand my love of running, but they support me and I appreciate it.
On our way back to Dallas, my mom and I stopped in West, Texas (the town of West, not to be confused with the general region of West Texas), at the Czech Stop for kolaches. I'd never heard of kolaches before, but apparently stopping at the Czech Stop for kolaches is a thing, so we couldn't pass it up. 

I mean, clearly a homemade pastry is just what I need for a post-race snack. They're filled with a variety of flavors depending on what you choose--apple, cheesecake, peach, lemon... They were delicious! Worth a stop in West if you happen to be driving by.
I've been sitting here for like five minutes trying to think of a good way to end this post, and I can't come up with anything better than: The End.

So, yeah.
The end.
Tracy said...

How fun! That looks like a super fun race - love the bridge finish, that's too cool!

Caroline @ In Due Time said...

Yay so fun!!!!! Good ole Waco ;) Congrats on finishing! Glad you got to meet a blog friend too!!

Kate said...

SO JEALOUS YOU TWO MET!

Also, I love the pictures so, so much.I'm 100% a thumbs-upper so I feel your pain on that one. I just don't know what else to do with my hands. Annnnnnd the picture of you running/thumbs upping without Tam? The muscles in your legs look crazy awesome.

Tracy said...

I love stopping for kolaches in West. They never make it all the way back to Oklahoma no matter how many I buy. Delicious.

Katie said...

how fun!! running with a friend makes it so much better!! and holy cow! that picture of you your leg muscles look awesome!!!

Kristin said...

Congrats on knocking out another half - and running with friends always makes the run better, no matter how fast {or slow, always slow in my case} you go! I'm grateful for the friends who slow down enough to trot with me!

Ali said...

This is so fun! Very cool that you guys got to race together, and it sounds like a fun run. Also, who's not about the race bling? That's an awesome medal! Great pictures, too.

Side note: thanks for not giving a spoiler to Parenthood. I watch it on the treadmill in the morning, and I'm only in like Season 3 or the very end of Season 2. I know someone will probably ruin it for me at some point, but I'm trying to avoid spoilers at all costs!

Ali said...

I was thinking the same thing! Dang girl, you've got some muscles!!

Erin LFF said...

How fun!!! :) I used to think I would never want to try to run with someone, but after doing my half and having all my fave people with me- I was SO thankful for that! :)

Kristen said...

hahaha the end. love it. sounds like a super fun race and i am so digging the thumbs up - i might have to try that next time :)

Jenn @ Optimization Actually said...

You make it sound so fun! I'm working my way up to half marathon, but I haven't found the one I want to sign up for yet. I hope it's anywhere close to as fun as yours!

The Lady Okie said...

If I were you, I would avoid the thumbs up at all cost! Once you start, you can't stop it! haha ;)

The Lady Okie said...

Well shucks. Thanks, ladies! :)

jaime said...

I want to run a race with both of you!! I think that I could totally be IRL friends with Tamara and I love reading her posts. :) This looks like SUCH a fun race experience!

The Girl who Loved to Write said...

You guys got some great pictures together! And PARENTHOOD...I can't even talk about it.

Rebecca Jo said...

Free pictures? That's always so nice. Especially when you have such good race pictures like this!!!
I'd die having to climb those steps at mile 11... ouch!

Kerry @ Till Then Smile Often said...

Sounds like a fun race! Glad you got to run it together and make the time go by faster. Parenthood is such a good show, can't believe it's over!

Unknown said...

You guys look amazing! It looks like so so so much fun! It's great that you got to meet and run together. The pictures are great (that light!). :)

Jennifer @ Run Jenny Run said...

Sounds like a fun time! I always enjoy meeting fellow bloggers. The pictures turned out great - so nice when they are free :)

Al@PolkaDotsandPaisley said...

It looks like such a fun run. I don't know if I could have handled the staircase. Also (and I hope this doesn't sound creepy) the definition in your leg muscles is amazing. Just the other day I realized that between my weight loss and running, I can now see my calf muscle when I move a certain way and I'm a little obsessed with leg muscles at the moment.

Paige @ Reasons to Come Home said...

Not to sound creepy, but you've got Carrie Underwood beat in the leg department. Holy muscles! I love that you got to meet a blogger friend and run at the same time. You make a half marathon seem like fun! Also, I totally understand the Parenthood thing. I was heartbroken to see it go!

Paige @ Reasons to Come Home said...

Not to sound creepy, but you've got Carrie Underwood beat in the leg department. Holy muscles! I love that you got to meet a blogger friend and run at the same time. You make a half marathon seem like fun! Also, I totally understand the Parenthood thing. I was heartbroken to see it go!

Amy @ A Desert Girl said...

That post-race food looks quite tasty. If I'm ever around West, Texas, I'll have to check it out.

And I'm really excited because I'm about to start watching Parenthood - from the beginning. I like to start shows right as they're ending so I don't have to wait until next week, next season, etc. First world problems - I try to avoid them.

Yay for meeting a blogger friend! Next time I'm in OKC, that'll be us. Except maybe not running because you would not want to run as slow as I do, so I'll save you the trouble of being polite enough to offer.

Sarah said...

Running and blogger friends?! Talk about more of a win win!

Bailie @ The Hemborg Wife said...

A few years ago I did a 5K on 4th of July with my best friend but we convinced our husbands to come along, they were so annoyed because we just strolled through it talking and everyone was passing us!

Unknown said...

Wow! that's amazing. I've always wanted to run a half marathon, but I wouldn't even know where to begin. You should be super proud of yourself.

Unknown said...

Ahh Waco! Baylor! Cameron Park! Czech stop! As a Baylor grad, you're speaking my love language.

Glad you had fun!

Rach said...

Hooray for meeting new blogger friends (and for her not being a sociopath). ;) Glad you guys had fun with the race. :) You two are so cute as you cross the finish line! Definitely looking much better than I would after running a half marathon. ;)

Megan said...

You're so nice for running with your friend! When I ran my half, I know my sister was running slower than she needed to in order to stay with me, and I REALLY appreciated it. It made the race so much more fun to have a friend! :)

P.S. - What was your favorite flash-forward in the Parenthood finale??

Lindsay said...

All I can say is...I wish I could run like you! This looks awesome! I just recently did a 30 before 30 list and I included more running events on it! I might not be able to do the longer distance stuff like you, but I figure as long as my feet are hitting the ground, then I'm headed in the right direction, right?
-Linds

Tamara said...

Don't let her fool you, the entire time she was like, "OMG I HAVE THE BEST LEG MUSCLES IN THE WORLD." And I was like, "Suuurrree you do."

But now there's proof in photo form and we're never going to hear the end of it. Sigh.

Tamara said...

Yes! I was so grateful she slowed down to run with me, it certainly made it a much better race for me!

Tamara said...

Let's go ahead and bypass the fact that we've never really met and just assume we're IRL friends. I'm totes okay with that.

Tamara said...

I just kept muttering to myself the entire time - free bling. free bling. free bling.

They also had beer at the top but we took one look at each other and were like, Nope. Not today.

Tamara said...

If she can slow down to my speed, I guarantee you're good.
And yes, if you ever find yourself in central Texas - West, Texas is where it's at! Seriously, the best.

Tamara said...

Sic' Em Bears!

Tamara said...

I had such a great time running with you, I'm pretty sure I'm convinced that when I'm ready to give that 26.2 another go, it's going to be in OKC.
Thanks again for coming in to run with me (and thanks to your mom & dad!)

The Lady Okie said...

You shut your face! bahaha.

The Lady Okie said...

Dude, thanks to my dad is right! I seriously would not have made it if he hadn't set his alarm!
So glad we got to meet! And yes, OKC! For sure. We'll show you a good time :)

Miss Nutralicious said...

This is just plain fun! I always love reading about bloggers who meet each other in real life. Before I read this post, you and Tamara were in the small handful of bloggers that I always assumed were 97% most likely not murderers. Now that I've read recaps on both of your blogs confirming that you didn't try to kill each other, I'm 99% sure you aren't psychopaths, and 100% sure that I want to run a race with both of you. Great finish line pic!

Shea Lennon said...

I'm always impressed by anyone who runs, and a half marathon? That's awesome. I tend to be of the "I won't run unless someone is chasing me with a weapon" variety, but I think people who are runners are pretty dang awesome. And yay for meeting another blogger and running with her--that's such a cool part to the story!

Holly said...

OK, I'm officially jealous and want to run with BOTH of you now!!! Thumbs up for a great race :)

Unknown said...

I totally started running on a treadmill and it's magical. I thought I was going to hate it. The first minute I did because I thought it was boring. But then I found my groove and it was the coolest thing. Running hasn't' always been my jam, but running on the treadmill actually helped because I was able to focus better.

Laura | Making Baby Provence said...

Love this post. You make me laugh. I'm impressed you run. I haven't made it past "mall walker speed."

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