Teton Dam Half Marathon

I showed up with my friend, Amanda, about 15 mins before start time at 7:30. We got our packets the night before, so this was plenty of time to get in our place before someone yelled, "GO!" It was kinda chilly, but not too bad. About 50 degrees. And the sun was out so that made the 50 degrees feel better. I was hungry since I had woken up at 6am to have a bowl of cereal, and I was shaking. I was so nervous and I still doubted if I could finish.

Amanda and I got in the middle of the throng of people, someone yelled, "GO!" and we took off. About ten steps into it, Amanda said "Good luck!" and left me behind. In fact, the whole pack of half marathoners left me behind. I was alone not even a mile into the race.

Starting out was really hard. Everything hurt for the first two miles or so, but it was relatively flat so I pushed myself. I told myself I'd walk at the mile markers, so at each mile marker I'd walk until nothing hurt anymore. I did this for the first 5 miles.

At 5 miles, there was an aid station that had Gatorade, water, orange slices, and bananas. I ate two orange slices, and drank two paper cups of Gatorade. I was really hungry by that point and that snack got me through the rest of the race. While I was at that aid station, I saw the road stretching in front of me, and it was all uphill for as far as I could see. I was dreading it.

I began my ascent since I couldn't do anything else by that point. The wind. Wow. The WIND! It was a steady 10-15mph wind in my face during that entire stretch of road, all the way up that 3 mile hill. I realized that I could walk up that road faster than I could run it, so I walked almost the whole thing. But even just walking, that wind kicked my butt. It stole my breath, and tried to push me back. It dried me out and left a stiff film of salt on my face. I prayed and asked that either the wind lessen, or I be given more strength to make it all the way. The thing that worried me the most was my breathing. I was having a hard time breathing in the face of the wind and I worried that it would affect the rest of the race.

I stopped at the next aid station for just a cup of Gatorade, kept pushing on, and then a marathon runner passed me. He wasn't the first marathon runner to pass me, but he was the only one who stopped and peed in front of me like there was nothing to it. What puzzled me the most though was he had just passed a port-a-potty a few feet back and he would rather pee in public, in the wind, in front of a girl, than use a toilet. OK. Whatever floats your boat I guess.

I finally made it to the top of that torturous road, and ran down the next hill gratefully. Stopped at the next aid station, and kept running. Just some rolling hills left, and then downhill for the last two miles. The wind was now at my side or my back and that made things a lot easier. But as I feared, I was having a difficult time keeping my lungs in check. I had to take more walk breaks than I wanted to, but I was going to finish and that's all that mattered.

One final hill, and my husband and little boys were there to cheer me on! My spirits soared when I saw them. Jeriah and Lukas ran up the hill with me, gave me hugs and said "Good job Mommy!" Wow! I can't even express how that cheered me up and gave me the umpf to finish this race at my best. I was going to run the rest of the way! I only had two miles left and it was all downhill. I was almost done!

So I ran, but had to take at least one more walk break, even downhill. The course goes right past my house, and when I got on my street, my neighbor, Charlotte, ran out of her front door, cheering me on and joined me barefoot to run the final 3/4 of a mile with me! She chattered and cheered, and kept me going. She ran ahead to the finish line at the last corner so I could run the rest of the way myself. Only one block left and then I could stop!

That last block felt like it dragged on forever! I was so tired that I was barely running and I was having a hard time breathing again. But I ran all the way through the finish! Charlotte was there jumping up and down, screaming for me, and I knew my family and Amanda were around somewhere close by. I was DONE! I walked through the volunteers handing out medals and water bottles, went over to a tree, and bent over to catch my breath and cry a little in private.

That's when it hit. I was so afraid it would hit me out on the course, and when it didn't, I thought I was safe.

I couldn't breath in. At all. I was trying so desperately to get some air but my chest was caving in with each attempt instead. I was hit so suddenly with a massive asthma attack that I had no time to calm myself down before it got bad, and I panicked. Within seconds I was dizzy and I wanted to pass out. I feel fortunate that Charlotte was close by because she ran over to the paramedics tent (which just happened to be only a few feet away) to get some help. Then she ran to find my family.

I was sat on a cot, some oxygen was stuck in my nose at full blast, and they prepared the albuterol. Amanda arrived to hold me upright while I swayed, and Charlotte went behind me to be sure I didn't fall backwards. With all the extra oxygen, the medicine, the coaching by the medical staff, and the support of my friends, I eventually made it past the dangerous part. I could breathe again. I had side effects from that asthma attack for a few hours afterwards, but all the tightness and coughing finally went away.

Then I could finally come to terms with the fact that I had stayed in constant forward motion for 13.1 miles! I did it! I ran this half marathon in 3 hours and 7 minutes. I did something I didn't think I could. At the starting line I was still doubting myself, but...

I DID IT!