Ten years ago this Fall I did my first half marathon. I am not a runner, I am not built like a runner, I do not run fast like a runner. In fact that half marathon was the first race I ever ran. I did it so I had a goal to work toward and get in shape. It was fun and it worked.

Since then, I’ve done five more (2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012) and improved my time from the first one at 2:17 all the way to 2:01(in 2008, so close!!!!). It’s a lot of work, but fun when you do it with friends.

Today, I did #7. I know, I couldn’t believe it either! I honestly didn’t think I would be able to finish or at least would end up walking half of it. Between the craziness of being back at work and all the traveling back and forth, plus, still getting Herceptin treatments every three weeks, my training had not been up to par. I was so tired I was having trouble getting over 5 miles and really wasn’t feeling comfortable in my training.

Greg was doing it too (he’s done them with me since 2009) and his mantra when training is “it’s all mental”. He is a good coach. Of course, after all the surgery, chemo, radiation and Herceptin I’ve done in the last year I’m thinking, for me it’s physical. But nope, he was right – it’s all mental…

I did it – 13.1 miles – 2 hours, 21 minutes! Yay! The mind is a powerful thing!