Drumroll please.  EndorphinGirl™'s first half marathon has been accomplished and she managed a pretty respectable
time, finishing at 2 hours 26 minutes and 57 seconds. Respectable time or not J she is proud to have accomplished her first (probably not her last) half-marathon.  They (i.e., the running society) say once you do your first marathon, half-marathon, 10K, 5K or whatever your desired run is, you may get hooked.  EndorphinGirl™ now understands!

Details?  Okay here goes!  As the runners made their way to their wave lanes, 26.2 seconds of silence were spent in remembrance of the Boston Marathon.  This was followed by the singing of the National Anthem.  These were touching moments.  Immediately following these special moments, Bruce Springsteen’s voice could be heard singing ‘Born to Run’ over the over-sized speakers.  Another touching moment!  It just doesn’t get better than this.

EndorphinGirl™ moved her ‘start wave’ to EndorphinDaughter^™’s wave lane so that they could start-off together.  They did not intend to run together given their different paces, but it was a very nice starting point.  The starting speed of the runners in EndorphinDaughter™’s wave was not in alignment with EndorphinGirl™ and she started off a bit faster than normal until she found her happy pace, and just kept going.

Her goal was not so much time-focused, it was no-stopping-focused.  And that she did.  In fact, she really did find a happy, good pace and didn’t watch the mile marker much as that would have been too distracting.  The first time she knew how far she had run was when one runner said to another – ‘okay buddy just 10 more miles to go’.  That was pretty good to hear because in general it is the first few miles AND the last few miles that often give the most challenge for different reasons!

The next noted marker point was at 5 miles; at that point she could not miss the mile maker glaring at her in big flashing numbers showing both the time and ‘mileage’.  After 5 miles, she next noticed the flashing time/mileage sign at the 7-mile mark and was totally psyched because she was more than half-way done.

You may recall in an earlier blog she had not yet come up with her ‘run mantra.’  Well that morning it became clear ‘one-stride at-a-time.'  Like any other sport activity she has tried, she knows that while you need to have a good level of physical preparedness, the mental prowess is as important.  So the ‘one-stride-at-a-time’ mantra really was key!

The next time she looked at the mile marker she was at 10 miles.  While she wasn’t time-focused, she was excited to see her time at the 10-mile mark at 1 hour and 55 minutes.  Here she had a quick-blip-in-the-left-hip tightening, but used the ‘one-stride-at-a-time’ mantra and mind over matter won - she
plowed through the final 3.1 miles.

If truth be told (and of course it will be); the final 3.1 miles of the run were the prettiest (ah you thought she'd say toughest?), because this is when she reached the boardwalk part of the run(or what was left of the boardwalk after Hurricane Sandy).  To the left of the boardwalk were the spectators cheering the runners on and to the right of the boardwalk was the magnificent Atlantic Ocean.  The waves were roaring and crashing on the surf.  What a view and what an inspiration for EndorphinGirl™ runner, who loves the ocean.



This last 3.1 miles were also a bit more challenging because the wind picked up by the ocean. Funny thing though is while it posed a bit more of a challenge, EndorphinGirl™ loves the wind so between the inspiration of the ocean and the wind, and the finish line in eye’s-view, she was pumped!

Okay yes at this point EndorphinGirl™ was perhaps at that ‘ready-to- finish’ point, but what a way to finish with that trio of inspiration going on.  And before she knew it, she could see the Yellow Archway of the finish line.  At the last .1 mile to go (that rather annoying .1 mile) EndorphinGirl™ picked up her speed and truly dashed through the Yellow Archway.  And she did it; she became a half-marathon finisher!

EndorphinGirl™ is also happy to announce, that while Vita Min, Sera Tonin and Adreena Lin were ‘on reserve’ lining the streets as spectators, they were not called upon.  Once EndorphinGirl™ started running, all she could think of was there is no way she is NOT going to finish this!

EndorphinGirl™’s daughter (i.e., EndorphinDaughter^™) had a beautiful run as well.  She ran the Long Branch Half Marathon last year and again this year.  She runs like a gazelle and her time was extremely impressive clocking 1 hour 49 minutes and 6 seconds. Two halves equal a whole so one may say she’s completed a full marathon! J Needless to say the Endorphin family is very proud of EndorphinDaughter™!

Some other highlights that must be noted from 'run day.'  Truly one of the most moving moments of the race happened
on the way to the Long Branch train station to go home.  An organizer’s van and police car were lined up on a side street towards the train station.  Over the radio the Endorphins could hear someone say ‘lone and last runner’ en route. Slowly approaching was a rather older gentleman running the course solo.  Not only was he running solo, he was literally the last runner.  He was moving at his slow and steady pace and
was nearing the finish line to complete the FULL marathon. This side street was not populated with spectators, but this gentleman created an infectious wave of cheers as he continued to move to the finish line.  He offered a wave each time he heard a cheer.  He earned an escort to the finish line as the organizer van and police car followed him the rest of the way.  This brought tears to the eyes of the Endorphins! 

Finally, the spectators are truly an incredible part of the race.  The Endorphin family was very grateful for all the spectators along the course.  This included many native New Jersey-ians who had suffered so much destruction during Hurricane Sandy; they were out in force cheering the runners with inspirational ‘quote ‘ signs, handing out water and Gatorade, or simply showing support by watching. The favored spectators though included EndorphinGirl™'s parents who showed up in their EndorphinGirl™ hats and t-shirts, similar attire worn by both EndorphinGirl™ and EndorphinDaughter™ during the run.  Spectators make a difference for a runner and their participation this time was even more meaningful given the Boston Marathon tragedy.  Thank you!

Today’s blog image is courtesy of EndorphinDaughter^™.  The picture is of EndorphinGirl™/Daughter at the finish line!

It's unclear what adventures may be in the blogs ahead but EndorphinGirl™  hopes you will keep tuning in!

Until next time comments most welcome in guestbook, thanks for being a bloggee and keep on endorphin’.

EndorphinGirl™ 

[countdown:  finished!]