GRAND TETONS HALF MARATHON 15th HALF | 12th STATE

Months before I headed to the start line of the Grand Tetons Half Marathon, Jamie and I joked that I wouldn't be able to see the mountains. We laughed, but deep down we both knew that was our luck. The year prior I had gone all the way up to Denali National Park and didn't see the mountain because of the fog.

The three of us walked out of our hotel, looked at the dense fog/clouds and said "yep! seems about right!"

But, let's back up a little bit to training.

Everything was going great on my training until I missed one long run and then another. Two turned into three which eventually turned into not training at all. A few weeks before the race I got one long run in and had basically convinced myself I wasn't going to do it. I told Jamie and she was having none of it... "you're doing it! It's why we're all going!"

Even up to the day before the race I wasn't convinced I was going to do it. We were around 5,000 feet and even walking made me breathless, let alone attempting to run. I said to Kim and Jamie again... I don't think I'm going to do it. They of course weren't having it and said I was doing it.

Typically I'm not a fan of driving the race route before the race. I like to be surprised by what I get to see. My nerves (and the elevation chart) wasn't allowing me to do that this time around; we drove the route. It helped. I saw the hills weren't so bad and really the altitude (and lack of training) was my only huge obstacle (or so I thought).

I was doing much better than I thought as I headed out of the start. The altitude did make everything literally twice as difficult. Typically I'm a run a minute; walk a minute half marathoner, but this go around I was a run :30; walk :30. I didn't love the cadence, but it's all I could do. I settled into the pace and told myself to take it slow and go this pace as long as I could.

Before long I was at mile 1!

As I rounded the corner I easily spotted my cheering squad and just kept going. They were headed back to the hotel for breakfast and would meet me back between mile 6-8.

Time goals were out the window long before lack of training started. This race was all about enjoying the scenery (ironic with the fog). Somewhere between mile 2-3 I big bald eagle flew overhead however the best scenery was miles ahead.

Miles 2-6 went by better than I could have ever imagined. I was feeling great! When I saw Jamie and Kim between 6-7 I even exclaimed how great this was! Little did I know...

Between mile 6-7 Jamie and Kim were waiting for me. I saw them on top of a small hill and went running for it exclaiming "I feel so great! So much better than I thought I would!" Little did I know I was in for a rude awakening.

The fog still hadn't lifted, but was looking promising for an epic finish... my spirits were high!!! I reached the aid station around mile 7 and grabbed a single orange slice. I hadn't brought the proper fuel with me so I figured the sugar from the orange would help. I. was. wrong.

Apparently, the acid of the orange turned in my stomach and I was headed straight to the emergency zone... ie the must find a restroom ASAP zone. I did and experienced the most death-defying and scary port-a-potty experiences of my life. My legs were stiff from the race and sticky from sweat and the potty was haphazardly positioned half hanging off the road. Somehow I survived that harrowing experience, but I had lost the ability to run without the immediate need of another port-a-potty. My only option was to walk the last half and enjoy the view. Wasn't difficult to do!!

Eventually, I made it to the finish line of the longest half marathon I've ever completed!!