Half Marathon Using Turtle Power!

I proudly joined the Half Marathon club yesterday! I will be putting the 13.1 sticker on my car as soon as I get it and displaying my finisher medal with the other mile-stone trinkets I've collected through the years. Just don't ask me my time because it's slow. Really slow. That's because I used my Turtle Power and walked every step of the way.

Proud Finisher

It's  been half a year since I was diagnosed with RA and have been on MTX (a low dose chemotherapy drug) treatment with pretty good results. My pain is much less and joint swelling greatly reduced, but my stamina is lacking. My energy levels are good but I can't sustain a long run anymore. Intervals are about all I can manage and honestly that's fine. I don't need to push myself to the point of exhaustion to be pleased with my effort. I'm happy to just finish upright without the aid of medical services. That's a win in my books.


Several of my friends are participation in the Oklahoma Memorial Marathon and Half Marathon in a few weeks and were encouraging me to participate. I knew if I did that I would be walking and didn't feel I could justify the long trip and expense to walk 13.1 miles. I'm sure it would have been a moving experience but I didn't think I was worthy. But the thought stuck in my head and I wondered: am I giving up or chickening out? I knew if I did a 1/2 it would have to be on my terms without the long miles and hours of running the others were putting into their preparations. They are dedicated beyond belief and some amazing runners and will do great at OKC.


And then a thought hit me. My friend Meghan M. is the race director for the local Recreation commission and had a multi distance event planed for this weekend. She and I talked about my issues and my need to walk the entire distance. The 1/2 Marathon runners were to start at 10:00 in the morning but she gave me permission to start two hours early so the race workers would not have to wait around forever while I finished. Then I had to see if I could keep my body moving for my expected 4 hour trek.


Walking 7 miles the first weekend and 10 the next without much more than a blister on my little toe and some tired muscles told me I was good to go. What's 3 more miles when you've walked that far? Right? So I made my final preparations, confirmed with Meghan my game plan, and with a wave to her as she was just setting up the event area I hit the road.


It was 38 degrees at the start with a 15 mph headwind. The wind chill was around 25 and I was cold. I

Three tired 1/2 marathoners.

dressed in layers thinking I could shed clothes as it warmed up but it never did. I don't run with music or headphones so I had lots of time to think. I set my pace and bent into the wind and ticked off the miles one by one. Several times Meghan's dad drove out to check on me (my friends take such good care of me!) and closer to the official race time the sheriff's patrol started making the rounds of the course and asking for a thumbs up.


The wind picked up even more as I walked and by the second hour I was dodging tumble weeds. I was so happy to see the blue port-a-potty at the turnaround point because I knew a tailwind would be blowing me all the way home. I texted Meghan and told her about the conditions and that I was on my way home. That was a little before the others started their race. I was half way done and my pace was pretty good even into the wind. I was going to beat the 3:45 that I was hoping for!


Halfway back at about the 8.5 mile mark I saw the first of the official 1/2 marathoners. I had the wonderful pleasure of giving each and every runner a high five as we passed and told them to keep going, the tailwind would be wonderful. I didn't mind being alone out there for the first part of the race but it sure was nice to see people and feel that encouragement for the last 4 miles. My friend Kate H. and neighbor Doug S. where out there pushing hard against the wind and doing so well. Soon I was seeing the 10K runners headed my way, then the 5K, then the 2 mile walkers. What fun to see all the different fitness levels and ages all trying to improve their lives by moving their bodies no matter how fast or how slow.

The finish line was just ahead and I thought about running the last little stretch but decided that to walk a 1/2 marathon meant walking all the way. So with my head high and a spring in my step I crossed the line and stopped my Garmin. 3:28:28. I had finished in just under 3 1/2 hours, much faster then I had hoped! My pace averaged 15:54 per mile and sad to say that's not too much slower them my run times lately. They handed me my finisher medal and I couldn't stop looking at it. I had finished a 1/2 marathon. I never in my life thought I could do it but there it was. I walked the entire thing and don't pretend that I'm in the same league with those amazing runners that do this for real, but this was real to me.

A 1st place medal, what a hoot!

I watched Doug finish and then ran back and paced Kate for the last bit of her race (she set a new PR even in the cold and wind!). Everyone was so supportive and encouraging to each other as they milled around after the race. There is not a group of more positive people on earth then runners and I love to soak in that vibe at the events. I hung around for the door prize drawing even though I was shivering as my sweat cooled. And just to put the cherry on the top of this delicious day I was the only lady in my age division so guess what. I placed 1st! I have the medal to prove it. What a hoot!


It just seemed prophetic to do a 1/2 marathon to mark the 1/2 year anniversary of my diagnosis. I do believe that I can do anything I want but in my own way and in my own time. RA will not keep me from living my life and I refuse to stop anytime soon. Turtle power will get me through.