A little more than halfway...I went all the way!!!

Dear Reader!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I DID IT!!!!

I DID IT!!!!

I DID IT!!!!

I DID IT!!!!

I DID IT!!!!

I DID IT Dear Reader! I did it! I completed my first ever 1/2 marathon (23k/14.3 miles)...The Ficksburg Cherry Festival 1/2 Marathon!

This morning, my nerves were all over the place. Instead of waking up with my alarm clock, which was set for 4:30 am, my mind/body woke up at 3:45! Up and at-em, dressed to impress, and out the door at 4:45 am!

The drive to Ficksburg, South Africa was about 1 hour, but seemed much shorter because the scenery is so incredibly beautiful. In case I haven't stressed this enough, I live on top of a mountain range which spills into South Africa...and all throughout Ficksburg...trees, rolling hills, farm animals, beautiful birds, fields full of wild flowers...amazing...what a way to start my day!

I pulled into Ficksburg and headed directly to the registration center/starting line (aka Ficksburg Primary School). As I mentioned in a previous post, the late registration fee and temporary runner's license (this was a NedBank sponsored, qualifying event) was paid and I walked around watching the crowd build with nervous energy (or was the nervous part just me?). Bib # 690.

Prior to the 1/2, the crowd running the 4.8 k fun run took off at 6:30 am. Soon there after, runners (of all shapes, sizes, athletic abilities, etc.) lined up...and ready to go. Approximately 10 minutes to 7 am, a man got on the loud speaker and started speaking in Afrikaans. I didn't understand everything that he said, so I walked up to a nice gentleman and asked for a translation...he laughed and said "he's preaching to us". A few minutes later, the speaker switched to English, followed by Sesotho. "This is a race, an amazing race. But who are you running for? For yourself? For someone else? You should be running for Jesus' salvation..." Ummm....

Promptly at 7am, a horn blew and we were off! Now before giving you a kilometer by kilometer run down, let me just tell you that I did little to no research on this race other than to find out the date and registration details. With that caveat...I was caught.off.guard! The first three kilometers were slight, yet rolling hills. Drinking station #1...they were unprepared for the number of runners...the water and coke were finished. Wha.da.hell!?!

Just after kilometer 3, a group of ladies and children were standing on the side of the road. As I passed, they yelled "Ausi waka (My sister)!" in Sesotho. At that very moment, I felt tears welling up in my eyes! Yes, I was in the process of running the longest distance I've ever run in my life. I was doing it! My two feet-two legs were carrying me closer and closer to a goal that I'm not sure I even believed I would be able to accomplish. I felt absolutely incredible!

Kilometers 3.5-ish to 17, on the other hand, were all a blur. A big freaking blur! Why you ask? We.literally.ran.up.the.side.of.a.freaking.mountain!!! Straight up a mountain. If you didn't understand what I just said, let me repeat: STRAIGHT UP THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN!!!! Meaning no flat area, all off road (rocks, mud, mountain, rocks, mountain). At several points during this literal uphill battle, I wanted to hit myself for not praying with the man on the loud speaker at the start of the race. I mean, to run this race, you need God! I should have listened!

The water station at 6k was down to one bottle of ice with a bit of water by the time I arrived. A young girl literally poured about 3 tablespoons of water in my hands to drink. Whaaaaa...... It was work just to get there, up the side of a mountain in death's-door-heat! Water station service started to improve from there on. Somewhere around 17k, I stopped to get a cup of coke. The man handing me a cup told me that he was going to remember my bib number for the rest of his life. He asked if he could get my phone number to call me after the race. (Blank stare).

From the 18k mark, the laws of gravity went into full effect. "What goes up, must come down." Down, down, down the endless mountain I had to climb! At one point, I thought that the path would never stop going UP!

At about 19k, I took another pouch full of water and started walking (again). As I approached town there were tons of road side supporters out cheering people on. I walked by one such group and a woman yet at me, "Ratsamaya Ausi, ratsamaya! (Let's go sister, let's go!)". What a motivation when you know someone is speaking directly to you...I picked up the pace. Children ran along side me saying "Go sister, go!" Lots of high-5's. A group of children singing the South African national anthem. Women yelling "You're almost there sister, keep going!" in Sesotho.

At around 21k, the path took us through a residential area. A group of runners were standing around what seemed to be a doll, but clearly...it wasn't a doll but a woman who was passed out on the ground...out cold! Luckily emergency services were there. That scene alone was sobering. Long distance running is a serious sport which comes along with serious risks. For as much as you prepare for a long distance road race, so many things can happen: heat stroke, dehydration, salt imbalance- you name it! This is why proper training and well organized events (with medical stations along the way, race monitors, hydration stations, etc.) are essential!

For the rest of my journey, I did walk run intervals until I finally reached the FINISH LINE approximately 2 hours and 51 minutes after I started. <-----definitely not the finishing time I was hoping for, but the mountain had other plans for me. Still, not bad for my first race. Plus, If I can cover the distance that I covered today, on pavement, and not climbing up a ginormous mountain, I am certain that I will do better.

To sum up this very long "race report", I'd like to suggest a new slogan for the Ficksburg Cherry Festival Half Marathon (if it even has one). Would you like to hear it? Here it goes-

Ficksburg Cherry Festival (More Than A) Half Marathon: Makes every other 1/2 marathon look like child's play! Or this: Up a f**king mountain!

I'm still working on slogan ideas, but you get the point!

The reality of what I've just accomplished still hasn't hit me yet. Wow, I actually did it- me, Danielle who never thought I'd ever get this far several months back. Guess what though, I did!

I'm more than halfway there Dear Reader, and I'll keep going until I reach 26.2 miles in exactly four months from today! Keep running along with me and you'll see!

Until next time...One foot in front of the other...Ain't no river wide enough! Ain't no valley low enough! Ain't no mountain high enough...to keep me from my goal!

Keep it movin'!

Yours in (awesomeness) training,

Dani

P.S. My boss was 2k down the road completing a full marathon...on bike. There was a mountain bike race associated with the Cherry Festival. One group completed 42k and the second group completed something like 60k. He came in 10th in the 42k group. I told him that he was a show off...and to try covering that distance on foot!

P.S.S. I saw several ladies running in skirts! Can't wait to try mine out for size!

P.S.S. I will definitely make use of the water pack my parental units are bringing...could have used it today!

P.S.S.S. The picture taking was super limited...there was no space for spectators during the majority of the race. I asked a lady to take a picture of me near the finish line...she captured the "s" and "h" of finish and my head...that's all you need to know, right? I finished! :-)