13.1

Last Sunday, I participated in my first half marathon in over 4 years.  Actually the last long race I did was the Arizona Rock n' Roll marathon in January of 2008 (right before finding out I was pregnant with Finn).  So, this was my big debut after having two kiddos!  Training around the demands of two kiddos has been challenging, but it has been so wonderful to get back into shape and enjoy running again.  Unfortunately, I got very sick the week before the race, but I was recovering by Sunday and decided to go for it.  It was a gorgeous day on the seacoast.  The race was the Seacoast Half Marathon out of Portsmouth.  The course went through Rye along the beach and then through beautiful marsh land in Newcastle and back into Portsmouth.  I had a wonderful time.  I was SLOW, but all the better to enjoy the scenery, right :)  I came in at 2:39:03, a pace of 12:08 per mile.  I think I could have done a little better had it not been for spotty training and sick lungs, but I completed it and that is all I wanted for this one.  It definitely inspired me to keep training and get back to my PRs.  I will definitely do this race again next year.  It was beautiful and really well supported.  Also, next year, I've got my sights on Reach the Beach and the Dublin Marathon (oh, yes, Chiara, a training schedule will be coming your way soon!)

Here we are prior to the race.  Finn found a great climbing tree:

And, Sean was amazing entertaining the two kiddos for almost three hours while I ran.  I am not sure who got the bigger workout :)

And, DONE!