I used to be the fat girl...

... that was always chosen last in sports, but today I ran a half marathon!

I am so immensely proud of myself. I was inspired to try the half by my best friend and her husband who have recently taken up running and really enjoy it. I had run a 5km fun run before, in fact it was on the day I found out I was pregnant with Joa. But never in all my wildest dreams did I think I would ever have it in me to run 13 miles!

 These are the shoes that carried me all that way. My 2 little brothers bought them for me (we joke, a shoe each) for my Birthday. I had a dream that I might try and run the Clonakilty Half Marathon and so I started training. Everyday I went out I made a point of looking at my shoes and saying to myself, one day I will be looking at these shoes running the half. I didn't get to train as much as I had hoped to what with the separation, but I did enough.

So today I went for it, I did it, I loved it and I am so proud of myself.

 I'm not sure if I will do this sort of long running again, but I know that I have found a freedom and meditation in running that has helped carry me through the last few months. Having the goal of the half marathon has given me enforced 'me' time; alone and doing something for me and my body and health and I know it has been of benefit.

It was a perfect day, the weather clear blue skies, no wind. The course was breath taking and the atmosphere just gorgeous. I think I did it in under 3 hours but I forgot to check as I was pretty emotional by the time I got the finish line. 

Unfortunately I returned to a rather poorly house:

Joa and Rebe's chicken pox are horrible and Rebe in particular is finding coping with it difficult. But we got through the afternoon with a DVD some stories and a pizza thrown into the oven. Now I am off for a long bath and a really good sleep (I hope)