The Little Engine That Could

I’m a big fan of tooting your own horn. Seriously, how can you expect anyone to cheer for you if you’re not even on your OWN team? If you accomplish something, be proud and give yourself a pat on the back! If you want something and you are dedicated and focused enough to work hard to reach that goal, then you deserve a cheering section – even if it’s just you cheering!

So here I go – TOOT! TOOT! This weekend I accomplished a huge goal that is over a year in the making. I finished my first half marathon!!!! I, Tera “short legs” Busker, ran 13.1 miles!!!

Last spring I planned to run my first half marathon in Stillwater. I was registered, I was prepared, I felt good and then 1 week before the race I got injured and had to drop out. It was a major disappointment, but I healed and started planning for another race. Fast forward to March 2010. I was registered, prepared and packed to travel to Orlando. Florida to run my SECOND first half marathon – the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon. 2 days before boarding the plane I was hit with the flu. Again…..really? So, I was out of another race. The first day I felt like a human again, I went online and I found THE RACE. The THIRD first half marathon that come hell or high water I WOULD RUN – The Eau Claire Half Marathon. I had trained hard, I was ready, I felt good and secretly I kept waiting for something to happen that would stop me from running, but nothing did. So, on a beautiful May morning in Eau Claire, Wisconsin I ran 13.1 scenic miles along the river and I ROCKED IT!!!! I’m not gonna lie, at one point I thought my legs would fall off, but the most amazing song popped up on my playlist (which is another great story that I will share in a later post) that gave me a 2nd wind. I finished strong by chugging up a steep hill, sprinting across the line and finishing in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 16 seconds. Again – TOOT! TOOT!

I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to run my first half marathon with a great friend and to have had my family (the best cheering section in the WHOLE world) there to cheer me on. It made of a memorable day! Prior to writing this, I signed up for my SECOND half marathon. The Uff-da (can you tell it’s a race in Wisconsin?) which will be held in 2 weeks. I can’t wait.

By the way – if anyone is reading this that also ran in Eau Claire, if you found my mind along the trail could you please return it?