The inside scoop on running a half marathon in less than 2 hours (*almost).

So there's two ways to get ready to run a speedy half marathon. You could take my approach which is commit to the training. Run in the rain. Run in the sun. Run is sub-zero temperatures. Just get out there on do it. 7:00 am every Sunday for the last 6 months.

Or you could choose my Husband's approach which only works if you are amazingly fit and fabulous and you decide a couple weeks before the BMO half marathon that he will do it too (taking the place of my sister's race spot who sadly injured her foot and couldn't train). Sister changes the name on her run bib to SpongeBlob. Haha.

Huband -aka Mr. Fit and Fabulous does two short runs before race days....not even wearing proper running shoes. (Convince Husband to at least buy a pair of Asics if he's going to run 21.1 km)

***Race Day***

Is it seriously 5:30 am and we are heading out? I can't believe 18,000 people are getting ready to run this early.

6:00 am. OK. Used the bathroom. Check. Stretch and shake out the jitters. Check. Scope out other runners. Check. Take obligatory pre-race selfies. Check.

7:00 am and everyone is on the course. There is an intoxincating energy and lots of pointy elbows. Avoid the elbows. At 3 km, Husband says he needs to go pee and runs off to the rows of porta-potties, I fully believe I won't see him again as I keep running at race pace full steam ahead but a few minutes later, he is running next to me again. What was in the stroop waffel you had for breakfast? That's insane how fast you peed and came right back beside me.

Gosh, Huband is fast. Why is he always 10 strides ahead of me? Seriously, a little jealous how easy he is making it look. 

Hills. Oh Gosh, so many hills. I don't remember this many hills last year. How can Husband still be running strong ten paces ahead? Why is he not even breathing hard?  Start to lose Husband in the crowd...

 Who is that waiting for me on the sidewalk ? Oh it's Mr. Fit and Fabulous - even with enough time to unzip his running belt and take pictures of me smiling as I run past. How does he have enough time to choose a filter for the picture? And here I am thinking I am The Flash and the picture would be so blurry because I am so fast. Ha. I guess not.

There's a giant video screen at 11 km. And there's our sweet boy on the video screen cheering "Go Mommy Go! Go Daddy Go!"  Heart melting.

What is with my water bottles today? They fall out of my run belt three times. This never happened during my training runs. Husband scoops them up and holds them for me and he keeps trucking along still not looking like this is even hard for him. He holds my water bottle 10 strides ahead of me and I run like a donkey chasing a carrot.

 OK, 16 km in and I am feeling tired - must inhale the energy gels. Gosh, I love the salted caramel Gu energy gels - these things are like rocket fuel. I can't believe I have been running at this pace for an hour and half. Why do people drink coffee when they can just have these?

Wow, this city is beautiful. Maybe I should stop running just to really take in this view.  Ahhh...Husband is still ahead, seriously how is he moving so fast? And how do you have enough time to take pictures ? Here is my best I'm-having-so-much-fun-I-don't-feel-like-dying-at-all face.

Another hill ? Really? Maybe I should walk this one. Husband says no and that I can do this. He holds my hand and we run up the hill together Aw, he really is the best.
OK yes. Finally. Downhill. That's what I'm talking about. 

With 500 m left, we see the 2:00 hour pacer run slightly in front of us. The panic sets in and I dig deep down and try to sprint to the finish trying to get back in front of the 2:00 hour pacer.

 Oooh I see the happy face balloon bouncing among the crowd and I know that my sister is here to cheer us on. Start to channel my inner gazelle and sprint towards that finish line in the distance.

Cross the finish line together at 2 hours and 13 seconds.  Soooooo close - just fourteen seconds -away from running a sub-2 half marathon!!!! I totally could have run 14 seconds faster but at least it was just such an joy  to run with the best husband in the world.

Time to proudly claim that medal to add to the collection. 

 Ooooh and there's Lisa! So proud of this mama! Just over a year ago, she could barely run 2 km with me and today she ran and crushed her first half marathon finishing it in 2:12.

Pretty amazing that Lisa's husband works right by the finish line and we got to go up to the roof of his building and watch other racers finish from way up top.

And of course take our own victory pictures from the roof top!!!
I was a little mad that Husband could have easily run a sub 2-hour half marathon without the training that I put in but so grateful he didn't leave me in the dust and kept encouraging and waiting for me when he couldn't spot me behind him anymore. That's pretty amazing. He is Mr. Fit and oh-so Fabulous. Now that I know how much better it is to run races with him, I just need to convince him to run a few more half marathons together...