Ever run from Dexter to Ann Arbor?

(I changed back to my old template, did you notice? I like this one better, because I don't think that an anime evil sorcerer is really representative of my pirate alter ego. Plus it was not as presidential.)

So, back to the program!

The first half taught me how to dream.
The second half showed me how to push myself.
The third half made me run happy.
The fourth half taught me to respect the distance.

Overall, I am not at all displeased with my run (~2:30:00), especially considering that I had decided to run the half marathon event only four days prior to the race, . But, I had not prepared properly. Since the Martian half on April 1st, I had not really been training but rather running with no immediate plans to train. Soooo...no 8, 10, and 12 mile training runs prior to the Dexter-Ann Arbor half.
Around mile 8, my body began to explain to me why training runs are important. I got tired easily and needed to take walking breaks more often. I needed to drink more Gatorade, and eat more chewy carb stuff. My mind, weak and flabby from a lack of long hard training runs, was making me feel even more tired. I wasn't enjoying it as much as I did the Martian. Was it a lack of training? I'm thinking yes. I vow to not take this distance for granted, and not let my silly ego get a say into which event I'll run. (bad ego, BAD)
The route itself is gorgeous. They close off a scenic road that goes along the Huron River, with lots of rolling hills and beautiful vistas throughout. It was fun, in theory, to run from one city to another. There was a bit of rain, sometimes drizzling and sometimes pouring, but it was welcome. It was much better than hot and humid! But at the race's end it was difficult to tell where the rain started and the sweat stopped. I had to stop to use the *restroom* and I had the bad fortune of getting the *restroom* after a half-naked ugly sweaty man had spend a few quality minutes in there. It was grosser than gross.
At the end of the race, I was overcome by such a feeling of happiness and sense of accomplishment that I haven't felt since the first half I ran (with Ber). I think it was because we came in right next to a woman who was completing her first half, and she was overcome with joy and began to cry. It's so wonderful to see that, people crying for joy.
My knee is so not happy right now and I'm thirsty and tired and hungry and still so happy. I think that I'll be happily retired my shoes at week's end. They've been good to me, three half marathons and countless other miles.
Run long and taper.
:) LJS