I didn't think I could do it, but when Cliff and I were in Maui this summer I went on a long training run for Hood to Coast and ended up running from Kaanapali to Lahaina (9 miles!)
It really wasn't too bad, so I decided to sign up for the half that many of my friends were doing. But by the time I got around to registering, they were full. Bummer!
I decided to do it anyway. So Cliff and I charted a course for 12.1 miles in a big loop around our house. I was very focused on getting exactly the 0.1 so I could have an official distance :) The run went pretty well... until I got turned around and off track a little. I called Cliff to help me plot a new course and then he and the kids cheered me on for the last mile in a few different locations.
Then they held up a finish sign and I got to run through it!
I realized a few hours later that I had been so focused on the 0.1 that I was wrong about the 12 miles :) A half is 13.1 and in my detour I ended up running an extra 0.6 miles. So the final distance I ran was 12.7 miles in 2 hours and 3 minutes. It was a fun experience. I loved having my family cheer me on, and now I know I could totally do a real half marathon! I could have totally run that last 0.4... Haha!
