I normally run the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon every fall in Philadelphia. I've done it almost every year for the last decade (unfortunately breaking the streak in 2014 when I had a wedding to attend in Pittsburgh that same weekend). So the fact that I'm already signed up for the 2016 race this September isn't exactly newsworthy.
What makes it exciting is that my wife Stevie decided to sign up as well. This will be her first ever half marathon.
Stevie has always enjoyed running, and a few years ago even began bumping up her mileage for no particular reason other than to challenge herself. She made it up to 11 miles before pregnancy and winter both derailed her, and hasn't gone long since. Stevie has transformed her body in the last year by doing DVD workouts through Beach Body, and she's completed a few 5k's in that time, sometimes with Neale in the stroller and sometimes without. So she's been toying with the idea of completing a half for a long time, and has finally gone ahead and signed up.
I won't be running the race at my pace, but instead will stick by Stevie's side to pace her and offer encouragement (2:45 is her anticipated finish time). I'm a little bit nervous about doing so for 13.1 miles, because there is a fine line between offering encouragement and just being annoying. It's sometimes hard to gauge in the moment what the runner needs. Something we'll have to work on and talk about this summer, I guess.
I'm excited to experience this race from a different angle, and I'm excited to share this world of distance running with Stevie. September 18th here we come!
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