This was it. My first half marathon. My first running event ever. I signed up for the Rock n Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon. I researched, did my best at training the only way I knew how to at the time, had my goals, and the time had finally arrived to reach those goals. With that said, I have not run further then 11 miles before race day. And I had some minor surgery the week before to remove and test some areas of skin on my back. Each area had a few stitches in it… and there were five spots… so I had to bandage them up the morning before the run to keep them from rubbing against my shirt. I was confident they had healed enough to all would be okay, and it was.

     I flew into Norfolk International Airport from Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport. It was a small jet, but an easy flight. I made my way to the rental car location and went straight to the Expo held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center for packet pickup. I made it there during the final hour that the Expo was open. Just barely enough time to get my items, walk a little though the Expo before it started to shut down. I made my way back to my hotel in the Town Center of Virginia Beach to rest, relax… and worry about what was to come the next morning.

     One thing that made this event special, besides it being my first running event, was that I had won a Facebook contest on the Active.com page. I had a VIP Race Day Package which got me close for parking, a light breakfast and snacks. I was a little overwhelmed. I didn’t know all what to do. I was taking it all in. If I had known what I know now (five years later), I would have done things differently. There was a great deal more to the Active.com VIP Package that I would have done/experienced.

     So it was time. The announcer called us to our starting corrals. I was nervous. I was anxious. I was ready to run.  I started off a little quicker then I probably should have and by the half way point I was tired. The course itself was great. It was almost completely flat. Had bands and entertainment about every mile. Along the run I chatted with a few people here and there that were running the same pace as I. There was a couple from Canada, a guy from California and a lady from Illinois. The spectators/crowd was arguably the best part. Almost the entire course has people out and about to cheer the run participants along the course. I was not expecting that, it was a great surprise. We ran though close to the coast, though Camp Pendleton with the finish line (and about the last half mile or so) on the Boardwalk. I was able to walk & run and finished within my personal goal time. My main goal was just to finish. To be able to say I did it. The pride that came along with it was an unexpected bonus.

    I ran for OAR at this event. It is a great charity that works with autism. I met one of my fellow OAR charity runners that day and we have kept in touch ever since. Running has allowed me to meet people from all over the country that I never would have met if I didn’t take those first few steps. This was a great first event and it had me hooked. It was a day that I will not forget ever forget.